Stephanie Snyder Photography Blog » Personal

Happy Birthday, Michelle!

Stephanie — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:06:41 +0000

Michelle and I have been friends for so long, it’s hard to remember when we met. We have tried on Halloween costumes in the aisles of Kmart, ridden our bicycles throughout all of Mauldin, had watergun (or spray bottle) fights in the middle of the night in my parents’ backyard, made mixed tape after mixed tape for each other, and countless other memories – and this was before we could drive! Michelle, I love our friendship and I cherish all our memories together. I only hope we have more time together to make many many more! Love you! Happy Birthday!!!

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South Carolina Wedding Photographer, Portrait Photographer and Boudoir Photographer
For more creative and interesting photography, please visit http://www.stephaniesnyderphotography.com!

Dexter in a Blanket – SC Photographer

Stephanie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:34:00 +0000

I love my Dexter. When he cuddled up on the couch with one of the blankets, and then when Otman wrapped him up like a little burrito, I grabbed my camera and had to take some photos. And now I’m sharing them with you! Enjoy the indulgence!

Our Trip to Napa

Stephanie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:09:12 +0000

The last full day we we were in San Francisco, we decided to rent a car and drive to the NAPA Valley to check it out. I had researched it before we flew out to San Francisco, and was pleasantly surprised to learn it was only a little more than an hour away from San Francisco! Our hotel had a Budget car rental in part of the lobby, so our car was waiting for us when we walked outside. How convenient!

We drove our rental through downtown, then drove north across the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a toll bridge, but only when you drive southbound into the city. There was no toll to go northbound.

We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge to Vista Point, where I hoped to take some photos of the bridge, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco skyline all together in one landscape, but the fog was so thick that we couldn’t even see the end of the bridge after we passed by it! The fog itself was beautiful, though.

The drive over to Napa was gorgeous as well. The rolling hills, low-lying thick fog, and country filled with trees and cows made for a pleasant and peaceful drive. I couldn’t have asked for more. We drove north on 101 toward Santa Rosa, passing Sausalito. After that, it was a nice little mountain drive to the town of Calistoga, where we enjoyed a wine tasting, and just breathed in the beautiful scenery! Here are some shots from the drive, and from Napa! Please leave your comments below the post! I read every one, and love hearing your thoughts!

I got these shots about 20 minutes outside San Francisco. The fog cleared up completely right after we passed this field. There is a wide difference in temperatures between San Francisco and Wine Country. Even twenty minutes away in Alameda, it was actually hot versus the chill we felt in San Francisco.

Pardon the gratuitous shots of these trees, but I fell in love with the contrast between their branches and the fog, and I think it created a haunting image. It was so quiet and still there, except for the highway traffic in the background. Something about these images makes me feel at peace.

We hit up the vineyards after driving several miles around a mountain. The sky was so blue, and each town was so small and intimate. The town we spent the most time in was Castiloga. The image below is what greeted us almost immediately upon entering the town.

I found out the yellow flowers between and around the vines were actually mustard flowers, and naturally grow in some of the vineyards. They are not planted there intentionally, and every year the area hosts a huge mustard seed festival.

A nice shot of our really nice rental car:

One thing I noticed about this area is that they love unique sculptures. I guess since all vineyards pretty much look the same, they use these sculptures to make theirs unique.

We stopped by a really neat and unique winery for the obligatory wine tasting. I mean – it’s Napa Valley. I’m not really a drinker, so I barely know the differences between the wines, but the guy inside was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was interesting to learn about some of the process, even if I didn’t understand the terminology. Otman and I split one tasting, since we really only did it because who doesn’t have a wine tasting in Napa? We did it for the experience, not the wine. LOL.

This vineyard is called the Clos Pegase Winery, and is actually one Napa’s most famous wineries. The building below was designed by renowned architect Michael Graves. We didn’t go into any of the caves, but this particular winery has over 20,000 square feet of caves. The owner is a HUGE art collector, and I think I had the most fun perusing the collection around the grounds than in the wine. He has spent millions of dollars on artwork that is displayed throughout the winery, and he has collections on loan to the SOMA Museums. You can see some of the collection of large sculptures below, and the building itself is a piece of art.

