College of Charleston Graduation Portrait

Early Morning Graduation Portrait at the College of Charleston Cistern

College of Charleston graduation portrait at the historic Cistern Yard

The College of Charleston holds a special place in my heart, as it's where I earned my BA in communications in 2000. Recently, I had the honor of photographing Mattison's senior portrait, a fellow Cougar who is majoring in theater with a focus on costume design. 

We photographed in early May at the Cistern, right at the heart of the campus, to capture her in the white dress she'll wear for her graduation on Mother's Day weekend. We met at 8:00 am before her fellow classmates climbed out of bed while the lighting was soft and colorful. The stage for graduation was set up in front of the Cistern, which wasn't ideal for our photos. So we found stunning backdrops in the gates, flowers, and architecture that embody the charm of the College. 

We continued the shoot at the iconic Pineapple Fountain and the vibrant Rainbow Row in downtown Charleston, creating a memorable collection of graduation portraits that reflect the beauty of the city we both love.

How to Archive Your Wedding and Family Photos

One of the most common questions I hear from my former wedding and family portrait clients is, “How can we preserve our precious photos?”

I’m thrilled to share that my good friend Jennings King, a former professional photographer who is now a talented professional organizer, has written a fantastic guest blog post on this very topic!

Jennings, the owner of Space Maker Professional, is amazing at helping people organize, digitize, and preserve their cherished photo collections. I can’t recommend her enough! If you’re looking for assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to her. You’ll be in great hands! - Kate

Hi, I’m Jennings King! I help families organize, digitize, and protect their photos so their stories can be shared and loved for generations. As a photo manager, I’ve seen how much peace of mind comes from knowing your memories are safely preserved. Whether you’re just getting your wedding photos or sorting through old family albums, these steps will help you build a lasting photo archive you’ll be proud of.

Let’s be honest, our photos are some of our most treasured possessions. They tell our stories, capture our milestones, and keep our loved ones close even as time passes. Whether it’s your wedding day or a Sunday family session, those images deserve to be cared for and protected.

The good news? Archiving your photos doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few smart habits, you can make sure your memories are safe, organized, and easy to enjoy for years (and generations!) to come.

FOR DIGITAL PHOTOS

When your photographer sends you a flash drive or download link, don’t just save the files in one place and call it a day. Make multiple copies right away!

Here’s my favorite formula, I call it the “three places rule”:

1. One copy on your computer or external hard drive

2. One copy on a flash drive or second drive

3. One copy in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc.)

This way, if one location fails, you’ll still have backups. Flash drives only last around 10 years (less if used often), so the cloud copy gives you an extra layer of safety.

FOR PRINTED PHOTOS

If you’re working with printed photos, maybe wedding prints, family albums, or old shoebox treasures, it’s time to digitize them. You can scan them yourself or have them professionally scanned at 600 dpi for high-quality digital versions. Once you have those digital scans, store them using the same “three places rule.”

HOW TO KEEP EVERYTHING ORGINAIZED

Here’s my favorite little secret: the easiest way to keep your photos organized is to name your files by date, not by name. Start each file name with the year, month, and day, like this: 2025-10-21-JenningsAndBrennen-Wedding-001 This way, your photos automatically sort in chronological order on your computer, and you’ll instantly know when the memory happened. The date is the most powerful piece of information you can include.

Try to avoid naming files like JenningsAndBrennen-Wedding-1. It doesn’t tell you when it was taken or how it fits into your life story.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Creating a photo archive isn’t just about organizing files, it’s about protecting your story. By keeping your images in multiple places and naming them in a way that makes sense, you’re building a beautiful timeline of your life.

Start small, stay consistent, and before you know it, you’ll have a digital archive that’s easy to navigate and filled with moments you’ll love revisiting again and again.

READY FOR A LITTLE HELP

If this all sounds wonderful but a bit overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. I love helping families organize, digitize, and preserve their photo collections in a way that feels simple and personal.

Feel free to reach out — I’d be honored to help you create a system that keeps your memories safe and easy to enjoy for years to come.

