Mayci & Josh – Surprise Proposal in Hampton Park

Photographing surprise proposals never gets old for me. Josh’s unforgettable proposal to his high school sweetheart, Mayci, was another reminder of why I love what I do so much. From the very beginning, this one felt extra special—not only because of the thought Josh put into it, but also because of a wonderful connection to past clients.
Josh is the nephew of Jenny Yokoyama, one of my all-time favorite brides, whose beautiful wedding to Nate I had the privilege of photographing years ago. Jenny, now the owner of Gritty Gal Marketing, and I have continued to collaborate over the years. So being part of her nephew’s proposal made this experience even more meaningful.
Josh, Jenny, and I spent months planning every detail to ensure everything went off without a hitch. He chose the stunning avenue of crape myrtle trees draped in Spanish moss at Hampton Park specifically because Mayci loves trees and nature. This magical location perfectly set the tone for this very specail and romantic moment. I stayed tucked away, capturing everything as it naturally unfolded. When Josh dropped to one knee, Mayci was completely surprised—and overjoyed. Of course, she said yes!
Afterward, we explored the park together, creating relaxed, authentic engagement portraits. Towards the end, we zipped over to the nearby Brittlebank Park for a few final shots with the sun setting across the Ashley River.
It was such a joy getting to know these two soulmates…Josh, a hardworking roofer, and Mayci, a dedicated nurse. Josh absolutely nailed his mark, when he turned and dropped to his knee. Before Mayci knew what hit her, waves of disbelief and emotion took over! She was absolutely stunning in her bimini blue summer dress. These two are building an amazing life together in Greenville, SC.
Moments like these are exactly why I love what I do.
(Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 II, Nikkor Z 400 f4.5, Godox V860II off-camera flash, Manfrotto supports)

Key Risk Insurance Presidents Club

I had the pleasure of photographing the Presidents Club Awards Banquet for Key Risk Insurance, held at the beautiful Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Set along the coast, the resort provided a relaxed yet upscale atmosphere that was perfect for celebrating the company’s top performers.

The evening brought together an outstanding group of professionals for a well-deserved celebration of excellence and achievement. From the moment guests arrived, there was a sense of excitement and appreciation in the air. Events like this are always a joy to photograph, as they strike a great balance between polished presentations and genuine, candid moments shared among colleagues.

Throughout the night, I focused on documenting a variety of moments. During cocktail hour, I set up a Portrait Station where each couple could get beautiful portraits in their elegant gowns and snappy suits! From there, we all moved into the ballroom, which looked fabulous! From candids during dinner, to the award presentations and speeches, to the in-between interactions that truly tell the story of the event…I had such a great time! Capturing those authentic connections is always one of my favorite parts of photographing corporate gatherings like this.

A big part of what made the evening run so smoothly was the incredible planning by Experience Holy City. Lee and her team are always fantastic to work with, and their attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the event came together seamlessly.

It’s always an honor to be trusted to document such meaningful celebrations, and I truly enjoyed working with the Key Risk Insurance team. The Presidents Club banquet was a wonderful evening from start to finish, and I look forward to the opportunity to work together again in the future.

Shot with Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 II, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 II, Godox V480 (x2), Godox AD200 (x2), Godox V860II (4), Manfrotto stands and supports.

NAEGA Conference in Nashville

The mission of the North American Export Grains Association is to promote and sustain the reliability of commercial agricultural exports. NAEGA is the global leader in shaping commercial solutions rooted in contractual expertise, commercial knowledge and industry innovation. The organization maintains a steadfast commitment to outcomes that are risk proportionate and science based.

It has bee my pleasure to photograph the annual NAEGA conference for 3 years now. This year’s program was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Nashville, TN. After remarks from the leadership team, including Matt Hopkins and Alejandra Castillo, three Senior Advisors were recognized for their years of dedication and service. There was a brief board meeting to discuss the business of NAEGA. And finally, the Trade Outlook Program included a number of excellent speakers and panelists from the US and Canada. After the closing remarks, I had the pleasure of photographing a group photo of all attendees, a Board of Directors photo, and a variety of headshots for those who needed an update.

(Nikon Z9 x2 Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 II, Nikkor Z 70-180 f2.8, DJI Mini 3 Pro)

NAEGA Conference in Nashville

The mission of the North American Export Grains Association is to promote and sustain the reliability of commercial agricultural exports. NAEGA is the global leader in shaping commercial solutions rooted in contractual expertise, commercial knowledge and industry innovation. The organization maintains a steadfast commitment to outcomes that are risk proportionate and science based.

It has bee my pleasure to photograph the annual NAEGA conference for 3 years now. This year’s program was held in Nashville, TN. The evening before kicking off the annual meeting, a heart-warming Senior Advisor Dinner Reception was held at the NashHouse Southern Spoon & Saloon in honor of the three gentleman who have passed down their wisdom and knowledge over the years!

(Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 II, Nikkor Z 70-180 f2.8, DJI Mini 3 Pro)

NAEGA Conference in Nashville

The mission of the North American Export Grains Association is to promote and sustain the reliability of commercial agricultural exports. NAEGA is the global leader in shaping commercial solutions rooted in contractual expertise, commercial knowledge and industry innovation. The organization maintains a steadfast commitment to outcomes that are risk proportionate and science based.

It has bee my pleasure to photograph the annual NAEGA conference for 3 years now. This year’s program was held in Nashville, TN…which is one of my favorite cities in the US. I had so much fun capturing the heart and soul of Nashville’s downtown music scene during some down time one evening!

(Nikon Zf, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, DJI Mini 3 Pro)

Portrait Station at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island

One of the most popular “Photo Entertainment” packages we offer is our famous Portrait Station!

Photo Booths have run their course and are going out of style. They were a fun novelty item when the technology was new. But the difficulty of cramming you and a few friends into a tiny booth…followed by the dissapointment of getting a tine 2×2 inch print of it where you can barely make out each person’s face…totally negates the excitement of getting that instant photo to take home.

We have managed to keep that instant gratification of recieving a photo memento to take home from your event, but TOTALLY taken it to the next level! Compared to a Photo Booth, this is like having a Photo Wall!!! It’s big. It’s bold. It’s fun. It’s professional. And it’s as if that little Photo Booth is all grown up!

We have a variety of professional backgrounds to choose from. You can provide the company’s step-and-repeat. Or you can customize your own backdrop. We provide professional lighting, like what you would get on a supermodel fashion shoot. We include a professional photographer to help with posing and directing so that you LOOK like a supermodel. Plus having a friendly and engaging photographer makes the whole experience more fun! Last but not least, your portaits are printed as beautiful 5×7 prints, which are custome mounted in an elegant black folio with a built-in “kickstand”. This not only protects your portrait, but makes it an awesome keepsake that you can take home and display in your home or office!

If you are having an awards gala, holiday party, corporate event, welcome reception, company meeting, mitzvah, or wedding, and would like to make it something your guests will truly remember, reach out to us on our contact page at https://chrisandcami.com/contact/. We would love to work with you…and you will LOVE the positive feedback from your attendees!!!

Key Risk Management Group on Kiawah Island

Key Risk Management Group held 40th Anniversary celebration at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island last week. The evening started off with a cocktail hour, progressing into the ballroom for dinner, then transitioning to the speeches and awards, and finally to dancing and celebrating. I had the great pleasure of photographing all of it for them, while my good friend Gary photographed and printed 5×7 prints at our Portrait Station!

With over 35 years of proven expertise in the workers compensation industry, Key Risk delivers a comprehensive array of services that cater to each unique workers compensation needs. Offering guaranteed cost options to employers nationwide, Key Risk focuses on delivering products and services within specialized verticals to reduce workers compensation exposures and deliver industry-leading results. You can find out more at www.keyrisk.com.

I used two Z9 cameras to cover this event. One had a Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 II mounted on it, while the other had a Nikkor Z 70-180 f2.8. For lighting, I used a Godox V480 on each camera. During cocktail hour, I primarily used bounce-flash. During the dinner banquet, I set up 4 Godox V860 II flashes (one in each corner of the room) to fill the room with nice directional off-camera flash. My friend Gary used a third Nikon Z9 with a Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 at the Portrait Station. His lighting consisted of 2 Godox AD200 strobes inside octaboxes.

It was an absolute pleasure working with Lee at Experience Holy City Charleston, who was the planner for the event. Lee always does an AMAZING job…and this one was no exception!!!

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

Over the last 30 years as a professional photographer, I’ve discovered that photographing surprise proposals is one of my absolute favorite things to capture. There’s something incredibly special about documenting such a genuine, life-changing moment, and Kai’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 couldn’t have been more romantic. On the big day, I hid behind a tree at the far end of the pond so Savannah wouldn’t suspect a thing. From there, I photographed the moment with a dual-camera setup using two Nikon Z9 bodies—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…

Michele & Dominic’s Micro Wedding at Wentworth Mansion

There is something incredibly special about a micro wedding. Michele and Dominic’s intimate celebration at the Wentworth Mansion was the perfect reminder that you don’t need a large guest list to create a truly meaningful and elegant wedding day. With just their eight immediate family members present, every moment felt personal, intentional, and deeply heartfelt.

I began the day photographing their getting ready moments inside the mansion’s beautifully restored rooms. The historic architecture and soft window light created the perfect setting for those quiet, anticipatory moments before the ceremony. Michele looked absolutely stunning, and Dominic’s excitement was evident in every smile.

Their ceremony was especially touching, performed by Dominic’s brother. That personal connection added such warmth and authenticity to the vows. With only their closest family surrounding them, there was an intimacy that made every glance and every word feel even more powerful. Afterward, we captured relaxed family portraits, followed by a fun and romantic session with just the newlyweds.

