The Best Places to Shoot in Charleston SC

Location, Location, Location!! 

Some of what makes wedding photos unique are the locations they’re shot at. And fortunately, living in one of the most historic cities in America in Charleston, SC, there are plenty of locations people can shoot great photos at to represent their wedding. From unique outdoor locations to sweet interior venues, Charleston has historic and modern places to shoot your wedding photos at. 

Considering Your Photo Setting

Remember to keep the travel time and location fees in mind when considering where to have your photos taken. Many wedding venues offer the perfect setting for your receptions, and that may or may not include an area for bride & groom photos. If you have to travel to another location, even if it is thirty to forty minutes away, that is fine; many weddings consist of a “couple hour”, where guests can enjoy cocktails while the couple takes photographs. This is beneficial to the wedding because the couple can spend quality time alone as newlyweds, while the guests can mingle and get to know one another, plus, it makes the bride and grooms entrance that much more exciting. While some plantations in the area charge a location fee, they usually wave that fee if the ceremony and/or reception occur there as well. Whichever you decide, remember to pick a beautiful and truly unique place for your wedding photographs.

Let’s take a look some unique places in Charleston.

St. Philip’s Church: In the heart of Charleston, St. Philip’s Church is one of the most recognizable places in all of South Carolina. From the gigantic pillars and steeple, it’s a great location for a Charleston wedding photo shoot. 

Dock Street Theater: With classic antebellum period style architecture, including the pillars and viaduct-looking second story arches, it’s a great backdrop to have the wedding party pose. Its history is exuded in every detail of the theatres front, creating an awesome backdrop.  

Angel Oak: One of the most recognizable trees in the world, the Angel Oak is also one of the oldest trees in South Carolina. What makes this tree unique are the branches sprawling out of the sides of the trunk. Its branch coverage shades more than 17,000 square feet. The mix of shade and sunlight creates incredible natural lighting for photos and the sprawling branches makes for an awesome backdrop.  

Market Street: Whether you can snap a quick shot in the middle of historic Market Street or in front of the iconic Confederate Museum, historic Market Street is full of great places to shoot. Since it’s usually a busy place, getting a photo can be tough, but with some patience from the people on Market Street, it could make for a spectacular photo. 

Boone Hall: A wedding photograph taken on the Avenue of Oaks would be priceless. This location has been used in many Hollywood films, and it could be used in your wedding photos. 

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6 Wedding Photography Shots You Must Have

We are all familiar with the phrase, “Why mess with success?” and this fits well with many wedding photography techniques. If it works, use it. However, it’s important to also get the pictures that go above and beyond expectations, the ones that really stand out. So let us rephrase and offer this advice, “Surpass your successes.”

Incorporating creativity into the collection of wedding photographs is going to give your album a uniqueness that others will envy. You are hiring a photographer to be your eyes at the event while you are busy living in the moment. This is the time to make sure your photographer captures all the elements you didn’t see or the ones you were a part of, but in a different light and perspective.

Here’s 6 shots you’ll definitely want in your album: 

1.) A Silhouette Shot – The elegance and contrast between the darkened silhouettes of you and your loved one and the scenery is striking. 

2.) A Telling Kiss – Every wedding album has a kiss. Getting one that shows the true love and passion between the two of you is what is going to make it really stand out.

3.) The Men Preparing – Most wedding photographers focus on the ladies getting ready; and no wonder, this is the women’s favorite, often-emotional part. However, capturing photographs of the men in rare form, emotional, nervous, and excited all at once is truly something special.

4.) Your Wedding Favors – Today’s weddings are getting continually more creative; the wedding favors being a big part of it. Having a wedding favors photograph always makes for a cute and artsy addition to any wedding photography collection.

5.) Your Hair Style – You’ve spent months deciding the perfect hairstyle. You’ve done a trial run and it’s finally time to let it shine. Make sure you remember just hot pristine and glamorous your hair looked this evening. After all, a good hairdo like this doesn’t come too often!

6.) The Lighting – This is what is setting the mood and ambiance for your reception venue. Whether you have floating Chinese lanterns, decorated trees, a strung canopy of lights or something completely different, getting a fun and innovative shot of the electric accessory always proves to be magical.

Here are just a couple ideas, but I have much more. In my experience as a Charleston SC wedding photographer, I’ve had the pleasure of capturing countless unique photographs that leave my clients speechless. Love some of the ideas above? Let me know and we’ll brainstorm more fun and exciting ways to capture the wedding of your dreams like even you have never imagined!

