Engagement

Charleston Portrait Photography Venue Rates

Charleston has received tremendous publicity in recent years, with Condé Nast Traveler naming it the best small city in the United States. To put it simply, Charleston is a charming city, replete with multiple beaches, cobblestone streets and historical sites. When choosing a location for your quintessentially Charleston family portrait, we suggest considering some of our city’s famously beautiful gardens and plantations. Myriad historic venues are also available to rent, including the William Aiken House and the American Theatre. Read on to learn more about venue rates, hours of operation, and scheduling protocols.

Family portrait at The William Aiken House

MAGNOLIA PLANTATION & GARDENS - America’s oldest public garden

  • FEE: $ 200/day flat rate 

  • HOURS: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; willing to stay open earlier or later upon request

  • SCHEDULING/POINT OF CONTACT: Caroline

    • P: 843-571-1266 (ext.2300)

Anniversary Photography at Charlestown Landing

MIDDLETON PLACE 

  • FEE: $ 175/day flat rate (includes admission for 4 people plus the photographer) 

  • HOURS: 

    • Open Sundays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    • Option to stay past 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays

    • On Sundays photographers can stay through sunset (unless a wedding or event is currently taking place)

  • SCHEDULING: Required to submit a signed contract and payment at least 3 business days prior to day of photoshoot

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Molly Sherman

Wedding Photography at Lowndes Grove

MCLEOD PLANTATION - A famous and well-preserved Gullah/Geechee heritage site that serves to recognize generations of enslaved people

  • FEE: $100 per hour between 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. and $200 per hour after 6 p.m.

  • HOURS: Photo shoots must take place Tuesday-Sunday 7-9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

  • SCHEDULING: All professional photo shoots (including, but not limited to, group or family portrait shoots) and all photography involving equipment other than a hand-held camera or cell phone must be scheduled in advance with the park office. 

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Call 843-762-9514 to schedule

Family Portrait at The William Aiken House

THE WILLIAM AIKEN HOUSE

  • FEE: $206/hour or $105/half hour 

  • HOURS: Open Monday - Wednesday for photoshoots:

    • Mondays: 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    • Tuesdays & Wednesdays:  9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  • SCHEDULING: 

    • *Must schedule at least 30 days in advance*

    • Call Jillian to schedule 

    • Photographer must complete a required photography form (Jillian can email digital form)

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Jillian

Anniversary Photography at Charlestown Landing

BOONE HALL PLANTATION - Rated #1 Plantation in the Lowcountry by USA Today

  • FEE: $500 for an annual Photo Pass

    • Photo Pass allows for a maximum of 4 guests (5 total individuals including photographer)

  • HOURS: Open Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  • SCHEDULING:  Must make reservations in advance by reaching out to Sarah Kate

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Sarah Kate

    • P: 843-884-4371 (mainline) 

      • *ask to be connected to Sarah Kate for scheduling 

The Bride - Wedding Photography at Lowndes Grove

LOWNDES GROVE

  • FEE: $206/hour or $105/half hour 

  • HOURS: Only open Monday - Wednesdays for photoshoots:

    • Mondays: 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    • Tuesdays & Wednesdays:  9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  • SCHEDULING: 

    • *Must schedule at least 30 days in advance*

    • Call Jillian to schedule 

    • Photographer must complete a required photography form (Jillian can email digital form)

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Jillian

The Bride and Groom - Wedding Photography at Lowndes Grove

THE AMERICAN THEATRE

  • FEE: $206/hour or $105/half hour 

  • HOURS: Only open Monday - Wednesdays for photoshoots:

    • Mondays: 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    • Tuesdays & Wednesdays:  9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  • SCHEDULING: 

    • *Must schedule at least 30 days in advance*

    • Call Jillian to schedule 

    • Photographer must complete a required photography form (Jillian can email digital form)

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Jillian

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

CHARLESTOWN LANDING

  • FEE: $12/Adult; $7.50/SC Senior; $7/children aged 6-15 years old; Free for children 5 and younger

    • *No props or staging permitted on property*

  • HOURS: 

    • April 1st - October 31st: 9 a.m., - 6 p.m. daily

    • November 1st - March 31st: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily

      • *Everyone needs to be in the park 5 p.m. and then off by 6 p.m. when the front gates are locked

  • SCHEDULING: N/A

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Niki Ohlandt

Anniversary Photography at Charlestown Landing

FOUNDERS HALL

  • FEE: 

    • $500 for 4 hours 

    • $200 for 2 hours (special Captured by Kate rate)*

  • SCHEDULING: *Requires a minimum of 1 months notice*

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Niki Ohlandt, Events Coordinator

Family Portrait at The William Aiken House

WINGATE PLACE 

  • FEE: No fee required (so long as it does not require a staff member to be on site)

  • SCHEDULING: *Must give a minimum of 2 weeks notice prior to scheduling a photoshoot*

    • *Schedule 3 to 4 weeks in advance during Wingate’s off-season (July and August) when they have large venue projects going on that may affect the appearance of the grounds 

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Sarah Rickman

Proposal at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

LEGARE WARING HOUSE

  • FEE: 

    • $500 for 4 hours 

    • $200 for 2 hours (special Captured by Kate rate)*

  • SCHEDULING: *Requires a minimum of 1 months notice*

  • POINT OF CONTACT: Niki Ohlandt, Events Coordinator

 
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How to Include your Pet in your Wedding

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Kiawah Island Engagement Portrait

Pets are an essential part of our families so it is understandable that you’d want them to play a part in your wedding. Couples should check with their wedding venues if pets are allowed.

