As a Charleston engagement photographer, we love celebrating who you are as individuals and as a couple.
We want you to see what your fiancé sees in you and why they love you so much. We want you to recognize the look they give you that says “You are the one.” That is so important to carry with you through the years because the person you are right now is the person your partner fell in love with and wanted to be with forever. As your Charleston engagement photographers, we want to capture all of these moments for you.
These photos will always remind the two of you of where you started, the fire and spirit inside each of you, and what is at the heart of your bond. Getting a reminder of that every day – so you see it, feel it, and gain strength from it – will carry you through anything that comes your way. That’s what engagement photos should give you.
Where to Take Engagement Photos in Charleston
Downtown Charleston Historic District: We’ll start at White Point Garden, more commonly known as “The Battery.” White Point Garden, which dates back to the early 18th Century, is a huge, beautiful public park right on Charleston Harbor. It’s known for its canopy of ancient oak trees and the big white gazebo in the center that dates back to 1907. We’ll then wind through the historic neighborhood next to the park, where you’ll see the old, charming, pastel-hued homes Charleston is famous for.
Folly Beach County Park: If you want a chance at sunset engagement photos in Charleston, you go to the beach at Folly Beach County Park, which curves westward at the southern end.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve: Also on Folly Beach, but at the northern end. This end of Folly has lots of character, starting with the graffiti-hewn pathway that leads to the beach from where you park. There’s a lot of love and mischief (and favorite band names) colorfully covering the pathway. Once you get out to the beach, you’ll find piles of boulders (also covered in graffiti); driftwood and beach grasses. In addition, you have views of the Morris Island Lighthouse just beyond the boulders. The Preserve gives us a lot to work with photographically and is one of Charleston’s most unique engagement photo locations!
Kiawah Island: Exploring the beach and marsh at Kiawah for your engagement photos is an adventure in itself. You’ll have beach engagement portraits, but you’ll also get portraits in the marsh areas. In addition, we’ll make use of your own backyard if you’re renting a vacation home here. Kiawah engagement photos are all about nature, and have a very organic, natural look to them.
What to Wear for your Charleston Engagement Session
Each couple is different in what they wear for their engagement photos. But for most Charleston engagement sessions, you will be walking around. Therefore, it’s best to wear comfortable shoes and something you won’t get too hot in (if in the spring or summer). For most Charleston engagement sessions, women tend to wear light, flowy dresses, and guys wear button-down shirts and either khakis or nice jeans.
Occasionally, couples will dress more formally, with the women in fancier dresses and high heels, and men in suit jackets. That totally works too – if you plan to walk a lot just bring a change of shoes you can slip in and out of.
Couples often ask if they can have a few outfit changes. We’re OK with that on our end. Just be aware it will take time away from the session. Also, you’ll need to have somewhere you can change. If that seems hard (and it definitely can be), then we recommend choosing one great outfit and sticking with it the whole session. That way, in addition to being easier logistically, your session is consistent from start to finish.
Want to see more? We’ve photographed engagement sessions all over the world – on top of glaciers, on beaches, in living rooms, even on the streets of Hong Kong. And we love photographing couples in our hometowns, including downtown Charleston, the romantic horse country outside San Francisco, the stunning high deserts of Santa Fe and the breathtaking Dolomite mountains of Italy. So let’s go where your heart takes you and discover how wonderful life can be!
If you’re already dreaming of a Charleston wedding, you might want to take a look at our Charleston wedding photos too 🙂
