A few weeks ago I had the chance to photograph an amazing horse, Finale.
Finale is owned by Jill's mother and she wanted to do something for her mom and she thought what a better gift than photographs of something she really loved. Even Jill's mother's dog jumped into the action and after a little cajoling--so did Jill. That way, I thought, her mother would have pictures of everything she loved!
If your looking for a unique gift for someone you love, a photography session is a great gift. Call (803) 528-6464 or email for rates and to check out the current discounts.
It's summertime and that means festivals and parades.
The Hampton Watermelon festival is all about the watermelon. Really, everyone and everything is covered in watermelons. From umbrellas, to keep the sun at bay, to signs, to a classic watermelon eatting contest, the watermelon is king!
To learn more about this festival and others in South Carolina, go to www.discoversouthcarolina.com.
Not a bad way to spend the day floating on the river with folks who know the ins and outs.
Check out the RiverRats, www.riverratscanoerentals.com, for some great fun.
Used with permission of South Carolina Living.
It's hot.
I know it's summertime and this is South Carolina, but it's really hot!
Looking for a great place to get away? Within driving distance. The kind of place that once you unpack you don't need to worry about anything.
You've got to check out Island Vista Resort, www.islandvista.com, in Myrtle Beach. This place has it all. Two pools, hottubs, a lazy river, a spa, huge rooms and suites and a terrific restaurant and the nicest owner/operators, the Chapmans. All of this nestled right on the beach.
Wish I was there right now!!
If your looking for a special place for that bridal luncheon, intimate reception venue you would be wise to check out the Blue Marlin's Vista Room smack in the middle of Columbia's Vista.
Recently they hosted a sustainable seafood dinner, one of many, check their website and sign up for their email alerts to the next one. The Blue Marlin is proud to be part of the Sustainable Seafood Iniative which means that they serve fish that are caught or farmed with consideration for the long-term viability of individual marine species and for the oceans' ecologicial balance as a whole. Pretty cool!
Here are a few pictures from the evening.
I photographed a story for the Wall Street Journal. It ran in Wednesday's (05/19) paper and was about stay at home dads who are going back to work.
Here are some photos of Morgan and his beautiful son Eli at home in Columbia and at his work as a producer at WOLO television station downtown.
School is almost over and who isn't looking forward to that trip to the beach, pool or park. Here's an idea if your looking for something different and fun, bring along a photographer.
Your family is relaxed and happy, it's a great time for pictures.
Give a shout to talk about lifestyle family and kid sessions.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was in Columbia the other day helping to campaign for Nikki Haley, who is a Republican gubernatorial candiate.
The event was at the Statehouse and according to the Associated Press and The State, about a 1,000 people turned out to hear both women speak.
A few protestors showed up.
Here are a few images from the event.
I found out recently I know very little about Sumter, S.C.
I knew about the amazing Shaw Air base and that the city was nicknamed "The Gamecock City" and that I need to go around it to get to the beach.
That was it. I'm not proud.
So when I got the call to photograph food at Hamptons Restaurant I was surprised to learn about this fine dining restaurant with amazing and delicious food.
They have a great space at 4 W. Hampton Street right downtown.
I introduced you to the chef in the last post, Laurence Gottlieb so now I'd like to introduce his food.
And for those of you looking for a place to have that perfect wedding or rehearsal dinner check out Hamptons at www.hamptonsfoods.net.
Did I mention they have a bakery!
Enjoy.
I love Top Chef, the television show. I love making pictures of chefs and of course their food!
In the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to photograph Chef Brian Dukes and Chef de Cuisine, Adams Hayne at The Blue Marlin Restaurant in Columbia, smack dab in the middle of the Vista. They are the first photos you see and Chef Laurence Gottlieb at Hamptons on the corner of Main St and Hampton Avenue in Sumter. Yes, that is a real chicken that Chef Laurence is holding. All of these chefs are true artists. I highly recommend a visit to both restaurants if you love great food.
If you are searching for great catering for your wedding, rehearsal dinner or just having a great event and need some great food, you should check out Carolina Cuisine, www.carolinacuisinesc.com.
I got a chance to sample some of their food at the Bollywood /PAALS fundraiser at the Windermere Country Club. The event was to raise money for PAALS (Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services) who train and provide dogs for individuals with varying disabilities. Carolina Cuisine stepped up with some great Indian inspired dishes that tasted as great as they looked.
On occasion I do some work for the Charleston Silver Lady, www.charlestonsilverlady.com, Dawn Evers Corley. She is the expert on everything silver and her knowledge of antiques is amazing. Whenever I get to shoot some of her latest collections it's like being asked to photograph museum pieces, except they are not under glass or behind ropes and I can hold them. It's quite a treat.
Some of the latest things she had asked me to shoot where wedding antiques. In the large photo you'll see pieces that might have been given as a gift to the bride. From a silver fruit basket, to ornate silver flatware and in the upper right of the image a silver basket that held the wedding bouquet, wrapped of course in cypress grass. All of these items date in the 1800's and some even before. But what I found truly beautiful was the tiny silver vial in the shape of an ear of corn. This was tied to the wedding bouquet and the bride would catch the tears from her wedding day in it.
