by Kim | May 12, 2014 | Family, Maternity |
Kristy and Ryan are expecting their first child any day now. We recently shot their Charleston beach maternity session early one morning on Folly. Shooting at sunrise gave us the opportunity for all of this brilliant color that we would have missed shooting just an hour later in the day. I love an early session when the temperatures are still cool and crowds haven’t gathered yet. This gave us the chance to use the views up and down the beach in both directions, giving us beautiful backlit silhouettes, as well as the soft early light on their faces. We look forward to meeting their baby boy soon and taking him out for his first...
by Kim | Sep 21, 2011 | Children, Family |
Since it is all glum and overcast outside today, this sunny Kiawah Island beach session is just the remedy to brighten things up. The Moore family came back to visit the place where “Mommy and Daddy” first became Mr. & Mrs. Moore. We went back to the Sanctuary grounds for some pictures, sitting on the lawn right where their ceremony was held. And the kids got their first “toes in the sand” experience on the beach just behind the Ocean Course clubhouse. What the family wanted most were some classic black and white shots that could grace their walls and some fun candids of the kids playing. ...
by Kim | Jul 2, 2011 | Children, Family |
This sweet family lives in Beaufort, but our ties run deep. Peyton’s grandmother Gretchen became a good friend of mine years back when we worked together on her daughter’s wedding. Gretchen is a design maven here in Charleston, so I am hugely flattered anytime she calls on me. This time her call was to bestow my services as a gift to her son’s family. Peyton is the first grandchild in the family and loved like the angel she resembles. We chose to shoot downtown to take advantage of the Charleston scenery and revisit a few places special to Peyton’s parents. After chasing Peyton through the park and around several trees, she quite beautifully collapsed on her favorite blanket. Then she rolled over and gave me these “older than her years” poses that made her daddy blush. This precious child LOVED to smell flowers. And like most children, her curiosity for all things new overcame her desire to pose for the camera. But these sweet and playful photos are exactly why I love to photograph children. Yes, she was waving at the tourists walking by….how adorable! This is where Adam and Amy stopped to show Peyton where they were married. :...
by Kim | May 9, 2011 | Bridal |
Congrats go out to Kelli and David who tied the knot Saturday at the Thomas Bennett House in Charleston! It was a glorious day for their beautiful wedding. There will be wedding pictures coming up at a later date, but I am always excited for the wedding to get here so I can show off the bridal portraits. Here are just a few of the many shots we took all over the grounds and throughout the house. The Thomas Bennett House is one of my favorite spots in Charleston, as you can see we have so much historical prettiness to work with. Thanks for being so great to work with Kelli!...
by Kim | Mar 11, 2011 | Weddings |
Not every story is easy to tell. Some stories leave such an impression that words don’t seem adequate. It’s every photographer’s hope to help tell these stories with meaningful photographs. This couple briefly stepped into my world and I can not stop thinking about them. Their story is still somewhat of a puzzle to me, one where I have only a few of the pieces. First, they are the youngest couple I have ever photographed being wed. He is a sailor. Old enough to serve our country but too young to celebrate the marriage with even a champagne toast. She is a college freshman living on the opposite coast from her beloved, still at home with her mother. She wore an anchor charm around her neck and came down the stairs barefoot to meet her groom, not a bit of makeup on her clean face. He never uttered a word until he was asked to give his vows, just stood there with his hands folded and face a little red. I’ve never seen a young man so nervous or hold his breath so long. Her mother was in attendance and their only witness, other than the officiant and myself, to the wedding. I’ve named them Romeo and Juliet for a few reasons. His father does not approve of their relationship….too serious at too young an age. He is someone of importance in the film industry in Hollywood, and I imagine he has his own expectations for his son. They intend to keep their marriage a secret until they feel it is appropriate to announce it. Or to recreate it...
by Kim | Mar 5, 2011 | Family |
Lori and her family have known my family since our children were in school together at Montessori. And then at the next school. And then living in the same neighborhood. And then we found ourselves a part of the same church. The many intersecting circles of our lives. It’s such a joy “doing life” together! As her twin children find themselves heading off to high school, Lori knew family photographs were in order. Time to “stop time” with some memories to hang on the walls. This brother and sister are definitely siblings. Plenty of love/punches, smiles/snarls, giggles/screams. I loved being a part of their afternoon and playing right along with...
by Kim | Mar 5, 2011 | Weddings |
PART 2 OF 2: The personal touches and the family stories really made this intimate wedding special. Heidi had beautiful miniature wedding cakes designed, one for each guest, instead of the traditional single larger cake. Heidi’s mother is an excellent seamstress. She crafted a hair piece, bridal purse and bouquet adornments from the extra rosettes left over after Heidi’s dress was fitted. Sunil’s parents spent almost 24 hours in airports and on planes traveling from India to be at their son’s wedding. The families met here in Charleston for the first time. It was interesting to see the cultures and family traditions mingle in such a sweet way. And I fell head over heels for Heidi’s little boy, who reminded me so very much of my own little red-headed freckle-faced son. The couple started off with a “first sight” before the ceremony so that we could utilize the grounds for pictures before the sun set. I love having that freedom beforehand to spend time with the couple getting all the portraits their hearts desire….without missing a moment of their reception! The Wentworth Mansion served as ceremony site and the guests moved their celebration over to Circa 1886 for the dinner reception. Nancy Russell was the officiant. Heidi’s hair and makeup were courtesy of Whispers on Wentworth. The Cake Stand provided the miniature cakes and created the cake display. All floral arrangements and the bride’s bouquet were created by Ginny Severs of Charming Inns....
by Kim | Mar 4, 2011 | Engagement |
PART 1 OF 2: Sunil and Heidi found me via the wonderful internet, all the way from their home in Wisconsin. Since they were in town for less than a week, we shot their engagement photos a few days prior to their wedding. Being no strangers to cold weather, they handled our blustery February weather with style. This was my first meeting with the couple, but I instantly felt like old friends with them. It is pretty cool the way they met, too. Online dating! eHarmony, maybe those commercials are real afterall. :...
by Kim | Mar 4, 2011 | Bridal |
Jennifer is back on the blog with her bridal portraits, soon to be followed by her wedding photos, all shot on location at beautiful Lowndes Grove. The setting is perfectly classic Charleston…a waterfront plantation, surrounded by live oaks, and lots of historic grandeur. Jennifer has such a classic Southern look, from her dress to her hair to her pearls and garden roses. I couldn’t imagine a better place to showcase all that prettiness. We managed to snag a slightly cool (occasionally sunny) day in February for these portraits, which is no small miracle during the rainy week we’d had. Many thanks to the coordinating skills of LWSE, the staff on hand from Lowndes Grove, the bride’s bouquet from Timeless Designs, and Jennifer’s hair and makeup by Stuart Laurence...
by Kim | Feb 18, 2011 | Children, Newborn |
Working with Liam made me yearn for another baby to hold and snuggle, so it’s good that I can photograph them to get my fix. Annie, whose maternity session was featured a short while back, told me that her brand new baby loved to sleep the mornings away. He was just 11 days old when we met up, but I think he must have liked me. He wouldn’t shut his eyes for anything. We came back and tried it again the following morning with more success. You’ll see Annie’s super duper trick for keeping a newborn warm and happy on a frigid winter morning. I am definitely stealing this idea for future use on cold days! Big brother might have been a little excited, too….he jumped in front of the camera between snacks and playing behind the camera with me. Annie is demonstrating her amazing skills...
