The Citadel – Academy of Engineers Awards Banquet

I had the pleasure of photographing the Academy of Engineers Awards Banquet held at The Citadel, one of Charleston’s most iconic and historic campuses. The event took place at the beautiful Holliday Alumni Center, providing an elegant setting that perfectly matched the prestige of the occasion.

The evening brought together an impressive group of engineers, leaders, and distinguished guests to celebrate outstanding achievements within the field. From the moment guests arrived, there was a strong sense of pride and camaraderie in the room. It’s always rewarding to document events like this, where meaningful recognition and genuine connections are at the forefront.

Throughout the banquet, I focused on capturing a mix of candid interactions, formal group photos, award presentations, and the overall atmosphere of the evening. The formal setting, combined with the energy of the attendees, created a great balance of polished moments and authentic expressions.

For this event, I worked with a dual-camera setup to ensure complete coverage. I used a Nikon Z9 paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II for versatility, while a Nikon Zf with the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 II allowed me to capture tighter, more intimate moments from a distance. This combination gave me the flexibility to move seamlessly between wide scene-setting shots and close-up storytelling images.

Lighting was key in bringing the room to life. I used six Godox off-camera flashes strategically placed around the space to create consistent, flattering light on the stage and throughout the venue. These remote flashes were controlled from the Godox V480 flashes on each camera, and helped give the images more depth and dimension than would otherwise be possible with only using on-camera flash.

It was an honor to document such a meaningful evening, and I always enjoy working in a setting as timeless as The Citadel.

Portrait Station at The Citadel Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Dinner

My friend Gary and I recently had the pleasure of running our Portrait Station at The Citadel Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Dinner.  It was truly an honor to be part of such a meaningful evening. The Foundation does incredible work bringing Citadel Cadets together with local alumni families who sponsor and support them during their time at the military college, providing not just financial assistance, but a genuine home away from home. The pride, tradition, and sense of community in the room were unmistakable, and it was a joy to create portraits that captured those connections and memories from such a special night.

As a professional photographer based in Charleston with over 25 years of experience, we specialize in photographing events, galas, fundraisers, receptions, and celebrations of all kinds. Beyond simply documenting your event, we also offer interactive photo entertainment that guests absolutely love.

Our most popular option is the Portrait Station. Think of it as a photo booth on steroids!!! Guests step into a full-size fashion studio, complete with professional lighting, a large backdrop, a high-end camera, and a skilled photographer guiding them through flattering, fun poses to help them look their absolute best. This isn’t a quick snap — it’s a true portrait experience!

Once the photos are taken, the images are instantly sent to our high-speed printers, where a beautiful 5×7 portrait is produced on the spot. Each print is mounted into an elegant black folio by our staff, and placed on a display table within seconds…ready for guests to pick up and take home with them. It’s a stylish, tangible keepsake from an unforgettable evening!

Plus…for instant sharing, guests can scan a QR code to receive a digital copy of their portrait directly on their phone. Posting to social media has never been easier!

If you’re interested in booking our Portrait Station for your next event, just fill out our Contact form, and I’ll be in touch with you shortly: https://chrisandcami.com/contact/.