Next, you should consider your pet’s personality. If your dog is shy and is going to get scared easily, having your pet walk down the aisle may not be the best idea. Once you’ve locked in a pet-friendly location and assessed your pet’s personality, you’re good to go. Here are 5 ways to include your fur-baby in your nuptials.

  1. Walking down the aisle with a bridesmaid or groomsman. It is very important to hire a dedicated sitter for your pet to make sure they are well taken care of prior to when it is time for your pet to walk down the aisle. On the wedding day, everyone will be busy getting ready so asking a family member or friend to watch your pet is not the best idea.

  2. Include them in your wedding photos. Let your wedding planner know that you’d like your pet to be part of the photos so this can be included in your day of timeline.

  3. Include them in the engagement photos. A fun way to integrate your pets without having them come to the actual wedding the day of is taking your engagement photos with them. The memories will be the same without the stress of big crowds for your pet.

  4. Use their picture in the invitations or save the dates.

  5. Incorporate them into your events on a custom cocktail napkin or signature drinks named after your pets!

This text is based on a post from: https://sjsevents.com/

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Destination Wedding Photographer

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This weekend it all starts. We have one of our busiest summers ever, and by we, I mean my associate photographer Larry Dennis and myself. (Be sure to check out Larry's bio if you have not already. He's been my right-hand man for three years, and he is fabulous!)  

Today we are headed to Charlotte, NC, for the wedding weekend of Cate and Mack. Last month I met them early one morning to photograph engagement portraits on the streets of Downtown Charleston. You do not want to skip these images - you have never seen Charleston like this!


Follow along on my Instagram stories this weekend as we celebrate at the Charlotte Country Club. On Memorial Day weekend, we will be photographing Ann Chandler and Peter's wedding in the backyard of a historic generational home in Downtown Charleston. 

The momentum keeps going as I head to the Finger Lakes in NY state for Alina and Ross' Inns of Aurora wedding. The couple flew down to Charleston this winter for an early morning engagement portraits with me. Another downtown Charleston stunner, here are their must-see - images. Our summer destinations weddings wind down as we head to Chapel Hill, NC, for Caroline and Stephen's Fearrington House Inn wedding in late June.

Kiawah Island Engagement Portraits

Kiawah Island Engagement Portraits

I am over the moon to be photographing Shannon and John Hall's wedding at the River Course on Kiawah Island in May of 2020! Shannon also asked me to photograph their engagement portraits this summer. I love working with couples before the wedding day. It's a great way to get to know each other before such a big event. Honestly, I feel like I spend more time with the bride during the wedding day than she spends with the groom. So if I can build a relationship with a bride beforehand, I jump at the chance. It makes the wedding day that much smoother. 

We started and Shannon's parent's house and ended at the Sanctuary. 

River Course on Kiawah Island
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Engagement Portraits at Charleston Air Force Base

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I photographed Maura and Rob's engagement portrait at Charleston Air Force Base a while ago. But I recently came across this portrait session, and I thought it would be a good fit for summer.

Maura, who works with my husband at Ingevity and her fiancé Rob who works at the Air Force Base and is in charge of the cargo on these giant planes were a dream to work with!  My assistant Mea (a College of Charleston student) and I met the couple at the Charleston Air Force Base on a Sunday afternoon. Rob had to go through a lot of red-tape to get us all on the base.

It was my first time seeing one of these giant aircraft close up and the size is mind-blowing. Living in Charleston, SC, we see these planes in the air all the time, and they fly very low and slow. I have no idea how they stay up in the air? 

We set out to take creative engagement portraits that were unique to the location, and I think we nailed it! We also had some pretty stunning subjects to work with! 

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Send a Message

Fill out the contact form on our website. If it’s between the hours of 9:00 am and 2:00 pm M-F, we are usually in the office. Send us a text, or preferably, give us a call! 843 442-0802. We love to chat!

Discovery Call

We like to connect over the phone. We want to hear your ideas and vision for the photos. We make recommendations based on our 20 years of photographing in the Charleston, SC area and we get you pricing.

Tailored Proposal

After our call, we will both sign a contract, you will make a payment, and then you will be on our calendar! Now you can relax and take a deep breath, knowing you've hired a professional team with years of experience!