I loved this one. I want to stick a giant thumb in my backyard.

It was amazingly peaceful and quiet here. I would have loved to lie in the grass for hours, just enjoying the silence.

The expression on this statue’s face makes me laugh….

Another sculpture – this one was moving. The top pieces that cross over each other actually opened up and crossed again, over and over, like a sword fight.

This was a different winery that we stopped by, but didn’t go in. I just loved the architecture of the house.

On the way out, we had dinner with a good friend in Davis, CA, and drove by the rolling hills of Southern California. What a beautiful end to a beautiful vacation!!!

San Francisco Photographs – Part 2

Stephanie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:09:28 +0000

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s post. I know I loved sharing my experiences with you. Ready for some more? Here ya go!

Here are some of the first photos I took in 2012, starting with my birthday on New Year’s Day!

This was the view from our hotel room Monday afternoon, January 1st, 2012 in San Francisco. Room 719 Balcony. The first picture taken from that spot that year!

Another shot of the hotel lobby, just because it’s beautiful. They took those hanging lights down the next day. Otman and I watched and mourned a little, because we loved them. The food and service in that restaurant, The Eclipse, was fantastic, by the way.

We decided to take the day, since most everything was closed, to take BART (stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit – the Bay’s subway/rail system) to Alameda, to see where Wensi lives and hang out with her for a little while.

Wensi was nice enough to drive us around to see all the cool houses in Alameda, and she took us to the Naval Yard to see all the ships.

I love ivy-covered walls.

The view from the naval yard at sunset was spectacular.

Can you tell how tired I am from the night before? LOL

They needed some street repair, that’s for sure!

The next day, we took the Muni over to the Cable Car Museum. My dad STRESSED that we see this, since we didn’t get a chance to last time we were in San Francisco. It was super interesting.

These cables ARE the cables that control all the cable cars in the city, and they are constantly running. There is no way for the cable cars to stop while attached to this cable, so the grip man in charge of the clamp that “grips” onto the cable, has to release the clamp from the cable to stop the car.

Immediately after touring the museum, we hopped on a car and rode over to Union Square. It was fun. The cable car operators and grip men are real characters, and always make you laugh.

Union Square:

Couldn’t believe this when I saw it in the middle of Union Square:

We ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory – I had the most delicious lentil soup I’ve ever tasted, along with some mixed greens tossed in balsamic dressing. Of course, we HAD to get a piece of cheesecake, but we were good and split one piece between the two of us. It was a pineapple upside-down cake cheesecake. Yuuummmmmmmm…..

We took another Muni to Golden Gate Park and walked around, enjoying the nice weather. We walked through the area housing the de Young museum and the California Academy of Sciences, and spotted this fountain. We think it was done as a prank, because it was FILLED with really good smelling bubbles!

And of course, what is a trip to San Francisco without a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge? We went at the perfect time, too – just a little before sunset. I’m ordering one of these as a canvas for my home:

We then proceeded to walk across the Golden Gate bridge. What a beautiful view of the city there is from there! Especially at sunset, when the light is reflecting off the buildings.

This is the fence that is up at certain points of the bridge (not the whole bridge), to prevent people from jumping off and committing suicide. I heard that the Golden Gate is the #1 spot for suicide jumps.. I wonder why?

As the sun started to set, the sky got even more vibrant.

That’s Fort Point down below.

Right as we returned from walking back across the bridge, the fog started rolling in.

Wensi picked us up from the base of the bridge, and drove us down to Crissy Field, where there’s a beach. This is where I took this picture:

Wensi then gave us a ride to Twin Peaks, where you can see the entire city from the top of the mountain. The picture doesn’t do the view justice. It was gorgeous. I wish I had brought my tripod along for this shot:

Keep your eyes peeled for the last San Francisco post, with some shots from our drive out to Napa Valley!

