Kai’s & Savannah’s Surprise Proposal at Magnolia Plantation

Over the last 30 years as a professional photographer, Iā€™ve discovered that photographing surprise proposals is one of my absolute favorite things to capture. Thereā€™s something incredibly special about documenting such a genuine, life-changing moment, and Kaiā€™s surprise proposal to his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, was a perfect example of why I love these shoots so much.

Kai and I spent several months carefully planning every detail to make sure the moment unfolded perfectly. He chose the iconic white bridge at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens as the setting, which couldnā€™t have been more romantic. On the big day, I hid behind a tree at the far end of the pond so Savannah wouldnā€™t suspect a thing. From there, I photographed the moment with a dual-camera setup using two Nikon Z9 bodiesā€”one paired with the Nikkor Z 400mm f4.5 S lens to capture the proposal from a distance, and the other with the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f2.8 lens to showcase more of the scene.

Kai and I had created a schedule, and mapped out a route for him to lead her to the bridge. Even though she had no idea what we were up to, and he had never been there before, Kai somehow managed to get her to Magnolia Plantation right on schedule, and lead her right down the path I had told him to take. Kai had cleverly told her he was there on a work trip and had to make a presentation to his team. He asked if they could get to the plantation early so that he could practice his speach! Arriving at “the spot”, he handed her a copy of the speech so she could read along. Only instead of a work speech, it was his declaration of love and devotion to Savannah. I could see the emotions welling up as she read along. Then he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. She said YES!!!

After the excitement settled, we spent some time strolling around the beautiful grounds creating authentic engagement portraits. Using the versatile Nikkor Z 24-120mm f4 S lens, and occasionally adding some off-camera flash, we captured a wonderful collection of images celebrating the beginning of their next chapter together.

Please help me in saying CONGRATULATIONS to Kai and Savannah!!! We wish you all the best as you start this new journey together…

Stovall Family on Daniel Island

Capturing family moments is always a joy! I had the pleasure of photographing the Stovall Family this week at their stunning home overlooking the marsh on Daniel Island. It had been 8 years since they had family portraits done. But this year was special since their daughter is a rising high-school senior, and they wanted some senior portraits for her. The picturesque setting provided the perfect backdrop for this memorable session, creating a serene atmosphere that showcased the family’s love and connection.

Using my Nikon Z9 paired with the versatile Nikkor Z 24-120 f4 lens allowed me to capture the beautiful details and emotions during our time together. The natural light streaming through the trees was complemented by my Godox AD200 flashe, ensuring every shot was perfectly lit. I utilized a Glow EZ Lock Softbox to soften the light, creating a flattering and warm ambiance that highlighted their amazing smiles.

Throughout the session, we shared laughter and stories, making the experience not just about photography but about celebrating the family bonds. The Stovall Family’s warmth and enthusiasm were contagious, making it a truly enjoyable shoot for me, and making me feel like part of the family. I even kicked the soccer ball around with the boys while we waited for their daughter to change!

I’m grateful for the opportunity to create lasting memories for the Stovalls in such a breathtaking location…preserving these special moments for years to come!

Brandy & Dan’s Hampton Park Engagement Photos

WOW!!! What an amazing sight greeted me at Hampton Park when I arrived for Brandy & Dan’s engagement session. The rains had just passed through Charleston, the sun was out, and a gorgeaous rainbow stretched across the sky!

Brandy & Dan arrived shortly thereafter. And we had an AMAZING time exploring the park, getting to know each other, and creating beautiful images together. As we returned to our cars, we realized there was a great chance for a brilliant sunset. So we zipped over to Brittlebank Park to capture a few dramatic silhouettes against that colorful sky!

CONTRATULATIONS Brandy & Dan! I can’t wait to be there for you guys on your wedding day!!!

Muro Family at Wild Dunes Beach

I’ve been photographing the Muro Family at their annual vacations to Charleston for many years. But each year it seems there’s always someone missing. Whether a family member was studying abroad, traveling, or just sick…it we always seem to be missing someone. But this year, we actually had EVERYONE TOGETHER!!!

It was so much fun catching up with the Muro family. They always treat me like family. And photographing their beach portrait session is always a highlight of my summer!!!

Sophia’s Senior Portraits

I had a lovely conversation with Sophia’s mom, who was looking for some fun family photos, as well as senior portratis of her oldest daughter before she headed off to college. We decided to meet at Waterfront Park downtown, exploring the surrounding French Quarter and nearby Rainbow Row. The previous day’s rain had cooled things off nicely. So we ended up with a PERFECT day!!!

