Pinch me!!!
In case you missed it, Cami and I had the UNBELIEVABLE HONOR of photographing Shelby Rogers’ beautiful surprise proposal by her incredible boyfriend, John. I can’t begin to explain how touching it was to be there and capture this special moment for these two amazing humans!!!
Please help me in CONGRATULATING them, and wishing them all the happiness in the world as they begin this new journey together…
It was an honor photographing portraits for The Citadel Foundations Annual Sponsor Donor Dinner at The Gaillard Auditorium. With almost 600 cadets and their sponsors in attendants, it was a fantastic event!
* Shot with Nikon D5, Nikkor 24-70 f2.8, Sony XQD cards, Lenovo laptop, Darkroom software, DNP printer, Flashpoint transmitter and speedlights, Westcott umbrellas, Manfrotto stands, Savage backdrop *
I got to know Evan & Brianna last year when he contacted me to secretly photograph his surprise proposal to the love of his life!!! It was AMAZING: https://chrisandcami.com/evan-surprises-brianna-with-his-proposal/. So when they called to ask if I would also capture their wedding, I was elated!
Although rain threatened us for a minute, it actually ended up being the perfect weather…not too cold, not too hot, with a little bit of cloud cover. The guys started out at Haberdash…hanging out and having fun while they got ready. Evan was looking pretty dashing by the time they got done with him! Then it was over to The Cottages at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. Brianna’s “reveal” to the girls was a highlight! She was an absolutely STUNNING bride in her elegant gown!!! 🙂 Finally we all headed back over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to The Historic Rice Mill for the main event!
The lively and humor-filled ceremony was led by Brianna’s half-brother, Seth. At one point I think I saw a tear in Evan’s eye…which was so touching. Then it was on to wedding party photos while guests enjoyed cocktails with views of the sailboats bobbing in the Ashley River. I was worried that the low-lying blanket of clouds was going to ruin our plans for some gorgeous sunset photos of Brianna & Evan. But just 15 minutes before sunset, a sliver of sky opened up on the horizon to reveal the most amazing sunset for us to work with!!!
A warm welcome by Brianna’s dad, and a delicious meal awaited everyone at the reception. Lively chatter and fun festivities carried on throughout the night. Cake cutting, signing the marriage license, and touching toasts also ensued. Eventually, The Vistas band started jamming and the party kicked into high gear! Everyone was dancing and singing and having a BLAST!!! But finally it was time to bid Brianna & Evan a fond farewell. We closed the night out with a big group photo featuring the entire band…before this amazing couple headed off into the night!
Many thanks to Alyssa and her team at www.stunningandbrilliantevents.com for making sure everything went off perfectly. And a huge shout out to all the vendors who made this special day possible.
CONGRATULATIONS Brianna & Evan!!! Having been there from the “I Will” to the “I Do”, it was an absolute honor to capture all the beautiful memories of this special day for you. We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together.
It was an absolute pleasure photographing the Berkadia Leadership Conference at the Hotel Bennett last week!
“Berkadia is a leader in the commercial real estate industry, offering a robust suite of services to our multifamily and commercial property clients. Powered by deep relationships and industry-changing technology, our people sell, finance, and service commercial real estate, providing support for the entire life cycle of our clients’ assets. Our unique ownership structure allows us to put our clients’ interests first and create a marketplace that delivers a superior experience.”
From cultural presentations by Gullah historian, Corey Austin Sweetgrass…to interviews with the CEO of Salamander Hotels, Sheila Johnson…to networking opportunities with Berkadia CEO, Justin Wheeler…the entire event was jam packed with access to knowledge and information you couldn’t get anywhere else in the industry!
Many thanks to Jenna at KLH Group and Meredith at Berkadia for bringing us on board, and making sure everything ran perfectly!
We started our riding season off right with a trip to Ridgeveville, South Carolina, for the 2nd annual Palmetto ADV Rally!!!
This year the rally will be held at Black Water on the Ashley Campgrounds, which was a beautiful island in the middle of a lake. The property is a 120 acre wetlands preserve that offers camping, fishing, live music, and good times. Most campsites were located right on the water for the most relaxing views and scenery. We felt like we were alone in the wilderness…yet within easy access of restaurants and stores just a few minutes away in the town of Summerville.
