Kurcsak Family Reunion on Kiawah Island

I had so much fun photographing the Kurcsak Family Reunion at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island the other day! I’d photographed Stephanie and her family before. So I was delighted when she called and asked if I would photograph this crazy gang. 🙂 We had a beautiful evening with great light to work with…and had so much fun creating tons of great memories for them to remember this special time together.
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Morris Family on Kiawah Island

I had so much fun last evening photographing the Morris Family at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island! Noah and Luke were absolutely ADORABLE!!! And we had some of the most beautiful “golden hour” light to work with. 🙂

Earl Klugh’s Kiawah Weekend of Jazz

It was an absolute pleasure to be invited back to photograph Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island again this year. I always enjoy photographing this amazing event with my good friend Michael Cyra.

Besides the great Earl Klugh, other amazing artists on the stage included: Chris Botti, Peabo Bryson, Deniece Williams, Patti Austin, Najee, The Rippingtons, Adam Hawley, Al Turner, David Lee on the Rocks, Joe Alterman, and many more! As always, Richard Todd did a great job as Master of Ceremonies.

I’m already excited and looking forward to next year!!!

Guin Family on Kiawah Island

It’s been overcast, gloomy, and rainy all week. I even drove through a short downpour on the way to the shoot. But by the time the Guin family arrived for our beach portrait session on Kiawah Island last night, the skies opened up, the winds calmed down, the temperature cooled off, and the light was spectacular. We could not have asked for a more BEAUTIFUL evening!

Having become a wonderful blended family only a few years ago, the Guins have been vacationing on Kiawah Island ever since. Now that their oldest son is married and moved away from the family home in Chicago, this is the only time they all get together!

It was an honor to meet everyone and capture some wonderful images for them to commemorate this special occasion.  🙂

Earl Klugh Weekend of Jazz on Kiawah Island

GRAMMY-winning guitarist Earl Klugh’s renowned Weekend of Jazz is returning to Kiawah Island once again this coming fall!

Since 2004, Earl Klugh has been bringing the world’s greatest artists together with jazz enthusiasts for his one-of-a-kind weekend getaways. You can only enjoy Earl Klugh’s exclusive Weekend of Jazz events at two Five-Star, Five-Diamond properties; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island.

Backing up my good friend and AMAZING photographer, Michael Cyra, it’s been a true honor to photograph what I call the “Earl Klugh Experience” on Kiawah Island for the past several years! Here are a few of my favorite highlights from 2015…

Allie & Andrew’s Kiawah Proposal

Allie’s family has been vacationing on Kiawah Island for almost 30 years! Last year they invited Allie’s long-time boyfriend, Andrew, to join them. The beauty and serenity of the island struck him. This year, when they invited him again, he privately called Allie’s parents to let them know his intentions to ask for their daughter Allie’s hand in marriage at The Ocean Course.

Allie and Andrew have dated since before they could drive!  🙂  As often happens in life, they went their separate ways a bit during college. But neither of them ever dated anyone else…and soon enough they were back together again. It was just meant to be!!!

Gayla and Scott helped Andrew in coming up with a grand plan, and fill in all the details. They arranged for me to photograph the momentous occasion on the beach in front of the club house, where they would all hide to watch as it unfolded. Afterwards, a private celebration dinner was reserved in the Atlantic Room, overlooking the beach where they got engaged. Several close family members and friends, including Andrew’s parents, flew in to surprise them!

It was such an honor and a pleasure to capture this AMAZING moment for Allie & Andrew! CONGRATULATIONS on a perfect match made in heaven!!! 🙂

Andrew & Melissa’s Kiawah Island Proposal

CONGRATULATIONS Melissa & Andrew!!!

 I had so much fun yesterday, capturing Andrew’s surprise wedding proposal out on the beach in front of The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island!  It was an absolutely gorgeous day to get engaged.  Andrew & Melissa are the sweetest, kindest, happiest couple you could ever hope to meet.  We had a BLAST hanging out and creating some fun images after she said “YES”!!!  🙂  What an honor and a privilege it was to be there for these guys, preserving this special moment in their lives forever!