If your looking for that unique gift for that special bride, something that can be passed down through the generations, check out the Charleston Silver lady. She has a shop in Lexington, S.C. open by appointment only. It's a beautiful trip into the past.
It's not often that I get to wake up to about five or siz inches of snow on the ground. It's highly unusual here. So after we moved some limbs out of the yard, the snow was pretty heavy, and headed down the street I stumbled upon Yankess. I know what your thinking, well THAT'S not unusual. It is!! A group of Yankees' and their three cannons were parked at the end of my street re-enacting the firing on the State House by Gen. Sherman.
So hope you enjoy some Yankees and cannons and a few snow pictures from my neighborhood.
I love photographing families and kids. Kids are so great! So whenever I head down to Charleston, I love to taking pictures of my sister's kids. I know that pretty soon they may get tired of their Aunt pointing the camera at them, but until then I will keep taking advantage of it. Who knows, perhaps one of them may want to try their hand at it, I know that one of them got a camera for Christmas and seems to be a budding little photojournalist. I can only hope.
Well, I can honestly say this wedding was for the dogs.
Really.
PAALS (Palmetto Animal Assistance Life Services) was honoring it's volunteers with a party and a wedding for Charlie and Akira. These two wonderful dogs, who just celebrated with a litter of six potential service puppies, tied the knot at the community room at the Sandhills Mall.
Cecilia Reynolds, warden of Kershaw Correctional Institution, performed the ceremony. Some of PAALS service dogs are being trained with the help of inmates at Kershaw.
The bride wore a white over the back dress with a veil and the groom, a tux jacket and top hat. In lieu of rings, bride and groom rhinestone collars were exchanged and Charlie did manage did remove the garter from Akira. Both the bride and groom and other dogs in attendance feasted on a lovely cake.
If you would like to learn about volunteering with PAALS or making a donation, please check out their website at www.paals.org. And yes, you can find out where Charlie and Akira are registered. It's not too late.
Jimmy and Diana like doing things differently. So when they said they wanted to do a bride and groom session after the wedding I was all for it.
These two have no fear and love doing things together. Diana is a champion figure skater, she was the Taiwanese national champion in 2003 and Jimmy has become quite the skater thanks to Diana. They rollerbladed, climbed trees and climbed into windows. No fear and the dress was totally fine after the session.
They were just a blast and here are a few of my favorites.
This weekend Dale and I had the opportunity to stay at cabin at Hunting Island State Park down in Beaufort county. I'm sure most folks know about the state park, it's South Carolina's most popular and it really has to be one of the most beautiful.
Our cabin looked out onto Fripp Inlet with a view of Fripp Island directly in front of us. The porch offered a perfect place to watch the sunsets each night.
If you've never taken the opportunity to visit the many state parks that South Carolina has to offer, don't wait any longer. From camping to cabins it's great. If your like me, I'm sure this year has stressed you out and I recommend that you take some time for yourself, and at least for the day or the weekend or if you're really lucky to be able to take a week, head to a state park. It refreshes the body and the soul.
If you'd like more information about all the parks in our state, go to www.southcarolinaparks.com and pick the perfect place for yourself and your family and hit the road. Have an adventure, you'll feel better, I know I do.
I just had one of the best weddings. I'm pretty sure it had everything to do with the bride and groom, Diana and Jimmy.
When Diana first contacted me, I was pretty sure that someone was teasing me. Her voice was so high that I was convinced that she was too young to be on the phone! She has a very delicate voice and a terrific laugh. She and her now husband, Jimmy, love teasing me about this.
What I love teasing Diana about is that she never mentioned that she was a world champion figure skater. Really, I practically tripped over a pile of medals in her bedroom and she casually mentioned that she was the 2003 Taiwanese national champion. Check out one of my earlier posts and see Diana in action in wedding dress and roller blades.
Diana and jimmy were married at the Gassaway Mansion in Greenville, S.C. It was perfect weather and a beautiful place. The mansion is the largest home in the Upstate and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Here's some of my favorites.
Mike and Kathleen are such a fun couple.
They are getting married next September and you can tell they are just delighted with each other. They wanted to do some fun engagement photos around Columbia. If after seeing these photos, you think that Mike and Kathleen have a true love of Groucho's STP sandwiches, think again. They do love the food, but it's also where Mike proposed.
I can't wait for the wedding.
First a sneak peek from Diana and Jimmy's wedding and now a sneak peek of their bride and groom portrait session. I didn't realize that Diana was a former National Taiwanese skating champion. She never mentioned it until I almost stumbled over a pile of medals in her bedroom. Seriously.
So when Jimmy and Diana were thinking about the kind of portrait they wanted, well they wanted to skate. Diana had taught Jimmy how when they first met and both of them were terrific. I promise more later.