This year’s event included new routes, guided tours, along with daily excursions for exploring, keeping our riding skills sharp, and improving our technique while out on the trails. The South Carolina Adventure Route (SCAR) is less than a mile away away from this new location! So jumping on some fantastic off-road trails was easy.
The Palmetto ADV Rally offers 4 days days of riding and exploring & 3 nights of camping. Free continental breakfast, coffee stations, and a massive home-cooked dinner each night is all included in the rally experience. Tons of live music, presentations, bonfires, raffles, good times, riding buddies (new and old), and tall tails were also to be had!
The Palmetto ADV Rally Guest Speakers list included:
– Kris Coxs (Founder of the SCAR)
– Ben Myburgh (ADV World Traveler and Instructor)
– Mark Wing (MSF / ADV Instructor and Founder of SOAC ADV Practice Park)
– Angelo Vleck (4-time finisher at the Dakar Rally)
Famous YouTubers such as Moto Photo Adventures, The Bearded Grump, and One Old Man Riding were also there to answer questions and capture the experience on camera!
It was an AMAZING weekend and we’re already looking forward to 2024!!!
Photographing Sarah & Cody’s maternity shoot last year was so much fun! So imagine my excitement when they called to ask if I could photograph family portraits with their beautiful new daughter, Emory?!?
To make it even more special, they also brought Sarah’s dad, Billy, for a 3-gerneration photo. And to top it all off, her dad brought his beautiful 14-year old dog, Fred!!! We had a wonderful time capturing a nice variety of lovely portraits in Summerville’s picturesque Azalea Park.
I owe a HUGE Thank You to our mutual friend, Andrea, for recommending us to Sarah & Cody. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know them. And I can’t wait to watch their amazing family grow! 🙂
We’ve been friends with Jim & Re FOREVER!!! They are such a neat couple that we used to hang out with all the time. We were so excited for them when they started their family with the birth of their adorable daughter, McKenzie. A couple years later, Caleb joined the crew. It’s hard to believe, but now McKenzie all grown up and about to graduate from high-school! 🙂
I had so much fun catching up with Jim & Re, and photographing McKenzie’s Senior Portraits. McKenzie and Caleb are best friends…so she invited him to be in a few photos with her, which I thought was super cool! She also requested we do her shoot in and around Joe Riley Waterfront Park, because she wanted to re-create a couple of her favorite portraits I had taken of her and Caleb during a family shoot there when they were little kids. Isn’t that awesome?!?
McKenzie has grown up to be such a beautiful, thoughtful, and kind young lady. It was an honor and a pleasure to capture these portraits of her during this special time in her life! Please help me in CONGRATULATING McKenzie on her up-coming graduation!!!
It was a pleasure photographing Emily & Halen’s beautiful engagement session yesterday!
We met up at The Post House in the old historic downtown Mt. Pleasant area. It was so much fun exploring the area. Plus they brought their adorable 2-year old beagle, Cooper to be in some of the shots! As an added bonus, their good friends Kelly & Chris joined us to help with Cooper. I owe them a huge “Thank You” for not only helping with Cooper, but also for recommending us to Emily & Halen!!! 🙂
After a few shots downtown, we headed over to the park at Pitt Street Pier. It was a gorgeous evening! The sun set was awesome, and the moonrise was surreal. We came away with some AMAZING photos showcasing Emily & Halen’s fun-loving personalities, and their love for each other.
I can’t wait to photograph their wonderful wedding this fall!!!
When Pam wrote to let me know she and Mike were getting married, the first thing she told me was that her cousin had recommended us. I was elated to learn that her cousin was Jan Truesdale, a longtime friend and favorite client of mine!!! So of course I was super honored and very excited to be a part of Pam and Mike’s special day!!!
Before heading to the church for the ceremony, I met up with Pam and her best friend, Ann, who was helping her get ready. We captured some fun shots of them leaving the house. And we stopped by the reception venue for a few beautiful bridal portraits of Pam in her stunning wedding gown! While the ladies were touching up their makeup one last time, I headed over to The Citadel, where I caught up with Mike for a few portraits of him and his ushers. Guests began arriving and taking their seats inside. And I was so excited that my good friend, Jennings King, was one of them! Aside from being Mike’s niece, Jennings is a fabulous photographer in her own right!
