Cortni - Pickens High School Senior Portraits

Cortni:  Pickens High School

Hagood Mill           Pickens, SC

Meet Cortni. Flute player, Pickens County native, future pediatric nurse, big sister, SC Marching Band State Champion, Pickens High School Class of 2017, and an absolute knock out. We met at Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC for Cortni's session and spent some time taking advantage of this amazing location.  Below, I've included some of my favorite images from Cortni's senior portrait session.

A few years ago, I ordered some colored smoke bombs to use for a styled angel shoot. I used the white and red ones, and stuck the rest in my "prop closet." When I was planning Cortni's shoot, I dug through the closet and happened upon the remaining purple, blue, and teal smoke bombs. I had no clue if they would even still work after so many years, but brought them along just in case. I'm so glad I did because they definitely worked and they were a fun way to wrap up Cortni's senior session!

Pickens High School Presents "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"

I had the pleasure of seeing some really talented thespians at Pickens High School perform their rendition of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe this past Friday. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the theatre. Before I settled on an English degree, I was a drama major in college and performed in many college and small town productions. I adore being transported to other worlds and escaping reality for a few short hours - and I am always blown away at how much talent young people today have, and the students of Pickens High School were no exception! 

Chloe Dalton (White Witch) and Anthony Owens (Aslan)

I hope you enjoy several of my favorites from the evening - all cast, crew, and families can grab their free digital copies of these images at the bottom of this post!

Dr. Ashley Butler (Misses Macready)

Dalton Collins (Mr. Tumnus) and Izzy Wallace (Lucy)

Brook Fincannon (Troll), Dalton Collins (Mr. Tumnus), and Jacob Crenshaw (Maugrum)

Chloe Dalton (The White Witch) and Isaac Farsht (Edmund)

Brook Fincannon (Troll)

Izzy Wallace (Lucy), Thomas Hooper (Peter), Claire Hudson (Susan), and Isaac Farsht (Edmund)

Cassidy Lewis (Mrs. Beaver), Izzy Wallace (Lucy), Zion Howell (Mr. Beaver), Claire Hudson  (Susan), Thomas Hooper (Peter), and Isaac Farst (Edmund).

Chloe Dalton (The White Witch), Isaac Farst (Edmund), and Brook Fincannon (The Troll)

Zion Howell (Mr. Beaver) and Cassidy Lewis (Mrs. Beaver)

Hannah Suarez (Squirrel)

Zion Howell (Mr. Beaver), Zane Sickels (Centaur), Anthony Owens (Aslan), Thomas Hooper (Peter), Woodland Animals:  Tonia Ford, Makenzie McConnell, and Peyton Nimmons

Entire Cast

Chloe Dalton (The White Witch) and Jacob Crenshaw (Maugrum)

Chloe Dalton (The White Witch)

Brook Fincannon (The Troll) and Anthony Owens (Aslan)

Entire Cast

Thomas Hooper (Peter), Claire Hudson (Susan), Anthony Owens (Aslan), Isaac Farst (Edmund), and Izzy Wallace (Lucy)

The hardest part about doing a production like this is figuring out what to do with yourself when it's all over. The amount of hours, sweat, and tears that are poured into these productions is unreal. It changes you forever. I'm so thankful that Pickens High School has a wonderful arts programs. Arts are so important to education. I wouldn't want to imagine a world without art in it. Period. 

Cast, crew, and families, to grab your free copies of the images from the production, click here to go to the gallery. From the gallery, you can download the images to any smart device or computer. 

If you, or someone you know, is looking for a senior portrait photographer in the Pickens, SC area, give me a call!

Hannah - Seneca High School Senior Portraits

First, you must know that Hannah is a RIOT. I laughed so hard through our shoot that, by the end, my cheeks were sore. It's been a long time since my face hurt like that - and I must admit it was good for the soul. 

Hannah wouldn't dream of limiting herself to being funny though - she's also a varsity cheerleader, chamber orchestra member, die hard Clemson fan, and future psychologist.

