January 2009 Updates

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Check out the studio’s first wedding album design of 2009:

Click here to view:

Photographed by Valerie Schooling in Greenville, SC

Also, it’s the last week of the caption contest, so please keep ’em coming!

You can submit your caption by commenting on the below image on our studio Facebook page. (We know it’s in profile pics as well as the “staff” photo album and either place is fine!)

Here’s the photo to refresh your creative juices:

caption Winner to be announced February 2nd!

There will be prizes, people!

                          :0)

Elizabeth and Skip’s wedding in Greenville, SC at Mary’s at Falls Cottage on the Reedy River

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Last Saturday, I (Valerie) had the privilege of traveling to Greenville, SC for Elizabeth and Skip’s wedding at Mary’s at Falls Cottage (by Falls Park on the Reedy River). Just let me say…what a BEAUTIFUL place for me to enjoy my first wedding of 2009! I met Elizabeth and Skip at Renee & Derek’s wedding that I shot back in the beginning of October.

Elizabeth is an absolutely gorgeous bride. She was so much fun to photograph! I told her when I was a little girl, I played with Barbie dolls…now as an adult, I play with brides. (Joking. Sort of.)  🙂 There were SO many fun shots from this wedding, it made choosing my favorites for this blog really tough!

I love the challenge shooting at new locations, especially places as beautiful as Falls Park. Just wow.

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I love this shot of Elizabeth! That is Mary’s Restaurant in the background.

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And here’s Skip, the handsome groom!

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I loved the lighting of the fountains and was excited to get a reflection shot of Skip and his groomsmen:

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The harpist, Erin Knight (www.musicbyerin.com) was so sweet to let me sneak in this shot right after the ceremony! She is a really talented harpist (and she travels all over the Carolinas for weddings if you’re looking for good harp music, hint-hint!)

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My second photographer was so much fun to shoot with that day….. Everyone, let me introduce my mom, Thoma Schooling! 🙂
This was her first time shooting a wedding with me, and she really and truly did a great job!
I am so blessed to have her as my mom and close friend (and that day, 8 hours in the car traveling buddy = AMEN!)

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Inside Mary’s, on the stairs…

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Right outside Mary’s, overlooking Falls Park on the Reedy River….under a really perfectly placed spotlight:

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The ambient lighting of the  park at night was nearly ideal…I had so much fun taking night portraits of  the newlyweds!

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One last kiss after the sparkler leave, with Mary’s in the background:

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I am currently working on their album and will post it in the next week, so stay tuned!

– Valerie

Last Wedding Album Design of 2008

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(post by Valerie)

That’s right, folks. The 2008 calendar year is coming to a close, and wow what a year it’s been! Can you believe that (Nathan & my weddings combined) our studio has shot 63 weddings this year!!!! And of course we’ve also shot countless sessions of engagements, bridals, family portraits, babies and children.

We LOVE what we do, but boy oh boy have we been busy!

April & Justin’s wedding album!

A couple weeks ago, I posted a few of April & Justin’s wedding pictures. I am proud to share their album design (don’t miss it!) www.charlestonwedding.com/weddings/garris

Also, as promised, I am now posting some of my favorites from April’s bridal session….she seriously had one of my favorite bridal sessions of all of 2008, no doubt!

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Beautiful bride!

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I just posted Jamie & Jeremy’s wedding album. They had such a terrific wedding! You MUST check out their design here: http://www.charlestonwedding.com/weddings/ciotta/

Jamie is such a stunningly beautiful bride! I thought I’d share a couple of my favorites from her bridal session:

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Katie and David’s wedding at St. Luke’s Chapel and the Wickliffe House, Charleston, SC

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St. Luke’s Chapel and the Wickliffe house are a perfect venue combination in downtown Charleston. They are a half a block walk from one another just off of the MUSC campus. Katie and David put together a sweet ceremony and reception which offered so many great picture possibilities.

