Kim ORourke Photo Session

Kim and her husband Craig did a photoshoot today.

I wanted to experiment with "High Key". Kim is a member of the Upstate Photography Club and beautiful!

Miss Devil Dog Pagent

Miss Devil Dog Pageant - Travelers Rest High School
Dick Stevens Photography was asked to photograph the Miss Devil Dog Pageant in Travelers Rest, SC. With MANY contestants and full length and head shots to be taken during the event, Dick asked me to help out.

Dick has been doing beauty pageants for years. I took my cues from him and together we created some beautiful shots.

The two division were 0 to 12 yrs. old and from 13 to 18 yrs. old. In the 0-12 division there were 7 categories. Master, Baby Miss, Tiny Miss, Little Miss, Petite Miss, Young Miss and Pre-teen Miss.
I hope we can do some more pageants.

Upstate Photography Club Meeting

The Upstate Photography Club met at my studio for a posing class tonight. We made it a pot luck event and everyone brought lots of food.

We had a couple of models present for the posing class. Dick Stevens of Dick Stevens Photography directed the class.

We had about 17 photographers present. It was fun, educational and yummy, all at once!

Night Shoot

I went out tonight to shoot some of Greenville, at NIGHT!

I try to always do new things and learn more about photography. I can apply all these new experiments and lessons learned to every shot I take.

Southern Dance Connection Group Shots

Southern Dance Connection's Dance Teams crowded into Grace Studio today for team portraits. I never thought I could fit that many into the studio!

Dancers posed for the picture and more than a dozen parents behind me, the place was a bit busy. To fit them all in a single shot, I had to really work on the pose and shoot from atop a ladder.

These teams are really racking up the trophies.

Their annual recital is only a couple of months away.

St. Valentine's Day Wedding

Jennifer and Darrell were married at the Davenport in Greer SC.

Before the wedding, I arranged for some fun shots of the bride and bridesmaids in a store window right next door to the Davenport. We did the traditional formal shots and then I told them to follow me for a surprise. I had pre-arranged access to the storefront window earlier that morning when I saw the window and inspiration struck. The ladies loved it!

I did the same for the gents. Right next to the cafe storefront is a men's shop. They really enjoyed it!
Jennifer's 5 year old daughter, Lexie, was the flower girl. During the wedding ceremony, the wedding couple and Lexie were joined in a medallion ceremony - three rings intertwined symbolizing the three lives becoming one.

All the guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they had seen in years.

Shootout at the Botanical Gardens

A local photographer decided to have a "Model Shootout". A model shootout means several photographers and models gather together and just have fun shooting! This shootout started out at the SC Botanical Gardens in Clemson and ended the day at my studio.

The models get the shots for their portfolios and the photographers keep copies to show off their skills. Everybody wins and has fun!
Allie gives me some attitude.

Jennifer Hooper Bridal Session

Jennifer is getting married in 12 days. She has postponed and delayed her bridal session a number of times. We finally managed a couple of hours of shooting after she got off work today.

Her wedding will be Valentines Day, February 14th. I would expect that her hubby will never forget their anniversary date!

Sgt. Shawn F. Hill Funeral

Sgt. Shawn F. Hill, a Spartanburg County native and former all-region football player at Byrnes High School, died Wednesday in Afghanistan from wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
The US Army Honor Guard asked me to be the only photographer present, and provide the photos for the family. I was honored to do so.


The family requested the presence of the Patriot Guard Riders at his visitation and service since the Westboro Baptist Church / Cult picketted the services. Thank you Patriot Guard...

Hyesun's Bridal Shoot

Hyesun wants a bridal photo! Yes, she got married back in August, but she never found time for a bridal session. Now, almost 6 months later, we plan to head for Furman University to photographer her with Furman's Lake as the backdrop. It is a bright beautiful day. On the way to Furman, I saw a cute little pond. I asked Hyesun if she would mind stopping here first. I knocked on the owners door and asked permission to do a mini shoot in their front yard. Then I got these images:



After the pond shoot, we resumed our trip to Furman. When we arrived, we were shocked to find the lake had been drained for repairs!!! With the sun setting, I set up for a silhouette shot against the shiny mud where water was supposed to be. Here is what we got:
Hyesun loved it! It is now on her wall with a short story to accompany it...

Imagine the shot I could have gotten with actual water in the lake!