San Francisco Photographs – Part 1

Stephanie — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:47:32 +0000

Here it is, as promised! I’m going to post my photographs from the Bay in two or three different posts, so that this one won’t be miles long! Otman and I had so much fun in San Francisco, and the time went by way too fast!!! The flight over there was kind of awful, but it was worth it.

We flew over the Wednesday after Christmas, and got there really late because of various flight delays…. so we did NOTHING Wednesday except check into our amazing hotel and sleep. Thursday morning, however, we took the city on full force. We woke up, grabbed breakfast, and since our hotel was right downtown, (right outside the Port of San Francisco, next to the Embarcadero) we were able to step out into the city!

I start this post from the day we arrived, and end right before we partied for New Year’s Eve. If you haven’t already, you can see that post here.

This is the view from our hotel room:

The lobby of the hotel (the Hyatt Regency in downtown San Francisco, Embarcadero Center) was gorgeous. It actually is in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest hotel lobby in the WORLD. I was in love with this sculpture in the center of the lobby with all of the gorgeous lights hanging down from the top floors into the atrium:

Another view of the city from one of the windows from our hotel:

The traditional San Francisco cable car.

This guy was tearing it up! He sounded really good.

The architecture of this city is beautiful.

Wensi came over and hung out one night.

The carousel at Fisherman’s Wharf:

Alcatraz. I LOVE Alcatraz. So many layers of history together, and so many haunting stories surrounding it. We didn’t boat over there this time, but we did last time we were in San Francisco, in 2007.

Otman and I in front of Alcatraz…

Street performers:

This guy was hilarious. I liked his jokes more than his acrobatics.

This is the famous turnaround for the cable cars…

This top picture is at the top of the hill we climbed to get a good view. The bottom picture is after we went down the hill just one block. Hopefully that will give you an idea of how steep these hills are!

I loved this guy’s hat. It reminded me of Wensi, since she has a husky named Tenshi.

I’ll be back with more photos from San Francisco as we entered 2012!

Happy New Year!!!

Stephanie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:52:29 +0000

This post is coming a few days late, but it’s for a great reason. My husband took me to San Francisco for my birthday and New Year’s! We had a wonderful time. We saw great friends, ate amazing food, took awesome photos, and had a great New Year’s Eve!

More to come soon – I have so many photos to share with you! But for now, here are some photos from our awesome New Year’s Eve celebration. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency in the Embarcadero Center, which was just across the street from the Port of San Francisco, where all the fireworks went off when it turned midnight. That square was packed! We spent a little time among the chaos, then went upstairs to our hotel so we could watch the fireworks as it turned midnight. They were spectacular. I took video of them with my Flip camera, so I didn’t get any shots of them with my fancy camera… but I’m posting a few other photos from the night.

It was such a great time, and I can’t wait to share more photos with you from the trip! XOXOXXO

Everyone keeps asking what my New Year’s resolution is…. and while I have plans and goals I’d like to achieve, the only resolution I have is this: Make every day count.

This was my dessert for New Year’s Eve. Isn’t the tuxedo strawberry so cute?

This is a little blurry because it was so dark outside, but I still think it’s a cute one of us:

This crowd was a little too much for me, so we went upstairs to watch the fireworks from the hotel.

Right as the fireworks ended, we found a little service door that let out to a small open balcony. It was a fun place to watch the crowd and take a few photos. First photos of 2012!

Of course, I had to shut the door… I HAD TO. MWAHAHAHAHA…. Excuse my very scary facial expressions…

Wensi LOVES her fruitcake. Seriously. She may have a problem.

More photos from San Francisco on the way!

Merry Christmas!

Stephanie — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:39:30 +0000

Merry Christmas!! Thank you all for being part of a life I love! I can’t wait to celebrate the New Year and see what 2012 has in store for me and my family!

Favorite iPhone photos of 2011!

Stephanie — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:05:39 +0000

Hey everyone! I bet you thought the last post was the end of my photographic year in review. Nope! There is a saying that the best camera is the one that is always with you. I try to take my camera along on all important events in my life, especially vacations, family functions, etc., but sometimes my big fancy camera is not available. That’s where my iPhone comes in. It’s always with me, and I am always snapping away with it.