10 Must-Have Fun Photos For Your Wedding Party

 

Fun Bridal Party Photos

Wedding planning comes with many questions. What kind of food should you provide your guests? What band or DJ will you hire? What color and flavor of cake will you decide on? On and on the questions keep coming. One of the most important questions you'll want to ask yourself is, “what kind of photos do I want of my bridal party.” The bridal party photos can be some of the most fun and memorable photos that you will take at your wedding.

You have just spent the past handful of hours running through the wedding. The big day has arrived. Everyone stood still and quiet during the whole ceremony. Now, it's time to loosen up a bit. Sure, you'll probably want a few traditional photos with your bridal party (standing staggered on the stage, for example). However, get creative and fun as well. One really fun and interesting pose you and your bridesmaids can use is this: everyone stands in a line behind the bride, and then each person sticks their head out to the side, alternating between right and left. It produces a super-cool looking shot, and is quite fun to do as well.

Now, it's time for a shot for the guys. Go for a far-shot of all the groomsmen. Instead of having them stand side-by-side, have them spread out a bit. Get a good two to three foot gap between each groomsman. This gives the photo a wide-open feeling. It is a really unique and great looking picture. Another playful shot you can take (this applies to both bridesmaids and groomsmen), is to get their reactions to the bride/groom's wedding rings. Have them put their hands on their cheeks or excitedly in the air in response to looking at your ring.

Be sure to have fun with the photos. If you and your party are having fun then, in turn, that playful and amusing attitude will carry through to the pictures. Once the ceremony is over, it is time to celebrate! So, be sure to relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding and picture-taking escapades. 

Emotional and Beautiful Groom and Groomsmen Photographs

Weddings are magical. To be part of a couple's special day is an honor for a photographer. We often blush about the bride, the flowers, the cake and the ambiance of the reception.

As a photographer, my joy comes from capturing the people and the moments they share. One of the most important people that we like to capture is the groom.

It is common to encounter an emotional, blissful bride who can't wait to say her I-Do's. But what is equally as special is the emotion emanating from the groom, both tears and cheers!

The anticipation and excitement on a groom's face as his brides makes her way down the aisle is priceless. Here's a compiled list of ten favorite shots to capture a soon-to-be husband's emotion on the biggest day of his life. 

The Groom with groomsmen

 

 

 

The Guys Getting Ready

The Groom's expression as he watches his bride walk down the aisle

The "You may kiss your bride!" Kiss

 Groom dancing with his mother 
 

All of the guys together

The moment when the bride and groom enter their reception

First dance with the bride and groom

 

 

The happy couple as they leave their reception

 

 

 

As you start or finish your wedding day planning, we'd like to wish you good luck and best wishes! To learn more about must-have wedding photographs and our services, please feel free to contact us.

Professional Wedding Photography Etiquette

This is a time when all your dreams come true and of course, you want your wedding to be perfect. Wedding ideas are ever changing, but one of the most important, consistent, decisions to make is selecting your photographer.

As a couple, there are a few photography etiquette ideas you should know upfront and some ideas to think of ahead of time.

Creating the most well rounded wedding album is to include candid and posed shots. Photographers with photojournalism experience have established a repertoire of techniques for both.

Formal pictures are essential for wedding day photographer.  Formals are best left for the time before the ceremony, between ceremony and reception, during and after reception.

Planning a wedding on a tight budget is very possible. Just remember, if you choose a family friend or relative with no prior photography experience, the results could turn out to be less than what you intended.

It's your day, your pictures, your memories. By creating a detailed list of must-have pictures and what kinds of shots are your least favorite helps the photographer from intruding when you're having a good time.

Black and white photos are becoming very popular in today's wedding photography trends. However, the colorful shots capture so much beauty of the day. 

A few etiquette rules you can expect from a professional photographer.

A professional photographer is one who respects the couple's wishes. This also means arriving on time, equipped, treating bridal party and family with respect and being flexible.

Intruding on the couple by asking unnecessary questions is unacceptable. The majority of the details and specific shots will be planned ahead of time.

Weddings are formal where everyone in attendance is to dress accordingly including photographers and their assistant.

It's common for brides to get photographed while they are putting on their dress and this is one of those times when the photographer acts professionally and with decency.

Above all, a good photographer is one that acts with good judgment and upholds their character, which is what you can expect from Rick Dean Photography.