Sophia was absolutely stunning! Plus she was on the cheer team. So she was adventurous enough to handle all kinds of fun poses with ease. My favorite is the one from the drone, with her laying down on the cobblestone surface of Middle Atlantic Wharf. Her three sisters were a ton of fun as well. And I could tell Jen and Nick were incredibly proud of all their girls!

CONGRATULATIONS Sophia!!! We wish you all the best as you embark on this new chapter in your life…

Kaitlin & Stevie’s Engagement at the Lagare Waring House

I’ve known the Petit family for a long time. It’s been my honor to photograph Chris & Shelley’s wedding, as well as Jody & Gerald’s wedding. So imagine my excitement when I found out I’ll be photographing their brother Stevie’s wedding to his beautiful fiance, Kaitlin!!!

Kaitlin & I have been emailing each other over this winter, working out details and plans for their wedding in the fall. One of the things she wanted to schedule fairly soon was their engagement photos. In fact, we originally had it scheduled for last week when that crazy winter storm blew through Charleston!!! Kaitlin & Stevie are so adventurous that they were totally game for having their photo shoot in the rare snowfall. But sadly, Charles Towne Landing closed due to the weather. So we rescheduled, and it turned out to be an absolutely GORGEOUS 70-degree day with beautiful afternoon light streaming throught he trees!

I had so much fun getting to know Kaitlin & Stevie. I can’t wait to meet her amazing family, and reconnect with the Petit family! Their wedding at Founder’s Hall inside this State Historic Site is going to be absolutely AMAZING!!!

Darren’s Senior Portraits

I had so much fun photographing Darren’s senior portraits yesterday!

He’s the youngest of three, and a big football star. Between photographing his older sister, Natalie (6 years ago), and his older brother, Daniel (3 years ago), it’s been a real pleasure getting to know this amazing family! Unfortunately, Daniel had to work. But Sheri, Scott, and Natalie joined in the fun, keeping Darren engaged, distracted, and having fun! We started out at White Point Garden for some “Charleston Charm”. Then we headed out to their condo on Isle of Palms for some beach shots and sunset photos.

CONGRATULATIONS Darren!!!

Muro Family 50th Anniversary Celebration on Isle of Palms

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Muro Family over the last decade or so. They truly are the nicest and kindest people on the planet!Ā  I was together with them when they celebrated their 40th Anniversary. So it was super cool to join them for another fun family reunion in celebration of their 50th this week!!!

Allison & Trent at Rainbow Row

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing these fun, colorful, romantic images for Amanda & Trey! We had so much fun exploring Waterfront Park, Rainbow Row, and Adgers Wharf…before they headed off for a nice dinner date.Ā  šŸ™‚

As I often do, I arrived early and found this beautiful heron hunting in the marsh while I waited for them.Ā  Then heading home, I couldn’t help stopping to capture the sunset through the sailing ships moored on the Ashley River.

Debi & Scott’s Vow Renewal Photo Shoot

As Debi and Scott began planning their destination vow renewal in Charleston, the most important part was to have all their children together for the weekend! They are a blended family, with adult kids who have sprouted roots all over the country. So to find a date that worked with everyone’s schedules was tough…but they did it!!!

To comemorate this rare occurance, they asked me to spend a couple hours with them and their family, exploring different parts of Charleston, and capturing a wide variety of photographs of everyone together!

Debi & Scott are such an amazing couple! And it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with them and their growing family. šŸ™‚

Jackie & Jason’s Engagement Photos at White Point Garden

I am so excited about Jackie & Jason’s upcoming wedding this November!!!

We’ve been talking, emailing, and planning for a couple months now. But yesterday was the first time I’d actually met Jackie & Jason in person! We met up at White Point Garden during late afternoon Golden Hour for their Engagement Session. We had so much fun getting to know each other, capturing their love for each other, and exploring the old historic downtown area around The Battery together.

Jason is a law enforcement officer with Isle of Palms. Jackie works in hospitality with Seabrook Island. They are absolutely ADORABLE together! And I can’t wait to be there for them on their Big Day!!! šŸ™‚

Kate & Matthew’s Engagement Photos

I had so much fun photographing Kate & Matthew’s Engagement Photos at Hampton Park last week!

Matthew works at Westbrook Brewing. Kate works in the insurance industry at Park Circle. The two of them met online at the tail end of the Covid pandemic. Their first date was at Mellow Mushroom, just as restaurants were opening back up. They made an instant connection. And the rest is history!!! šŸ™‚

CONGRATULATIONS Kate & Matthew! I can’t wait to be there for you two on your wedding day…