The ceremony was absolutely perfect!!! I love the intimacy of the sanctuary inside Summerall Chapel. With 75 close family and friends, gathered closely around Pam & Mike with love and support in their hearts, it felt even more intimate than usual. The processional began with five very special ladies, each carrying a white rose. Bagpiper Jack Farrell then entered and filled the halls with his magical notes. Pam was escorted down the aisle by her two brothers, who were beaming with pride. Reverend Bland led a heartfelt ceremony. And when it was all over, Pam & Mike sealed their vows with a kiss!!! 🙂
After a few gorgeous photos of Pam & Mike inside the historic chapel, we headed over to the new Swain Boating Center for the reception. This is a new event space in the corner of campus, overlooking the Ashley River. The décor was gorgeous, the food was delicious, the Fireball dance was hilarious, and the toasts were delightful. Everyone had so much fun fellowshipping, sharing stories, and celebrating the undying love that Pam and Mike have found in each other!!!
Many thanks to Caroline at Goldbug Events for all her help keeping everything running smoothly! And Kudos to all the great vendors for making Pam & Mike’s Big Day a huge success…Magnolia Bride for Pam’s wedding gown, Sarah at Dodeline Design for the invitations and seating chart, Vanity Salon for her makeup, Azure Salon for her hair, GTC Rentals for the transportation, Michael Varnadore for the ceremony music, Lee Edwards for the reception music, Flavours of Charleston for the food, Top Shelf for the bar, and The Cake Stand for the wedding cake. Pam did her own flowers and greenery…which were beautiful!
CONGRATULATIONS Pam & Mike! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together…
It’s always a pleasure photographing headshots for Seamon Whiteside! They are a fantastic organization, and always hire the nicest people. Here are a few favorites from my latest session with their newest team members…
* Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8, Manfrotto tripod *
Every day is different! That’s one of the best parts about my job!!! 🙂
Yesterday I got to photograph a fun sailing regatta for Siemens Medical. Being out on the Committee Boat with Captain Mike and Captain Dave, the Professional Race Official, was a real treat. The weather in Charleston Harbor was perfect with a steady wind, a balmy 75 degrees, and blue skies!
Many thanks to Lee at www.experienceholycity.com for bringing me on board (pun intended)! And CONGRATULATIONS to Angela and all the winners from Siemens Medical!!!
* Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 + Z TC 1.4X (98mm-280mm equivalent), DJI Mini 3 Pro
Shabat Shalom!
In spite of the challenges of the pandemic lockdown a few years ago, Jen & Gabe managed to pull off a beautiful and unique Bar Mitzvah for their oldest son, Jason. It was a touching experience for me personally. And I’m so glad I got to connect with this amazing family during that time. So it was a great honor when Jen & Gabe asked if I would photograph their youngest son’s Bar Mitzvah!
What a contrast a few short years makes!!! Matthew’s Bar Mitzvah was a totally different, but every bit as special an experience! Matthew is a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic young man, who also happens to have a truly gifted voice. His silky smooth vocals during the reading of the Torah, and leading the congregation in worship, resonated throughout the KKBE sanctuary. It truly was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had the pleasure of photographing!
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim is located in downtown Charleston. Founded in 1749, this is the first Reform synagogue, and one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the United States! The founding members of the KKBE were Sephardi Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent. The current 1841 synagogue, featuring an architecturally significant Greek Revival style, was built after the original synagogue was destroyed in a fire in 1838. The present structure is the second oldest synagogue building, and the oldest in continuous use, in the United States.
Later that evening, celebrations kicked into high gear at Hotel Indigo! With a “pre-party” for Matthew and his closest friends, cocktail hour for the adults, the family’s Grand Entrance to the reception, Motzi and challah, DJ Eddie cranking out tunes, Sir Andrew Larris and his dance crew keeping everyone on their feet, a wild and crazy Hora, a Party Boss photo booth, an ice cream sundae station, a glazed donut display, a candy bar, a cocoa-with-marshmallows extravaganza, and personalized sweatshirts for each of his friends…Matthew’s party was off the charts!!!
Many thanks to Rabbi Alexander and Rabbi Kanter for their leadership and guidance during Shabbat Terumah. And a very special THANK YOU to Sha Sha at Loluma for making sure everything on the Big Day was absolutely perfect!
CONGRATULATIONS on this amazing milestone in your life, Matthew!!! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey into adulthood…
