Historic Rice Mill with Z9

My friend Frank, of Francis West Studios, let me tag along on a fun wedding he was shooting at the Historic Rice Mill today.

He was the videographer for the event. So I helped out by running the secondary camera, getting drone footage, etc. But the fun part was, he let me bring the new Z9 to play with! Here are a couple dusk shots of this beautiful wedding venue taken with the new camera.

I still have a lot of subtle nuances to get used to…but this beast is really starting to feel at home in my hands! 🙂

Nina & Brendan at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Way back in May of 2020, I fell in love with Nina & Brendan during his heartfelt secret proposal to her: https://chrisandcami.com/brendans-surprises-nina-with-a-proposal/. I could tell this was indeed TRUE LOVE!!!  So you can imagine my incredible excitement when these two lovebirds asked me to photograph their wedding! Having been there with them at the beginning of this journey when she said “Yes”, it was an absolute pleasure to be with them at this special celebration when they each said “I Do”. 🙂

Nina & Brendan were married in a beautiful ceremony at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The intricate half-dome ceiling in this place is nothing short of spectacular. But it paled in comparison to how absolutely stunning Nina was in her elegant wedding gown! Normally a rugged and weathered hard-working man, I have to say Brendan was looking incredibly sharp in his pressed gray suite as well. 🙂

After exchanging vows, Nina & Brendan celebrated with all their family and friends during a fantastic reception at the Historic Rice Mill. While sail boats bobbed in the background, this beautiful old restored waterfront venue gave us some wonderful backdrops for portraits of the newlyweds…the sun slowly sinking into the Ashley River in the distance. Inside, however, the energy and excitement was electric! Between a lovely solo sung by Brendan’s father for their first dance, hilarious toasts that had everyone doubled over in laughter, and a dance floor that simply wouldn’t quit…this turned out to be the celebration of the century!

CONGRATULATIONS to Nina & Brendan! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together!!!

Cocktails for Community

Every fall, the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors hosts “Cocktails for Cummunity”, a fabulous fund raiser to help support the Realtors Housing Opportunities Fund.

The RHOF is an endowed fund created by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors supporting non-profit organizations to make a positive difference in the local community. RHOF’s giving mission is three-pronged: the repair or rehabilitation of low-to-moderate income housing, creation of new affordable housing, and education to encourage responsible homeownership. To date, RHOF has provided OVER $1 million in funding to Lowcountry nonprofits!

It was my pleasure to photograph this wonderful event again this year!

Lindsey & Brian’s Wedding at The Historic Rice Mill

Last weekend was one of the highlights of my year!

I’ve known Brian’s family for many years, photographing their family portraits when they vacationed in Charleston. Well, he’s all grown up now. Just imagine my elation when he and Lindsey asked me to photograph their wedding celebration!!! It was such an honor and a pleasure to be there for these two beautiful people.

The Big Day started off with the girls getting ready at the picturesque Governor’s House Inn, while the guys hung out at The Hotel Indigo. Somehow, everyone made their way to the ceremony location without Brian & Lindsey peeking at each other…even with a little secret hand-holding from around the wall. 😉

The ceremony was held in front of The Historic Rice Mill on the banks of the Ashley River. It was such a perfect day for a delightful outdoor wedding such as this! There was an electric buzz in the air as everyone took to their seats and enjoyed the main event! With true love in their eyes, Lindsey & Brian exchanged their beautifully written vows.

Following the ceremony, we had a fun time capturing some amazing images of Lindsey & Brian with their families and their wedding party. Perfect timing allowed for a grand-finale with portraits of the two of them in the setting sun before we headed indoors for the party-of-the century!!!

Many thanks to Brian’s mom, Nicole, for all her hard work in coordinating everything. Kudos to my good friend, and amazing photographer, Robbin, for assisting me on such a special occasion. And a big shout out to Jessica at Lowcountry Weddings by Jessica for keeping everything running smoothly all day. There are so many other amazing vendors, each providing their wonderful talent to make this whole day come together. Thank you to each and every one of them:

CONGRATULATIONS Lindsey & Brian!!! We wish you all the best as you take this next step in your beautiful new journey as husband and wife!

Lindsey & Brian’s Rehearsal Dinner

This weekend has been filled with exuberant laughter, heartfelt tears of joy, and love beyond measure!

Lindsey & Brian’s Wedding Rehearsal at the Historic Rice Mill was so much fun. Everyone was in high spirits in anticipation for the day to come. And the ensuing Rehearsal Dinner Party at High Cotton was the perfect cap to a beautiful day together. There was a palpable buzz of excitement in the air, as everyone celebrated this truly amazing couple!

With dreams of the big day ahead, here are a few favorite images from Lindsey & Brian’s Rehearsal Dinner. I can’t wait to share their amazing wedding photos soon!!!   🙂