Honda True on Kiawah Island

It was a pleasure working with Lee  at Experience Holy City on Kiawah Island this week!

I was photographing all the beautiful details and decor she had created for Honda True, who was holding their annual sales meeting here on Kiawah Island. The first night was for their Welcome Reception in the Terrace Ballroom at The Sanctuary. The second night was at Mingo Point.

Honda True also had me photograph and print couple’s portraits at the Mingo Point Oyster Roast. Since it’s been raining all week, we had to get creative! I had the couples standing just underneath the covered patio area, with the marsh trees draped in Spanish Moss as the backdrop. Since it was a pitch black night, I placed 4 Flashpoint speedlights under the trees (covered in ziploc bags to protect them from the rain), with amber gels on them to give the lights an orange glow. The couples were lit with a Flashpoint eVolv 200 in an octabox. While I photographed the couples, my good friend Gary was making the prints on his DNP DS40 printer. Everyone loved the instant gratification of receiving their portrait that night!

Many thanks to Lee and Amber for making everything run so smoothly!!!

Mackenzie Family on Kiawah Island

The last time I photographed the Mackenzie Family was in 2020. Back then, the girls were only knee-high to a grasshopper! I was super excited when they called to let me know they were coming back to Kiawah Island this year and wanted updated family portraits!!!

We met up at The Sanctuary and captured some shots in the Butterfly Garden, which was one of their favorite locations from the last time. We also got a few fun ones in the Enchanted Forest out front of the hotel. Then it was off to the beach, following the winding wooded path. There had been some storm clounds in the area earlier in the afternoon. But our timing worked out perfectly with beautiful skies and gorgeous light from the late afternoon sun!

It was an absolute pleasure to catch up with the Mackenzie family, see how much the girls have grown, and capture these beautiful images for them…

Massey Family on Kiawah Island

With 29 souls, the Massey Family was a big group. But they were all so much fun to work with!!!

Cindy and Wayne got the whole family together to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island this week. It was an absolute honor to photograph their family portraits to commemorate this special gathering for them. We started in the “enchanted forest” area in front of the resort, then progressed to the beach as the golden light of the setting sun arrived. From the posed portraits to the candids of kids having fun…I had an absolute BLAST with the Massey Family!!!

Many thanks to Cindy for organizing everything and making sure everyone stayed in line.  🙂

Glenn Family on Kiawah Island

It was such a pleasure photographing the Glenn Family at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island last evening. We had beautiful weather and came away with some wonderful images to commemorate their time together!!!

Cyrus Family at the Ocean Course

It’s hard to believe how time flies!!!

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was photographing the Cyrus family for the first time. Back then, Mason was only a year old! Fast forward to this year’s 5th annual family beach session with this amazing family…where Emma has joined the family, and the kids are growing like crazy!!! 🙂

I had so much fun catching up with everyone at The Ocean Course. It’s become a family tradition. And I can’t wait to carry our annual get-together onto next year…

Lamson Family at The Sanctuary

The Lamson family is a lot like mine…all spread out. In fact, some of them live in another country on the other side of the planet! But they all decided to vacation together on Kiawah Island this summer. So I was honored that they asked me to come out and capture this special time of “togetherness” for them!  🙂

Vida Family on Kiawah Island

What a lovely evening for a beautiful beach session with the Vida Family!!! I had so much fun playing with Andrew & Diana’s adorable kids, and capturing these family memories for them at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island. This was their first vacation together to the low-country. And I hope it won’t be their last!

Schiff Family on Kiawah Island

It has been such a pleasure to photograph the Schiff Family on Kiawah Island last night! Several years ago, Debbie & Russel started a wonderful tradition of having portraits made of them with their grandchildren. This year, we met at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island on a beautiful summer evening. It was so much fun catching up with everyone and playing with their beautiful grandkids again!!!

Guin Family at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island

It’s been a couple years since I’ve had the pleasure of photographing the Guin Family. But they made such an impression on me last time.  So I was super excited when Catherine reached out to let me know they were coming back to Kiawah Island this summer! 🙂

We met up at The Sanctuary Hotel on a GORGEOUS summer evening. Everyone looked amazing in their complimenting blue outfits. I was so bummed that their oldest son and his family couldn’t make it this year. But the rest of us had a BLAST and captured some fun family memories to commemorate this year’s family vacation!

The best part was, this was the 10-year anniversary of when Joe proposed to Catherine right on the same boardwalk in front of the hotel.  CONGRATULATIONS you two!!!

Powell Family on Kiawah Island

It was such a pleasure catching up with the Powell Family at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island last evening for their annual photo shoot!

It was an extra special evening because “Nana” Suzanne was celebrating her birthday this week. And adorable Eloise just joined the family a couple months ago! 🙂

As is common during Charleston summers, a late afternoon shower popped up. But it sailed on out of here just in time for us to still have enough light for our beach session. It helped cool things off as well, which was nice. But the best part was, it left a beautiful rainbow behind for us to admire!!!

Branden & Kendelle’s Surprise Proposal on Kiawah Island

When Julia told me Branden & Kendelle’s story, and explained that he was going to propose to her beautiful daughter the day before Thanksgiving, I knew right away that Cami and I needed to delay our travel plans by a day so that we could capture this moment!!!

Julia and I concocted the ruse that she hired me to photograph family portraits during their visit to Kiawah Island. We all met up at The Ocean Course.  I loved the colorful outfits they had all chosen.  And we had a blast, capturing a variety of shots, including their Christmas Card photo. Then towards the end of the shoot, I suggested some candid “walking on the beach” photos of each couple. When it was Branden & Kendelle’s turn, he took her hand, led her down the beach for a little privacy, dropped to his knee, and ask her to be his wife. It was SUCH a special moment!!!

Afterwards, everyone congratulated the newly engaged couple with hugs and high-fives. The others went inside for drinks at the Ryder Cup Bar while Branden & Kendelle did some engagement photos with me before meeting up with them in the Atlantic Room for dinner. As soon as the rest of the gang left, the overcast skies cracked open a sliver of light at the horizon, allowing the AMAZING sunset to shine through for the amazing couple!

CONGRATULATIONS Branden & Kendelle!  You have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together…