Here are some of my favorite pics from the past year. You’ll notice that I LOVE taking photos of the sky and clouds. There is something breathtaking about that kind of beauty just floating in the sky above you.

2011 in Review! SC Photographer

Stephanie — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:53:06 +0000

Wow – I know everyone says this, but I can’t believe another year is over! 2011 was the fastest-moving year of my entire life, I think! It’s not surprising though: with a full-time corporate job, my photography business even more successful and busy than last year’s, a new fitness regimen, along with helping Otman with his limo business, and balancing a home, marriage, work life and family and friends, I have barely had time to breathe! I’m not complaining, though. This year has left me even more blessed than the last, and it just shows me how amazing God is. The more I am grateful for what I have, the more blessings He bestows on me. I am SO TRULY GRATEFUL AND BLESSED.

I have met AMAZING people through my clients this past year who have become more than clients – they are my friends, I have enjoyed my long-standing friendships with friends who are family to me, and grown with my husband in a truly fulfilling and happy marriage. I can’t believe or understand how amazing my life is. I only hope my gratitude shows through my actions and my art, and will do whatever I can to let it shine through my photography.

Let’s take a small look at the past year, shall we? Here is my photographic year in review. This post is super long, so have fun! Stay tuned for my iPhone year in review coming up!

For New Year’s and my birthday, I spent time with friends and family:

This was the the year where I began my fitness journey! My husband and I joined Gold’s Gym, and I began focusing on fitness and eating right at the end of June of this year. The photo below shows my journey! The picture on the left shows me on my birthday, January 1, 2011. The picture on the right shows me just a few weeks ago. I’ve been working super hard and am really proud of myself! I know I’ve got a looooooong way to go, but this is not a fad – it’s a lifestyle decision. I try to eat organic whenever I can. I’ve quit all sodas and even tea, and only drink water. It feels great!

We had snow this past January, and had a blast! Hopefully we’ll see some this year, too.

I finished my very first 5K this year. What a great feeling!

I got to photograph Heather and Jake as they joined hands in marriage… What a great family this is!

We went to Las Vegas and the surrounding desert for our first anniversary! I captured a bride on her wedding day in the middle of the Valley of Fire:

I had a great time with Elizabeth and our carnival photo shoot:

I photographed Audrey’s 5 month old portraits, one of the photos from this session won a photography contest through Sandy Puc! You can read all about it here:

Tara and Herbert had a gorgeous wedding that I was so happy to be a part of:

Of course, Otman can’t get away from my camera!

Courtney’s boudoir session was so much fun! She is so beautiful!

Had a great time at the zoo with Kim, Ellie and Michael:

Elizabeth’s beach session was UHHHH-amazing!

Lisa’s boudoir session – I love this girl!

Went out and saw my friend’s band play:

My friend Valeda is awesome!

Kate’s boudoir session – This girl is beaming and beautiful. We had so much fun!

Spring and I had a blast for her boudoir session. She is so photogenic!

I was blessed enough to spend time with Emily and Rich as they were waiting on their little one to be born…..

and even more blessed to meet and photograph Little Grady a few weeks after he entered this world:

I had the pleasure of meeting Rebecca and photographing her boudoir session. She radiates with love and life, and I’m grateful to know her!

Melissa’s vintage boudoir session was so sweet and unique! We had such a great time!

Aidan and Mike’s engagement session was full of life, vitality and love:

Had a great time with Wensi when she visited from San Francisco:

The Austin family photo shoot was SO MUCH FUN! These kids are absolutely hilarious.

Allie and I didn’t stop laughing when we were photographing her head shots.

What’s a blog post without my furry little babies?

Otman’s limousine business is really the best in the state!

Finally took some family photos with my parents and sister!

Whew! Thanks for hanging in there! I’m hoping next year brings even more memories and clients to photograph!!!!

