Hayden Family at White Point Garden

For her birthday this year, Claire asked Doug for an extended family portrait session with her kids, parents, brother, and sister-in-law. We made it happen!

The weather all weekend was predicted to be rainy and overcast. So we pushed the session, originally planned for Saturday morning, to Sunday afternoon. As luck would have it, the rains moved out of town just in time for the sun to come out for our beautiful portrait session!

I met up with everyone at White Point Garden, where we captured a variety of shots with the extended family. After they took off to drive back to Charlotte, I continued on with Claire, Doug, and their adorable girls. We walked up into the old historic parts of town for some cool backdrops with ivy-covered walls, black iron gates, and more!

It was an absolute pleasure helping make Claire’s birthday wish come true!

Alex & Hannah’s Surprise Proposal at White Point Garden

Alex’s heartfelt email arrived on my desktop back in July: “I’m looking to propose to my girlfriend on the evening of either 11/11/22 or 11/12/22 and would love to have the surprise proposal photographed.”. (I owe my good friend and amazing photographer, Michael Cyra, a HUGE Thank You for recommending us to him!)

This contact sparked a wonderful series of emails and phone conversations with Alex, in which we concocted a secret plan of action. Alex & Hannah were going to be visiting Charleston that weekend. We decided that after a fun tour of The Aquarium, he was going to let her know he had arranged for a private walking tour around historic Downtown Charleston for the two of them. And they had to meet their “tour guide” under a certain tree at White Point Garden.

When the big day arrived, I got to the park ahead of schedule, and set up my spot. Due to the wind (remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole that had passed through days before), Alex and I had to call an audible. We needed to reverse their positions so that Hannah’s hair wouldn’t be blowing in her face! 🙂 Alex handled the change of directions with confidence and discretion…expertly guiding Hannah to a beautiful spot on the lawn, underneath the avenue of oaks that line the edge of the park.

Dropping to his knee, Alex delivered a beautiful speech, and asked Hannah to be his wife. SHE SAID YES!!! The park was filled with tons of tourists, who all noticed what was going on, and broke out in applause afterwards! It was such a special moment.

Following their surprise proposal, Alex, Hannah, and I enjoyed a wonderful stroll through the park, into the surrounding old historic district, ending up along The Battery for some dramatic shots with the sun setting in the distance over the Ashley River!

CONGRATULATIONS Alex & Hannah!!! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together…

Hunter & Sydney’s Surprise Proposal at White Point Garden

She was so surprised that she dropped her phone!!!

I had so much fun photographing Hunter’s surprise proposal to his beautiful girlfriend, Sydney! Hunter works on the nuclear subs in the Navy, and may be getting stationed in California soon. He and Sydney have been together for a year now, and are a match made in heaven! He knew in his heart this was the girl of his dreams. So he wanted to promise her his undying love before shipping out.

Hunter & Sydney had their first date at White Point Garden. So he and I arranged for him to propose in that beautiful park, underneath a giant oak tree, near the bench where they had their first kiss. It was a magical moment! And she was so surprised that she dropped her phone!!! 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS Hunter & Sydney! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together!!!

Lizzie & Frank’s Secret Proposal

No matter how many proposals I photograph, my heart races with each and every one!

Frank and I worked hard to plan out every detail of his surprise proposal to long-time girlfriend, Lizzie. But when the big day arrived, there were “issues” with the spot we had picked. With my heart pounding, I texted Frank to let him know. He was AMAZING…able to think quickly on his feet so that we could shift the location for an even more beautiful moment!

Frank asked Lizzie to be his wife underneath a gorgeous avenue of live oaks at White Point Garden. It was such an honor to capture this special moment for them! Afterwards, we had a BLAST walking around old historic downtown Charleston, photographing some authentic engagement photos for them.

It was great to get to know this kind, caring, and wonderful couple. CONGRATULATIONS Lizzie & Frank!!!

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!!!

Megan’s Modeling Debut

Megan is such a gorgeous young lady with a beautiful spirit!

It’s been a pleasure getting to know her over the years as I photograph for the company she works for.  I was so excited to finally get to photograph her yesterday. We met up at White Point Garden and had a fun little fashion shoot as we toured some of the old historic downtown areas. Then we zipped over to the Ashley River for a grand finale with the dramatic sunset!

