Lucy and Kyle – Engagement Photography Session

Lucy and Kyle came fully prepared for a day of shooting with all sorts of props and outfits, but we didn’t need much of that at all. The energy between them was fantastic. Beautiful smiles and big laughs were easy to come by. It certainly didn’t hurt to  have what is easily one of the coolest dogs ever, and not just because his name is B. A. Baracus (200 brownie points if you know what that refers to!). Thanks to Lucy and Kyle for looking so good together and thanks to you for taking the time to enjoy their photos! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them.

Lindsey’s Bridal Portraits – The Lace House, Columbia, SC

Lindsey and Justin got hitched this weekend in the gardens of the Lace House at a beautiful ceremony surrounded by friends family and the setting fall sun. I can’t wait to share those photos with you, but I’ve been holding on to these photos of Lindsey from her bridal portrait session for a while now. She was a stunning bride and so much fun to photograph. I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I did creating them!

 

Allison’s Bridal Portraits – The Lace House, Columbia, SC

This weekend Allison Stoughton married Michael Moore. It was a hot carolina night with a little bit of rain and some of the best dancers in town. And now that it’s official, I can share a few of these gorgeous bridal portraits of Allison with you. Stay tuned for some sneak peaks from the wedding coming this week!

Preach Jacobs – Studio Portraits

Earlier this year I photographed local artist, DJ, and MC, Preach Jacobs. Since then, Preach has found his way into many of my photographs as he is the organizer of a lot of events around the city these days. One such event is coming up in September and it’s called Cola-Con. Our beloved city is getting it’s very own comic convention! Preach already has some world class comic talent lined up and in keeping with the hip hop focus of this comic convention, Talib Kweli will be performing! Preach will also be the first subject in a new portrait series I’m working on.

Back to portrait photos, these were shot in Preach’s home studio. I’m currently awaiting his next album. Check out his site for links to his music and enjoy the portraits.

Artist in Residence

This year I’ve been lucky enough to be picked up as the staff photographer for the 701 Center for Contemporary Art and I am absolutely loving it. I’ve covered several events since I started, but the first photos I made for the CCA were of Diana Farfan, the artist in residence, earlier this year. I’ve been holding these photos up until now. The pieces that Diana was working on during her stay at the CCA are about to on display and the opening is this Thursday!

Diana’s work is incredible and truly speaks for itself. She only said a few words about her concept while I was photographing her works in progress and the meaning and the story became immediately clear even when they were unfinished pieces waiting finishing touches and glazes. I am anxiously waiting for Thursday night so I can see all the completed pieces arranged as an installation all created by Diana. Her figure work on these is absolutely stunning.

Photographing Diana was a perfect way to spend a couple of afternoons, and I couldn’t have asked for a better subject. I had so much fun talking with her about her work and her story, which I would love to tell you, but I think Diana can tell you better than I can, so be sure to check her website. I came away with beautiful photos, a better understanding of her work, and a few great artists to check out at her recommendation (Thanks Diana!).

I hope to see  you all here on Thursday night. Until then, I hope these photos will tide you over.

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Playing with Light: A Film Maker

Continuing in my lighting experiments are some portraits with a close friend and talented film maker. This particular day was very windy so I wasn’t able to use any lighting modifiers to soften the light, but we adapted and got some great results.

First shot of the evening other than test shots to get the lighting dialed in. This is also the first in an on going series called Portraits without People.

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Playing with Light: A Kitchen

I’ve recently started experimenting with lighting set ups. I want to experiment to grow as a photographer and to have new styles to offer my clients. The day I got my lights I spent some time in the kitchen where a friend works. I used a single light set up bouncing the light off the ceiling for a broad fill. Simple and effective.

Quartered limes ready for preserving for a cupcake experiment, and of course, Bacon.

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Start From The Beginning

Okay, so it isn’t really the beginning, but it’s close. I spent a recent Saturday with my parents visiting the land where my grandmother grew up. It’s a trip I took countless times as a kid with my grandparents, but I don’t think I’ve been there since I was 10. My uncle goes up there often to keeps the trails knocked back and to make sure no one has been up to any mischief there in our family’s absence. After seeing the amount of deer tracks there, I’m sure hunting probably provides a decent amount of motivation as well.

The trip was more than worth it. The last time I was there I was far too young to truly appreciate what Family really means and it felt so nice to stand on the ground where my ancestors carved out the living that lead to the incredible life I have today. They tried to farm the land here, but with so many grand hills and dirt nearly as hard as stone it’s no surprise that they turned to jobs at one of the factories in town. But on the land covered in stone, water, and trees is an oddly lush spot where the decaying old house still stands. The day lilies that my great grandmother planted and cared for are still there, blooming every year in our absence. It’s selfish to think, but I can’t help but wonder if she ever thought her great grandson might one day be here to enjoy them.

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City Roots: Incredible, Edible, Sustainable

For me, it started with a bag of sunflower sprouts. They are a perfectly light, crisp, and slightly nutty addition to just about anything from salads to sandwiches or scrambled eggs. That was the first thing I ever bought from City Roots, one of many incredibly dedicated and innovative local businesses in the Columbia area that are doing incredible things both with our food and the methods used to get it from the field to our table. And they also happen to be one of the regular vendors at the All Local Farmer’s Market. I’m looking forward to this year as I’ll be working with them on several occasions to document the goings on, the sprouts, the green house, the field, the fish, the chickens, and whatever other additions may appear before the end of the year. I never know quite what to expect because City Roots is always changing, and it always seems to be for the better, for the farm, and for our community.

The other weekend I spent some time snooping around the chicken coup and the greenhouse during the Mardi Gras festivities to take a few photos of how things are coming along. The greenhouse is always a treat, so wonderfully vibrant and full of life. The sprouts breaking through soft soil like ancient ferns have to be my favorite. Though the water spiders who have made their home here are quite interesting as well. Perhaps what is best is that it is clearly a place where hard work occurs. Knives for harvesting hang on the wall above notes about plantings, seed trays have recently been filled and more are waiting in the ranks for the next planting. I’m can’t wait to get back when I have more time to explore and study, and I think that will be soon as the fields are quickly filling with new leaves and blooms.

Enjoy!

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Poultry Party, Mardi Gras with a purpose!

A grand parade and party were thrown a few weeks ago in order to have some fun and help out one of the best families and small businesses in the region, and it was a blast! Several weeks ago, Wil-Moore Farms lost a barn and some chicks to a fire. It seems like every week since then there have been new faces showing up to offer aid and support. The response of the community has been inspiring to observe.

The party took place at City Roots and featured wonderful music, crazy costumes, and some of the best food in town. City Roots was the perfect setting a big vibrant party like this. If you’re interested in booking an event here, be sure to get in touch with the very talented ladies at Flock and Rally.

Pigs were being smoked long before the party began and that mouth watering smell permeated the entire farm. Drums and a tractor lead the walking parade through Rosewood to the Cock and Bull and returned safely back to City Roots where the real party began. People weren’t the only ones getting dressed up for the day, even the dogs got in on the festivities with some beads and paints. Enjoy these photos of some of the details, characters, and of course, the King and Queen of the day, Robin and Keith Willoughby.

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