Many thanks to Delaney and Jacob for all their hard work planning and organizing every detail.  You guys are THE BEST!!!

Martin Family on Kiawah Island

Hailing from Ohio, our old stomping grounds before moving here, I had so much fun hanging out with the Martin Family on Kiawah Island last night!

This was their first time vacationing to the Charleston area…and their first time being professionally photographed all together as a family! What an HONOR for me to be a part of their first family beach portrait session!!! I hope the experience didn’t hurt tooooooo much. 😉

Many thanks to Amy for organizing everything. You have a lovely family.  It would be a real treat to photograph you guys again any time!!!

Gaydosz Family on Kiawah Island

I’ve been photographing the warm and loving Gaydosz Family for many years now. Many thanks to Maria for organizing these fun shoots!
 
Each year the family grows and expand. It’s so much fun watching the children as their personalities develop and they truly come into their own! This year we missed big brother Steve and his family, with a prior commitment. But I look forward to seeing them ALL back together again next year for more fun times!!! 🙂

Gilligan Family on Kiawah Island

Summer is a time for vacations, for flip-flops, for families, for fun, for sunshine, and of course…beaches. I had the pleasure of combining ALL these elements a few days ago with the wonderful Gilligan Family!!!

We scheduled their family beach portrait session on Kiawah Island to coincide with the cooler temperatures, less crowded beaches, gentle breezes, and of course that beautiful soft evening light of “golden hour”.  It was so much fun hanging out with this crazy crew! Since I have three brothers of my own, I felt right at home with the friendly ribbing Ryan and Kevin were dishing out.  🙂  Plus, Emilee and Reagan were absolutely ADORABLE!!!

Many thanks to Debbie for organizing everything, and allowing me to feel like part of their family for an evening…

Attaway Family on Kiawah Island

It’s hard to believe that it has been 8 years since Michael & Carreen’s wedding! I must be getting old?!? 🙂
 
A lot has happened in those years. They moved closer to her parents. They both have great jobs. They have two adorable children. And Carreen’s brother, Chris, is doing great in med school.
 
But what I ESPECIALLY love, is that they’ve stayed in touch with me over the years! It’s always such a joy to me to share in the lives of such wonderful couples and their families. Getting to be with them during the excitement of their wedding day is wonderful. Getting to watch their dreams unfold is priceless!!!
 
So it was with great pleasure that I photographed their family once again. We met near the condo they had rented on Kiawah Island, where we found a picturesque boardwalk and a beautiful stretch of beach. Photographing family beach portraits is always so much fun…especially when the family is as wonderful as this one!!!  Many thanks to Candace for organizing this year’s shoot.
 
Trivia Question: Did you know Kiawah Island does not allow motorcycles on their roads?!?

Surprise Sunrise Proposal on Kiawah Island

Just before I left for Romania I got a call from Corbin, who was secretly planning to propose to his girlfriend.  They are from Augusta, but were moving to Charleston that weekend.  He’d already convinced her that they should make their first morning in town a special one by watching the sunrise together and going to breakfast afterwards.  He even bought her a special beach dress to wear and made arrangements with The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island.  He’d seen my pictures of  Allison & Damon’s Proposal (https://chrisandcami.com/blog/2010/07/07/allison-says-yes-to-damon-on-kiawah-island/) and really wanted me to be there to capture theirs. 

Well, 5:00 A.M. came awfully early as I dragged myself out of bed to drive out to Kiawah.  But to experience such a beautiful moment between two people in love, within the stillness and calm of a deserted beach before dawn, and accentuated with the glorious rising of the sun…well, I have chills just writing about it.  Needless to say, the comfort of my bed didn’t hold a stick to the gravity of such a moment!  I felt truly blessed to be there.

After shooting his proposal incognito, Corbin brought Sarah over to meet me.  We laughed and I shared some of the pictures from the back of the camera with them.  Then as the sun rose into place, I shot a few “true” Engagement Portraits for them.  We had such a great time together.  Corbin & Sarah were so much fun to work with…even letting me talk them into getting a little wet.  J  CONGRATULATIONS to you both!