Thanks for a great session, Megan! YOU ROCK!!!

Elika & Jonathan at White Point Garden

It’s been a real joy getting to know Elika & Jonathan via email. But that doesn’t even compare to what a pleasure it was to meet them in person and hang out with them downtown on one of the most beautiful days so far this year!!!

Starting at the gazebo in the park at White Point Garden, we walked around the old historic part of downtown Charleston, ending up along The Battery for a dramatic sunset. Along the way we laughed and chatted non-stop. I felt like we were old friends re-united!!!

Many thanks to Rachel at www.eleventsandco.com for referring Elika & Jonathan to me. They are such an AMAZING couple! I can tell we are an absolutely perfect fit.

CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement, Elika & Jonathan! I can’t wait to be there for you guys on your wedding day… 🙂

Caroline & Matt’s Secret Wedding Proposal

“I am stationed at the Navy Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek. I will be graduating on March 20th, and I plan on proposing to my girlfriend downtown later that afternoon.”

WOW!!! Matt wrote this to me back on February 5th! I think it is SO COOL when guys make such special plans, so far in advance, to capture all the excitement of their marriage proposal. It really takes a special kind of guy to recognize the importance of the occasion, and to want to preserve it for his future fiance to be able to remember it through beautiful photographs!

Matt & I became great pen-pals over the ensueing weeks, as we discussed locations, times, and logistics…finally settling on a great game plan. After graduation, he and his family, along with Caroline, would have lunch downtown at Cru Cafe. He and Caroline would then take a nice stroll down to The Battery while his parents went on a carriage tour. Once they got to White Point Garden, we had a special spot all picked out, where he would take a knee and ask Caroline to be his wife!

I arrived early and got everything staged for their arrival. Entering the park right on cue, everything went down absolutely perfect! Oh, and as if you can’t tell by the photos, Caroline said “YES”!!!  🙂

CONGRATULATIONS Caroline & Matt! In the brief moments we shared together, I could tell you are two souls who are beautifully and wonderfully made PERFECT for each other. We wish for you all the love and happiness that you deserve!!!

Tony & Courtney’s Proposal

It was the end of a long day. I’d already had a full schedule of assignments. But when my friend Robbin asked me to help Tony out, a friend of our mutual friend, Trevor, how could I resist. After all, he was planning to propose to his girlfriend!!!

I absolutely love photographing secret wedding proposals. It’s fun to hide and play “sniper”. But more importantly, it’s such a joy to witness this beautiful once-in-a-lifetime event in a couple’s lives!

Tony & I had grand plans for his proposal at White Point Garden, also known as Battery Park. But not knowing what was in store, Courtney was not playing along! She just didn’t understand why he had to stop and see his “client” before dinner? And why did he have to park so far away, forcing them to walk through the park? But in the end, it worked out PERFECT!!!

Even though they’ve known each other for 7 years, Courtney was completely surprised! For the record, she did say “yes”. 🙂 Well done, Tony…you are THE MAN! Congratulations to you both…

Friendly Fire

It’s quite amazing how many weddings take place in Charleston on any given weekend.  So it’s not uncommon for me to bump into another wedding party being photographed by one of my friends.  Last weekend I ran into my good friends and fellow photographers Joey & Kasey of Olive Productions at White Point Gardens!  I saw them first and squeezed off a couple frames before Joey got the drop on me.  J

Joy & Michael on the Carolina Girl

Joy & Michael had an AMAZING wedding celebration last weekend!!! Their day started out at the fabulous Wentworth Mansion…a beautiful and historic place I always love photographing in. They were married on the Carolina Girl Yacht with The Battery as our scenic backdrop. Camille did a fantastic job as usual orchestrating everything. All of Joy & Michael’s friends and family were on board to help them celebrate. So the party went on non-stop throughout the evening as Captain Bob and his crew took us on a romantic cruise all over Charleston Harbor.

Click Here to see the rest of their photos. CONGRATULATIONS, Joy & Michael! You guys are an AWESOME couple!!!