Website: www.spacemakerprofessional.com

Instagram: @spacemakerprofessional

Facebook: @spacemakerprofessional

Fall Family Portraits on Charleston’s Beaches

If you’re dreaming of beautiful family portraits in the Charleston area, fall is the perfect season. At Captured by Kate Photography, we specialize in creating timeless beach portraits for families on Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Folly Beach, and Isle of Palms. With golden light, cooler temperatures, and fewer crowds, autumn is the ideal time to capture your family together by the sea.

Why Fall is the Best Time for Charleston Beach Portraits

In Charleston, fall brings the most flattering light for photography. We typically schedule sessions at sunrise or about 90 minutes before sunset—the times of day when the sun casts a soft, golden glow. During summer, these sessions can run late into the evening, which can be tough for young children. In the fall, the shorter days mean easier session times for families.

Another bonus? The cooler, less humid weather. With no sticky heat or heavy air, families feel more relaxed and comfortable, which always leads to natural smiles and genuine moments.

Best Charleston Beach Locations for Fall Family Portraits

Every Charleston-area beach has its own personality, and we love helping families choose the backdrop that best matches their style:

• Kiawah Island – Wide, quiet beaches with a serene, natural feel. Perfect for portraits with a mix of maritime forest, dunes, ocean, and stunning skies.

• Seabrook Island – Peaceful and private, with long natural beach paths perfect for photos. These trails open into fields of marsh grass, large rock jetties ideal for posing, and sandy stretches of shoreline.

• Folly Beach – Fun, funky, and lively, with iconic beach scenery. Folly offers lighthouse views, driftwood, and a laid-back atmosphere that’s perfect for playful family portraits.

• Isle of Palms – A family favorite, with long beach access that winds through beautiful sand dunes before opening up to wide stretches of sand and classic Lowcountry charm.

What to Wear for Fall Family Beach Portraits

Wardrobe makes a big difference in how your portraits look and feel. For fall sessions, we recommend:

• Natural, organic tones like navy, dark green, camel, tan, brown, or burgundy

• Jewel tones such as lavender, emerald green, or rich blues for a pop of color

These colors photograph beautifully against sandy beaches and coastal skies while also pairing perfectly with holiday card designs.

A Relaxed Family Experience

Fall on Charleston’s beaches means fewer tourists, calmer settings, and a more relaxed atmosphere. This allows us to capture not only classic portraits but also candid family moments—kids running along the shoreline, parents sharing a laugh, and those in-between moments that make your family unique.

Capturing Family Memories on Kiawah Island: An Evening Portrait Session

Kiawah Island, Sunset Portrait Session

If you’re looking for a memorable family activity on Kiawah Island, consider scheduling a sunset portrait session! I recently had the pleasure of photographing a lovely family with three boys, capturing their vibrant personalities in the soft light of the Golden Hour.

We kicked off our session at their rental condo, taking advantage of the picturesque surroundings before heading to the beach. This approach not only provides interesting backdrops but also helps avoid the windy beach conditions that can toss your hair around during family photos.

For this session, we managed to photograph three generations—the grandparents, parents, and their energetic boys. It was their first professional family portrait session, and capturing these special moments together was a true honor.

Starting with the whole family together, I focused on creating those must-have images, including grandparents with grandchildren, sibling shots, and parents with their kids. The walk to the beach also allowed us to capture candid moments, letting the kids express themselves and show off their unique personalities.

As we wrapped up the session on the beautiful Kiawah Island beach, the stunning sunset provided an incredible backdrop for the final family photos. If you’re considering family portraits, don’t miss the opportunity to make lasting memories on Kiawah Island, where beautiful sunsets and family activities come together perfectly!

Sunsets book fast, get in touch!

Kiawah Island Senior Portraits

Senior Portraits on Kiawah Island | Charleston Collegiate Graduate

Photographing senior portraits on Kiawah Island is always a special experience, and this session with a Charleston Collegiate School graduate was no exception. We started the shoot at her family’s home on Kiawah Island, capturing natural, relaxed portraits in a setting that meant something to her. Then we headed to the beach near Cougar Point Golf Course, where she changed into a fun Free People dress—adding a pop of personality to the coastal backdrop.

Senior portraits are such an important part of celebrating this milestone year. Whether you’re in Charleston, South Carolina, or right here on Kiawah Island, it’s about capturing who they are at this moment—right before stepping into a new chapter. As a Charleston-based senior portrait photographer, I love helping families preserve this time with images that feel both meaningful and timeless.