The ladies got ready at the Wycliffe House where the reception was later held. Great old house with lots of windows, which makes for pretty pictures ;)

The ladies got ready at the Wickliffe House where the reception was later held. Great old house with lots of windows, which makes for pretty pictures 😉

Katie didn't let her dad see her dress until the wedding day when they had this very sweet moment.

Katie didn't let her dad see her dress until the wedding day when they had this very sweet moment.

The Wycliffe House has this beautiful spiral staircase with a north facing window. We had a lot of fun here.

The Wickliffe House has this beautiful spiral staircase with a north facing window. We had a lot of fun here.

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More fun on the stairs 🙂

This was Katie's Special request, to have a picture in the stained glass window.

This was Katie/'s request--to have a picture in the stained glass window.

They left the Wycliffe House to a fanfare of sparklers.

They left the Wickliffe House to a fanfare of sparklers.

Please check out their entire wedding album design here: http://www.charlestonwedding.com/weddings/macneill

White Point Gardens wedding and Poogan’s Porch reception!

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I seriously meet the best kinds of people through my job. (Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE what I do?) 🙂 Jamie and Jeremy were certainly no exception. They are one of the most laid back, easygoing couples you will ever meet! Their wedding was small and simple, yet beautiful and elegant.

The ceremony was at the gazebo at White Point Gardens (also referred to as “The Battery” or “Battery Park”). Jamie and her dad arrived by horse and carriage! Their reception was dinner at Poogan’s Porch on Queen Street. They did a great job at accommodating this size of a group of people, and the food was delicious!

Jamie got ready in a gorgeous hotel room at the Mills House Hotel. Also, I must add that every time I am there, I am impressed at how nice the staff of the hotel are!

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I just adore this shot of Jeremy holding their wedding rings!

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Here is Jeremy by the fountain at the Mills House Hotel:

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Jamie’s sisters and Jeremy’s military buddies were a great fun-loving group!

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After the ceremony and family photos, we got to do a few shots in White Point Gardens!

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The carriage driver (with Palmetto Carriage) even gave us a few extra minutes to take some awesome shots in my faaaaavorite Charleston alley!

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Jamie and Jeremy…thank you for choosing me to be such an important part of your wedding day! I can’t wait to show you the rest of your wedding photos! (Soon, I promise!)

And to everyone, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Wedding at St. Luke’s Chapel and Francis Marion Hotel reception!

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April + Justin, married at last!

After much planning and anticipation, April & Justin’s wedding was wonderful! They have been such a fun-loving couple to work with! 

Their rehearsal dinner was on a harbor cruise on the newly launched Spirit of the Lowcountry from SpiritLine Cruises. It is such a beautiful boat and was perfect for the occasion! (Nathan and I had the privilege of photographing the launch party for the Spirit of the Lowcountry about a month ago!)

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In April’s Dad’s rehearsal dinner toast, he referenced Forrest Gump, saying that April and Justin “are like peas and carrots”…so I ‘borrowed’ April’s engagement ring and got creative:

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April wore green heels on her wedding day. (I love fun wedding day shoes – if you can’t tell by now, haha!)

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April was so fun to photograph! I ought to share a handful of her bridal portraits in a different post soon…she had one of my favorite bridal sessions all year!

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Their wedding ceremony was at one of my favorite ceremonly locations here in Charleston – St. Luke’s Chapel! I just adore its architecture!

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I barely had to prompt the guys to ham it up for the camera…they’re all naturals at that!

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April and her bridesmaids!

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The newly-announced Mr. and Mrs. Justin Buckingham!

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They rented a trolley from Absolutely Charleston to take their guests to and from the Frances Marion Hotel. (It was such a great idea!) 

I can tell you personally how great to work with Heidi is in the Absolutely Charleston wedding transportation office. She’s the best! (She rescued my tripod that I left on the trolly – oops!)

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Wedding at Waterfront Park, by the Pineapple Fountain in Historic Charleston!

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Lourdes & William got married in Waterfront Park, right by the Pineapple Fountain! Of all the engagement sessions I’ve done downtown in that area, I was thrilled that Lourdes and William chose me to photograph their special day.

