Tag Archive for: weddings by Valerie Schooling

Maggie & Zeb: Summerall Chapel and The Citadel Beach House

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This past Saturday, I had the honor and privilege of photographing the wedding of two very dear friends, Maggie & Zeb. We have all known each other since my family and I moved to Charleston when I was only 13 years old!!! Maggie and Zeb had an incredibly beautiful and fun wedding. I can’t say enough about how perfectly everything came together, so thank you to everyone who put so much hard work into making such a special day happen. 🙂

I had a hard time picking out “just” a few for this blog…so stay tuned for their album design to see all the rest!

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I highly recommend the band Soul Fish, by the way! They were just amazing and everyone had SO much fun! They can really keep the party going!
(If you’ve never heard them play, you should…they play often at several different Wild Wings as well as Rooftop at Vendue and others!)

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Also…Joyce and Chris attended Maggie’s wedding…aren’t they cute?
They’re getting married VERY soon and guess who will be their photographer? 🙂
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And Mell got a cute one of the three of us at the very end!
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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)

{a sneak peek of Emily & Eric’s e-session!}

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Earlier today, I (Valerie) had the sheer joy of doing an afternoon engagement session with Emily and Eric. 

I had SO much fun that I had to put up a “sneak peak” for you all to see….and yes, a sneak peak is just a teaser…so hold your horses, people….you will see more in a later blog post! (I promise!)

Being a former newswriter, I could attempt to describe to you in words just how sickeningly cute and head-over-heels-in-LOVE this couple is….

…or I could just show you a picture or three…

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They were also game for all my fun and creative, artsy ideas….

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And for every serious moment, there were LOTS of fun and silly ones!
(This couple could teach the class on “how to have fun on a photo shoot” – haha!)

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Hey now…..calm down, there are LOTS more to share!

So stay tuned! 🙂

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

Leah + Rob, downtown Charleston

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Talk about a cute couple! 🙂  Leah and Rob are getting married this coming April on a family plantation in a little town outside of Greenwood, SC. It’s going to be so neat and unique!

We had a great engagement portrait session! We started in Waterfront Park, and wandered around the Customs House, and a few alleyways on East Bay St.

Here are a few of my favorites:

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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

Lisa and Rodney’s wedding at the Inn at Middleton Place; Charleston, SC

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(post by Valerie Schooling)

Though I’ve been to the Inn at Middleton Place many times for receptions and rehearsal dinners, this was my first experience photographing a wedding ceremony on the grounds!

I’m sure you remember how terrible the weather was on Friday the 24th (record amounts of rain!) but Saturday was absolutely gorgeous! (Which was perfect for all of us because it was also my birthday!)

Lisa and Rodney’s wedding ceremony at the Inn at Middleton Place had the most amazing marsh view, all of the trees were covered in spanish moss, and the temperature outdoor was ideal!

Here are a few of my favorites from their day:

You can view Lisa and Rodney’s full wedding album design: Click Here

Kara and Stephen’s wedding at Lexington Baptist Church and the Columbia Marriott

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(post by Valerie Schooling)
On October 11th, I packed up all my photo-gear into the miata, and traveled to Kara and Stephen’s wedding in Columbia! Their wedding ceremony was at Lexington Baptist Church – a very neat church! Their reception was at the Columbia Marriott, and it was super classy.
Kara and Stephen are model wedding clients! I couldn’t have asked for a more happy, fun, photogenic and in-love couple. In fact, the whole wedding party was a lot of fun!
I absolutely adored Kara's dress! (So unique!)

I absolutely adored Kara's dress! (So unique!)

Stephen and his groomsmen in front of Lexington Baptist Church.

Stephen and his groomsmen in front of Lexington Baptist Church.
Party in the limosine! (Columbia Marriott or bust!)

Party in the limosine! (Columbia Marriott or bust!)

In between the wedding and the reception, we took a little stroll around the Horseshoe at USC!

In between the wedding and the reception, we took a little stroll around the Horseshoe at USC!

Kara and Stephen's fabulous first dance!

Kara and Stephen's fabulous first dance!

You can view Kara and Stephen’s full wedding album design: Click Here