SC Family Photographer – MY Family! :)

Stephanie — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:57:10 +0000

It’s the curse of all photographers – as much as we care about memories, and preserving special moments, and sharing beautiful images with the world, we are rarely in photographs. At least that’s the case with me. I’m always behind the camera. Well, this weekend I invited my mom, dad and sister over to the house to take some family photos. The four of us haven’t had a family photo together in a really long time. So long, in fact, that the memory I have of that day is fragmented and faded. It was time. My husband showed up at the end to grab some shots, but for pretty much the entire shoot, it was me, my camera, my flash, and the tripod.

For those of you interested in the technical aspect of the shoot, I set my camera up with my 24-70mm lens fully zoomed to 70mm. I wanted to make sure we were all in focus, and since I wasn’t going to be behind the camera to compensate for movement, I set the f-stop to between f7.1 and f8. That gave plenty of room for if we took any small steps forward or backward. I also took several test shots of my mom, dad and sister to adjust the shutter speed and set up my fill flash on remote before I tried to get in the picture.

Once all that was set up, I set the timer to approximately 10 seconds to give me enough time to join my family and smile, and pressed the shutter. The photos below are the result of that. I’m so happy with how they came out! I love my family.

My dad brought his camera with him, too, and got a few shots of me preparing the camera:

And of course, there was some playing around:

I love this shot below:

This shot is so cute! We were standing beside my mom, then all of a sudden we stepped behind her in a line – she didn’t know where we had gone!

I love this photo, except for the coats! LOL. It was super cold, and especially windy, so any time I was setting up another shot, the coats went back on. In the shots without the coats on, they are on the grass just outside of the frame. We decided our next shoot will be in the spring.

Otman arrived late, but I still had my tripod set up for a sweet shot of the both of us.

My sister took the one below with my dad’s camera:

I had to take some individual shots of us, too! I think these are so cute with the sunlight behind us. The pictures just seem so them. I love them.

Thanks for taking my photo, Dad!

Until next time…. I think my New Year’s Resolution will be to be in more photos myself.

Busy Day

Stephanie — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:06:43 +0000

It was a crazy day today – the kind of day that makes you amped up with excitement, and fall asleep as soon as you hit the pillow. I photographed two family shoots, one in Columbia, SC and one in Greer, SC, and saw my family and friends today. A very full, blessed day – and I’m grateful.

Below is a photo I’ve been meaning to take for a few years now. This scene is on the way to my parents’ house from Greer, SC. I pass by these towers and every time I think, what a striking and beautiful site – I need to take a photo of this one day. Today became that day. I actually passed the scene, thought the same thought I’ve been thinking for years, and then looked at my passenger seat. In it was sitting my camera I had just used to take photos with on the latest photo shoot. I did a U-Turn, pulled into the median of the highway, rolled down my window, and shot this photo from my car.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Stay tuned for tons more posts coming soon, including Rebecca’s amazing boudoir session, an adorable newborn session, and a fun family session!

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Stephanie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:44:15 +0000

I hope we all take a minute to recognize our military and the sacrifices they make for us. I am incredibly thankful for the men and women who make this choice every day to serve their country and protect us all. Without them, we would not be here.

The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

Here’s an interest bit of trivia I found on Wikipedia:

The holiday is often celebrated by having a ravioli meal. This tradition dates back to the ending days of World War I when President Woodrow Wilson, aware that the returning soldiers would be longing for home cooked meals, invited 2,000 soldiers to the White House and helped his staff chefs cook them ravioli, which had just become a mainstay in mainstream American kitchens due to commercial canning.

To celebrate our veterans, I thought it would be appropriate for me to add some photos I took at Pearl Harbor. Have a Happy Veteran’s Day!

One of My Favorites.

Stephanie — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:42:18 +0000

I have so many digital files, packed onto several large hard drives, that sometimes it feels overwhelming to print them – and I’m a photographer! I am trying to make it a point to print something of mine at least once a month, whether it be a print for the walls, wallets to give out to friends, a photo book of our latest vacation, etc. I’m hoping to take some photos for Christmas cards and send them out this year.

