YAY!!! Another great summer beach session with one of my all-time-favorite families! 🙂
Muro Family on Isle of Palms
Belle Hall Eye Care
My eyes are pretty important to me. Without them, I couldn’t be a photographer! I don’t trust their care to just anyone. Dr. Lori at Belle Hall Eye Care has been the angel watching over the health of my eyes for a long time.
A few days ago, I had the honor of photographing some promotional images for Belle Hall Eye Care. We had so much fun, and came away with some great images. I was particularly happy to find out that my young friend, Ellie, was joining the shoot to model for us! 🙂
If you are looking for an optometrist, Dr. Lori and her AMAZING team at Belle Hall Eye Care is who I recommend!!!
Tani & Scot’s Wedding on the Carolina Girl
Tani and Scot were classmates at Pelham Road Elementary back in the 70’s. Scot played football for the Mustangs, and Tani was a cheerleader. It’s the classic American sweetheart story! Scot asked Tani to wear his jersey one week and Tani happily accepted. 🙂 Scot and Tani both attended Greenville Middle School as well as Eastside High School. As they got older, the bond of the “Pelham Road Mustang Jersey” faded and, as often happens in high school, their lives took different paths. After High School Graduation, Tani went on to college at USC, and then to Furman for her Masters. Scot joining the Marine Corps, and studied at Lander University and Greenville Tech. After a deployment to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Scot went on to a 15 year career in the golf industry. Tani got married and had two wonderful children, Brooke and Garrett, while parenting a step child as well. Years later, Tani and Scot re-ignited the flame of the “Pelham Road Mustang”, and have been inseparable ever since!
It’s been an absolute pleasure to get to know Tani & Scot as we planned, prepared and finally got to photograph their beautiful wedding last weekend! The pure joy, and beautiful energy both of them put out into the world is such a breath of fresh air. The way they laugh, cry, hug, and hold each other lets you know that they are TRULY living life to the fullest. In the worries and woes of today’s crazy world, being around these two put peace in my mind and hope in my heart. The world is a better place with these two in it…ESPECIALLY now that they have found their way back to each other!!! 🙂
I met up with Tani & Scott for their First Glance in a beautiful clearing surrounded by trees near the Ripley Point Marina. What a joyful way to start off their celebration! Family and friends joined us for a fun photo shoot soon after. Then it was on to the one and only Carolina Girl. I absolutely LOVE photographing weddings and receptions on this beautiful yacht! Ashley and the rest of the staff had prepared everything down to the last detail. Breezes swayed the sweet grass back and forth as we cruised through the low-country waterscape surrounding historic downtown Charleston. Tani & Scott exchanged their vows on the upper deck as the serene scene floated by. After a perfectly timed sunset photo-opp, the party kicked into high gear with dinner, dancing, and LOTS of celebrating!
At the end of the evening, a special surprise awaited Tani. Scott had secretly arranged for an 8-man company of marines to perform the traditional Saber Arch as the two of them dis-embarked from the Carolina Girl. It was quite a site, and quite an emotional moment! To welcome her to the Marines, Tani received the customary “sword swat” on the derriere, to everyone’s applause. Hand-in-hand, Tani & Scot then made their way down the dock, lined with excited friends and family, all blowing bubbles and high-fiving the newlyweds as they made their way off into the night!
CONGRATULATIONS Tani & Scott! May your hearts forever be full and free!!!
Lindsey’s Senior Portraits
Graduating from high-school is a HUGE accomplishment in a young person’s life.
Commemorating this achievement with a fun photo shoot is a great idea! Not only is this because of the momentous occasion, but also because after high-school things get complicated and “life” gets in the way. Not to mention that you will never be as young and as beautiful as you are at that age…something those of us who are past our prime can attest to! 🙂
The other day I had the distinct privilege of photographing Lindsey’s Senior Portraits. Lindsey was referred to us by our good friend, Amelia, and her family, who all joined in to make the shoot a fun group outing! Her boyfriend joined us as well, which was cool. Everyone helped hold lights, suggest backdrops, and tell jokes to make Lindsey smile…it was a BLAST!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, Lindsey! May all your future hopes and dreams come true!!!
April & Ed
April & Ed are married! 🙂
They got married a couple weeks ago in a private ceremony, with an intimate group of close family and friends, in the back yard of their beautiful California home. Instead of wedding photos, they decided to have “honeymoon photos” done while they were here in Charleston! It was an honor and a pleasure meeting these two, and capturing some great memories for them while we walked around the old historic downtown.
CONGRATULATIONS April & Ed!!!
Watkins Family on Hilton Head Island
Our favorite clients are personal referrals from good friends and family. So when friend, neighbor, client, and collaborator, Mackenzie Citro of Just Kenzie Jewelry asked us if we could photograph her cousin’s beautiful family when they were vacationing on Hilton Head Island, we were so honored!
Celebrating their parent’s 70th birthdays, the Watkins Family rented a beautiful house in the immaculate Sea Pines Resort for the week. I met up with them on a beautiful evening, for a fun beach family photo shoot. On the boardwalk to the beach, a magical scene with the sun filtering through the trees reminded me of an enchanted forest from a distant fairy-tale. From there we continued on to the beach, where the evening light, summer breeze, and soft blue skies were a picture perfect scene every photographer hopes for!
The kids did great! And everyone was so much fun to work with! Many thanks to Emily for coordinating everything. And CONGRATULATIONS to Ron & Susan…may you have many many more!!!