One of my favorite parts of the day was exploring the historic backdrops around the mansion with Michele and Dominic. I truly enjoyed getting to know them better as we wandered the grounds, creating gorgeous images along the way. We wrapped up their portraits in the cupola, overlooking the Charleston skyline during that magical blue hour. The dramatic deep blue tones of dusk, paired with the sweeping views of over the city, made for some unforgettable images.

I photographed everything using two Nikon Z9 bodies, paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II, the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8, and the Nikkor Z 105mm f/2.8 Micro for those detailed ring and décor shots. It was the perfect setup for capturing everything from key moments to intimate details. The quality, creativity, and diversity this setup provides is truly spectacular!

After our grand finale together on the cupola, Michele and Dominic joined their family for a celebratory dinner at the famous Circa 1886 Restaurant while I packed up. I am always so grateful when I get to do what I love, while meeting and working with such wonderful people, capturing all the special moments of their big day! Michele and Dominic’s wedding was elegant, heartfelt, and a true joy to document. Days like this are exactly why I love what I do.

Portrait Station at The Citadel Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Dinner

My friend Gary and I recently had the pleasure of running our Portrait Station at The Citadel Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Dinner.  It was truly an honor to be part of such a meaningful evening. The Foundation does incredible work bringing Citadel Cadets together with local alumni families who sponsor and support them during their time at the military college, providing not just financial assistance, but a genuine home away from home. The pride, tradition, and sense of community in the room were unmistakable, and it was a joy to create portraits that captured those connections and memories from such a special night.

As a professional photographer based in Charleston with over 25 years of experience, we specialize in photographing events, galas, fundraisers, receptions, and celebrations of all kinds. Beyond simply documenting your event, we also offer interactive photo entertainment that guests absolutely love.

Our most popular option is the Portrait Station. Think of it as a photo booth on steroids!!! Guests step into a full-size fashion studio, complete with professional lighting, a large backdrop, a high-end camera, and a skilled photographer guiding them through flattering, fun poses to help them look their absolute best. This isn’t a quick snap — it’s a true portrait experience!

Once the photos are taken, the images are instantly sent to our high-speed printers, where a beautiful 5×7 portrait is produced on the spot. Each print is mounted into an elegant black folio by our staff, and placed on a display table within seconds…ready for guests to pick up and take home with them. It’s a stylish, tangible keepsake from an unforgettable evening!

Plus…for instant sharing, guests can scan a QR code to receive a digital copy of their portrait directly on their phone. Posting to social media has never been easier!

If you’re interested in booking our Portrait Station for your next event, just fill out our Contact form, and I’ll be in touch with you shortly: https://chrisandcami.com/contact/.

Seamon Whiteside Headshots during Winter Storms in Greenville

Last week the eastern United States was hit with a crazy winter storm. But that didn’t stop Seamon Whiteside from soldering on with their scheduled headshots!!!

Seamon Whitesdide is one of my favorite clients. I routinely travel to their remote offices around South Carolina to update headshots for new employees, and photograph new projects they’ve been working on. We normally photograph their headshots outdoors, with natural environmental backdrops around their offices. But when the freezing weather hit, the Greenville office didn’t flinch…they simply pivoted. Their office is in a large commercial complex. So they simply reached out to their neighboring businesses and asked if we could use some of their walls as environmental backgrounds.

Everything worked out great and we were able to successfully capture headshots of their new employees in spite of the winter weather!

Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early Law Firm for Superlawyers Magazine

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a magazine feature for Super Lawyers Magazine, and it was one of those assignments that reminds me why I love this work. If you’re not familiar with them, Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized publication highlighting outstanding attorneys across the country—definitely worth checking out at www.superlawyers.com.

This particular shoot was a profile piece on the law firm of Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early LLC, a firm I’ve had the privilege of working with several times over the years. Every time we collaborate, the experience is seamless, professional, and genuinely enjoyable. Their team is welcoming, well-organized, and clearly passionate about what they do, which always translates into stronger, more authentic photographs. You can learn more about them at www.piercesloan.com.

For this assignment, I relied on my trusty Nikon Z9, pairing it with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II for all of the group shots. That lens is a workhorse—super sharp, versatile, and perfect for capturing clean, polished images with consistent results. For individual headshots, I switched to the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8, which allowed me to create flattering compression and beautiful separation while keeping the subjects relaxed and comfortable.

Lighting was handled with a combination of four Godox V860II speedlights, large Westcott shoot-through umbrellas, and Manfrotto light stands, giving me soft, even light that complemented the firm’s professional aesthetic.

Working with Super Lawyers Magazine and the team at Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early is always a highlight, and I’m grateful for the continued trust they place in my work. Assignments like this are a great reminder that trusted collaboration makes for strong imagery.