I know I fall behind sometimes with this, but printing out your images and displaying them is so important!

Here is a photo from our honeymoon in Hawaii I sent off to the printers just yesterday. Not only is it a beautiful location, but it reminds me of a happy, fun, beautiful day.

Happy Tuesday!

5K Walk for Life – Columbia, SC

Stephanie — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:46:47 +0000

Saturday, I participated in the 5K Walk for Life in support of Breast Cancer Research for the Palmetto Health Foundation.

Proceeds from the event are used to purchase equipment, such as digital mammography and ultrasound machines, that helps detect cancer in its earliest stages. Proceeds also help fund research, outreach and services provided to patients and their families.

It was an amazing experience. My parents came into town to cheer me on, and the weather was perfect on Saturday morning! Just chilly enough to bring a jacket, but not too cold at all. Those that know me know that I began a fitness and wellness journey at the end of June, and I’ve lost 28 pounds so far. Attending this 5K was more than just a walk to me – it was a huge accomplishment along my path to health.

It was so inspiring to be with all of those people, walking along the same path and for the same cause. More than 7,000 people signed up for this event, and we filled the streets of Columbia from one side to the other. There were countless women walking who had signs on their shirts proudly proclaiming how many years they had been a breast cancer survivor, and I couldn’t help but feel a visceral reaction to these brave women. They fought through breast cancer, made it to the other side, and they walked this 5K continuing to fight for others going through the same thing.

I couldn’t take any photos, because I was busy walking, but my dad took quite a few of the event that I’m happy to share below! If any of you are considering joining in next year, or on the fence about running/walking a 5K, I urge you to do so! Crossing that finish line is such a wonderful feeling!

I walked with my team at Verizon Wireless.

Valeda and I were showing off our shirts with little thumbholes in them.

Otman was trying to hydrate the mascot…

We had a fun little group warm-up by the stage before we got going.

Star-Spangled Banner…

Even Spiderman showed up and caught my mom in his web….

I love this picture of my parents’ shadows! I’m definitely hanging this up in my house. Great job, Dad!

Neither me nor my dad know how he got his camera to do this double exposure, but I think it’s awesome just the same!

Hardcore puppy-runner…

Do you see the size of these hills we had to handle for this 5k? At one point I didn’t know if I was going to make it up one of them!

There I am at mile 3, and then I must say goodbye and run to the finish line – which I did!

Valeda met up with me and ran the last tenth of a mile to the finish line – thanks, darling!

I love my parents so much. Thanks for coming out to support me, Mom and Dad!

I completed my goal. I knew I wasn’t going to be first, but I just didn’t want to be last! I wasn’t last by a long shot, either! My walk time was 1 hour, 15 minutes. That includes shopping for pictures at mile 3! :)

In case any of you are curious, here is the route we took from Finley Park:

What to Wear Ideas

Stephanie — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:51:24 +0000

If you don’t know already, I LOVE PINTEREST! It’s such an awesome way to see tons of creative ideas, fun and funny images, and great DIY projects!

Here are some “PINS” I adore:

Check out this Nikon cake!!! It’s perfect, and it’s the same model of my camera! Love it!!!

Photographer mittens!!! Sidenote – thanks to Bridget to showing me half of these. My friend and I have special folders made specifically to show each other pins we love for each other!

What a beautiful arrangement of photos: It would be perfect for a grouping of photos from a photo shoot! (Hint, hint…) – I really want to do this!

I am loving these style boards I’ve come across, many of them made on polyvore. There are some great ideas of how to style yourself for your next photo shoot!

You can check out my Pinterest pin boards here.

I hope you are all having a great weekend! XOXO

Award-Winning!

Stephanie — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:53:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

Yesterday I attended Sandy Puc’s Creative Edge Kid’s Tour, where one of my photos won the photography contest for Columbia, SC! It was an amazing honor, and I was so pleased that one of my images was chosen as a winner! I would have been happy with just winning, but on top of the honor, I also won a 16×20 courtesy of one of my FAVORITE printing labs Bay Photo, a SmugMugPro membership (the best photography hosting site around!) , a 6 month membership to Sandy Puc’ University and a $100 gift code to Ukandu.com!