Marri & Aldo’s Minnesota Wedding
“We’re all a little weird, and life’s a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
– Dr. Seuss
I love this quote from one of my all-time favorite writers! I’m not calling Marri & Aldo “wierd”. But they are most definitely, one hundred percent, head-over-heals IN LOVE!!! 🙂
Having worked with Marri for many years (she was one of the decision-makers who hired me to photograph my first corporate event with the US Grains Council), it was such an honor when she asked me to photograph her wedding! I’ve come to think of her as not just a colleague, but as a friend…which made being a part of their celebration extra special for me.
Having grown up internationally, I was even MORE thrilled when I found out the man Marri had fallen in love with was Panamanian! Aldo runs his own business in the shipping industry in Panama City, where Marri is now based. I finally got to meet him in February when we photographed their Engagement Session in Casco Viejo, the beautiful old historic part of Panama City. We got to meet his wonderful family there as well. It was truly special to see how happy Marri is when she’s around Aldo!
Fast forward to last weekend when Marri & Aldo’s destination wedding took place at her father’s farm in Marshall, MN. Family and friends came from far and wide! Friends from grade-school, co-workers, and so many of Aldo’s family from Panama that they even hired professional translators, Chris Dimmick and Isabel Rodriguez, to translate the beautiful ceremony!
The family farm was decorated beautifully! In a natural setting surrounded by tall pines, under a rustic arbor on a carpet of lush grass, Marri & Aldo exchanged their vows. Emotions swayed the gamut…solemn words from the heart cascading into bursts of joy and laughter. I was glad I had my cameras to hide behind when tears welled up…and just as glad when they were wiped away by a spontaneous giggle.
I didn’t think anything would top that amazing ceremony! But I was warned that Panamanians KNOW HOW TO PARTY!!! The reception that followed is certainly one that will go down in my mind as the greatest one in my long career! From the amazing toasts (some of which couldn’t even be translated!!!), to the fresh-from-the-farm dinner, to the bottomless ice-cream cart, to the all-night-dance fest, to the bonfire after-party with s’mores…it truly was a night to remember. I finally hitched a ride to the hotel at 2:00am. Easily the longest I’ve ever partied at a reception…THAT is how much fun it was! 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS, Marri & Aldo!
Ahora no sentirán ninguna lluvia, porque cada uno será el amparo del otro.
Ahora no tendrán frío, porque cada uno le dará calor al otro.
Ahora no habrá más soledad, porque existirán como compañeros.
Aunque sean son dos individuos, un solo destino los espera.
Vayan ahora a su hogar para continuar su vida juntos.
Y que sus días en esta tierra duren y quesean prósperos.
– Unknown Wedding Blessing
Here are a few of my favorite images below. To view the rest of their wedding gallery, visit: http://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/marriandaldowedding.
The Gunn Family at Botany Bay Plantation
Grand children are THE BEST!!! Not only do they bring new-found love and joy into a family’s life…they also prompt NEW Family Portrait Sessions! 🙂
I’ve had the priviledge of working with Sara Gunn and her sewing partner, Julie Starr, on their amazing project, The Tunic Bible. With a new grand daughter, I was delighted when Sarah asked me to photograph some updated family portraits for them! (Thanks for the recommendation, Julie!)
The Gunns have a family beach house on Edisto Island. I’m ALWAYS up for an excuse to drive down to that beautiful part of the world…especially when they decide to do the shoot at the majestic Botany Bay Plantation! With some of the most AMAZING avenues of oaks, marsh views, and rustic backdrops in the low-country, I always love photographing family portraits in this picturesque preserve.
I can’t wait for grand-baby #2!?! Just kidding, John & Mimi…no pressure. HA! 😉 Until then, many thanks to the Gunn Family. Here are some of my favorites from their wonderful family shoot this morning…
Adorable Emma
It always blows me away, how quickly children grow!
Photographing the Haddens, starting way back at their engagement session, has been a real joy to me. Photographing their latest addition has been no different. Emma is an adorable, sweet, loving, little girl.
For her 8-month portrait session, Clay and I got to take her out for a fun play date. I even got to hold Emma while Clay was getting a few things out of the car. It was a bit like that movie, Three Men and a Baby…HA! We met at the Old Village Post House in Old Mt. Pleasant, wandering the surrounding neighborhoods for quaint backdrops.
Emma put a smile in my heart and a spring in my step that lasted throughout the day! 🙂
Bible Family at Hampton Park
Hampton Park is Charleston’s largest public park. It boasts an extensive floral display, giant live-oaks, long tree-lined avenues, a beautiful gazebo, and a wonderful duck pond that’s always teaming with activity. It’s no wonder this is one of my favorite locations for family portrait sessions!
This morning, I met up with the AMAZING Bible Family, who are all down here from Ohio celebrating Roger & Sara’s 50th Anniversary! The last couple days of rain cleared up just in time for us to have a lovely morning with refreshingly cool temperatures. We all had a great photo shoot, and captured some really funny moments. Isn’t that what family is all about?!? 🙂
Many thanks to Kim for all her hard work coordinating this crazy crew! And thanks to everyone for making me feel part of the family!!!
Stein Family on Isle of Palms
When a little girl gives you FIVE giant hugs at the end of a shoot, you know you’ve done something right! Many thanks to Chris & Vicki for another fun annual family photo shoot. It’s always great to see you guys! And a huge thank you to Sabrina for all the hugs! 🙂
Executive Portraits for First Citizens Bank
I love working with people who love their jobs!
This morning I had the privilege of photographing more head-shots for First Citizens Bank. I have to say they are the nicest, kindest, funnest (is that a word?!?) people to work with!!! Everyone is so cheerful with each other and encouraging of one another. We laughed and joked all afternoon.
Many thanks to Katie for all her hard work organizing the shoot and scheduling all the appointments! 🙂