Lourdes had the neatest veil – so stylish!

She is such a fun person, and a natural at modeling! (And the sunset lighting was ideal!)

Her parents came all the way from Venezuela for her wedding! Here’s a fun selective color edit I did of her dad walking her down the aisle:

William and Lourdes smiled the whole ceremony. It is easy to tell that these two are very much in love!

Here’s one with a good view of the pineapple fountain. (Did you know that the pineapple is an international symbol of welcome? Just another tidbit of Charleston History from your photographer-tourguide, haha!)

It got dark so fast…and we had to get creative with lighting!

Shooting a large wedding party in the dark of night was a huge challenge…and the pictures turned out to be so neat and unique! I love this one:

I love this one of Lourdes and William in the alley by Waterfront Park. We snapped this one quickly on our way to the reception!

William & Lourdes have such a great sense of humor between them. She wore red shoes (which I think is fabulous) and her bridesmaids had red dresses. To be funny, William (and all of his groomsmen!) wore red socks to match.

This one captures so much of their personality in the “looks” they give each other. I love it!

Please check out their entire wedding album design here: http://www.charlestonwedding.com/weddings/nogueira

1920’s-Themed wedding at Riviera Theater in Downtown Charleston

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Joe and Madalyn through a 1920s-themed wedding at the Riviera Theater, and people dressed all out for it! The Riviera has some of the most interesting architecture and floor design in Charleston. The wedding can be held right in the theater-style seating. The front curtain can then open right up into one of the best ballrooms in Charleston.  Click here to see their whole album.

The hats were a nice touch.

The hats were a nice touch.

Madalyn had great jewelry to accent her theme.

Madalyn had great jewelry to accent her theme.

This hallway is a dream for a photographer. Columns of light! Who has collumns of light??

This hallway is a dream for a photographer. Columns of light! Who has collumns of light??

Riviera Theater adds a great touch for a wedding by putting the bride and groom's name up in lights on the Marquee.

Riviera Theater adds a great touch for a wedding by putting the bride and groom's name up in lights on the Marquee.

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Madalyn changed into and awesome theme dress for the reception. Oh, and more light columns. I love those things.

You can view Madalyn and Joe’s full wedding album design: Click Here

West Ashley House, Catholic Church, Folly Beach, & Downtown Reception (whew!)

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Nicole and Michael packed it out at their wedding! Their wedding was at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, followed by pictures on the Beach, and then a trolley to the Harbour Club Downtown for the Reception!

Nicole was the most chill bride I've worked with in a while. All the ladies where getting ready at her house, champagne in hand, and feeling good.

Nicole was the most chill bride I've worked with in a while. All the ladies were getting ready at her house, champagne in hand, and feeling good.

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Absolutely Charleston provided transportation for the wedding party that date. Their Trolleys add a great flavor to a wedding with multiple locations. Champagne kept flowing 🙂

Michael and his entourage were at Folly Beach early. Our new photographer Steve headed up their portraits.

Michael and his entourage were at Folly Beach early. Our new photographer Steve headed up their portraits.

Nicole enters. Our Lady of Good Counsel is a cute little chapel that has a pronounced "Folly Beach Feel".

Nicole enters. Our Lady of Good Counsel is a cute little chapel that has a pronounced "Folly Beach Feel".

Nicole had a Church Dress and a Beach & Reception dress.

Nicole had a Church Dress and a Beach & Reception dress.

Michael jumped the gun a little on this one when he helped Nicole with her garter.

Michael jumped the gun a little on this one when he helped Nicole with her garter.

I'm thinking this might be a good first page for the album ;)

I'm thinking this might be a good first page for the album 😉

The weather was so nice, that the tent was barely necessary, but the rooftop party with dinner downstairs was a blast. Steve took this picture from The Rooftop Bar at Vendue next door.

The weather was so nice, that the tent was barely necessary, but the rooftop party with dinner downstairs was a blast. Steve took this picture from The Rooftop Bar at Vendue next door.

You can view Nicole and Michael’s full wedding album design: Click Here