Another great thing about this contest is that since my client in the photo, little Miss Audrey, was so adorable, she was chosen to be one of the models for the live photo session for Columbia’s tour visit! She did a great job and was super-cute. Sandy got some great images of her, and I’ll be sending you a link to the slideshow Sandy created when it’s available!

Here is the photo that won:

Thank you ALL for your support and votes! I couldn’t have done it without you!!! XOXOXOXOXO!!!!

Saturday was Fun!

Stephanie — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:33:50 +0000

I had a great Saturday! I woke up Saturday morning and met up with some friends at Gold’s Gym for BodyPump! If you haven’t tried it, it’s addictive and awesome! Then, I met up with my parents who came into town, and we went to the shooting range. It was the very first time I had ever shot a gun, so I was a little apprehensive. I was having so much fun by the end though, and I’ve got pretty good aim, if I do say so myself….. at least at close range!

Here are a few shots from my iPhone:

We ate a nice lunch, went home and relaxed with a few movies (I recommend The Adjustment Bureau and Unknown!), and then my husband and I went out to see a friend’s band play at The House downtown in Five Points.

Here are a few shots of Clay, the bass player, in his new band Finding Solace. It was a fun show!

My friend Valeda also came out to watch the show, and she looked so gorgeous, I had to snap a few shots of her, too!!! Feast your eyes upon this loveliness!

I hope your Saturday was as fun as mine! XOXOXO

Fun at Riverbanks Zoo!

Stephanie — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:40:11 +0000

Kim and I have been close friends since she moved here from Florida when we were both in the 9th grade. It’s been about 16 years now. W to the OW. Kim now has two adorable children of her own, and brought them for a fun weekend visit this past weekend. We had TONS of fun at Riverbanks Zoo this weekend. We packed a lunch, hopped in her minivan and popped open the two-seater stroller for a fun afternoon. I LOVE Michael and Ellie so much, and spending time watching Kim with them inspires me for when I become a mother (someday? – not sure yet). Enjoy some photos of our time at the zoo!

How cute are they??!??!?!?

Michael is at that age where he doesn’t stop moving, certainly not long enough to pose for a camera, so I grabbed as many action shots as I could!

Feeding the baby goats…

Ellie is quite the talker, especially when she sees monkeys!

By the end of the day…. we were all pooped! Ellie fell asleep within ten seconds of putting her in the van… no exaggeration. This face is so adorable! Michael was wired the rest of the day, thanks to the Icee that Mom bought for him!

So…Beautiful.

Stephanie — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:14:35 +0000

This was one of the beautiful views we came across as we were driving from Los Angeles to Vegas on our vacation in March. It was so incredible. The photo does not do it justice. The way the cloud falls across the mountain looks like a fantasy world that I want to be a part of. How can people see beauty like this and not believe in a God? I am grateful I was able to see this and photograph it, and I am glad I’m able to share it with all of you!

Headshots are Fun! – SC Photographer – Columbia, SC

Stephanie — Sat, 14 May 2011 03:26:37 +0000

I’ve been having tons of fun with my new Pocket Wizards – FlexTT5 for Nikon. I’m loving being able to go anywhere within a 1600 foot radius from my flash to be more creative and versatile with my photography, especially when using off-camera flash! I’ve been studying up and learning as much as possible about off-camera flash lately. Living in South Carolina, you have to be prepared for any lighting situation – it’s not California, where the light and weather are perfect all the time. We have bright sun one minute, clouds the next. “Natural-light” photographers are nice, and I LOVE using natural light in my photography, but I want proficiency in all options so I can be as creative as I want to be – and let me say… it is SO much fun! I want to be the most educated, versatile and prepared photographer you’ve ever met!

Tonight I dragged Otman upstairs to the studio for some lovely headshots! I have such a handsome husband. I love all his different facial expressions! Enjoy!

And here’s one in front of my all-new backdrop! So fun!