We had a wonderful time exploring some of the nooks and crannies of the South Carolina Botanical Gardens in Clemson, SC. Even though there had been a freeze the week before, the flowers were blooming and spring was definitely in full force. For those who aren't familiar with the botanical gardens, they are located in downtown Clemson, right near Clemson University and just over the border between Pickens county and Oconee county. The gardens are gorgeous and feature a really neat earthen bridge, an old hunting cabin, some historical homes, and a ton of trails, ponds and flowers. If you haven't visited, I would highly recommend it!

I hope you enjoy some of my favorites from this Seneca High School, Class of 2017, senior's session.

Are you looking for a senior portrait photographer in Pickens, Oconee, or Greenville county? If so, give us a call today!

Sara - Seneca High School Senior Portraits

I had such a great time with Sara and her mom, Becky, this past weekend. It's always fun for me to shoot in a new location and shooting at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens was no exception! 

Sara is a hilariously sarcastic and super talented young lady. After spending the weekend at the All State Chorus Clinic, she still managed to have enough energy to hike all over this gorgeous garden located in downtown Clemson.

We questioned whether or not it was a little bit wrong to shoot this soon-to-be USC freshman's senior portraits on Clemson's territory....but, hey...... she rocked it.

Here are a few of my favorites from this Seneca High School Class of 2017's shoot:

If you, or someone you know, is looking for a senior portrait photographer in Oconee or Pickens counties, I would love to chat with you! 

Pickens Senior Portrait Session Winners

First, WOW! I was not anticipating such a hard decision. Pickens, SC is truly blessed with such amazing young people!

With that said, I could not pick just one senior. I am sincerely sorry that I couldn't gift all who were nominated a free session. I truly feel my heart was led towards these specific nominees. The following three girls from Pickens High School will receive a free senior session:

Savannah Sanders

Cortni Albertson

Chelsey Ross

Girls, I will be in contact with in the week, but feel free to contact me directly in the meantime.

I can't wait to meet you all!

-Stephanie Necessary

Courtney Dance Portraits in Oconee County, SC

After taking a good few months off to relocate to the gorgeous mountains of the South Carolina upstate, I am so excited be in the swing of things again. A few months back, Courtney and I took some time to explore Chau Ram County Park in Oconee County, SC  - just a few miles outside of the quaint little town of Westminster, SC. 

The gorgeous fall colors, falling leaves, and soft light were a photographer's dream! Don't get me wrong, I loved living at the beach for all those years - but there is just something about the mountains in fall. There's no doubt that you're in God's country.

Courtney has been dancing at Foothills Dance Conservatory in Seneca, SC since she was a wee little girl. She is such an amazing dancer and has such a quiet spirit about her. Her laugh in infectious!

Here are a few of my favorites from our session together:

If you're looking for a dance, family, or senior photographer - don't hesitate to contact us. Necessary Photography serve Pickens, SC and surrounding areas - including Oconee and Greenville Counties.

Nominate a Pickens County Senior Today!

Nominate a deserving Pickens county senior today for their chance to be awarded a free custom senior session.

At least one Pickens County senior (class of 2017) will receive a free custom senior portrait session with Necessary Photography. Session will include consultation, an hour session, editing/retouching, and digital copies of the final 30 images.

Selection of senior will be based on the student's involvement in his or her school and/or community, academic achievement, and financial need. 

To nominate a senior today, all you need to do is fill out a short Google form that you can access through the button below. All nominations are due by midnight Friday, February 24, 2017. 

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give back. 

Student(s) who have been chosen will be announced on Necessary Photography's Instagram, Facebook, and blog on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Burrells Ford Trip

One of my very favorite places in the world is the upstate of South Carolina. I adore artsy hustle and bustle of Greenville and the simple beauty of the surrounding mountains. We travel to the upstate several times a year to relax and enjoy the other side of South Carolina. Sometimes, we wind up in a hotel near Falls Park in downtown Greenville, but more often we prefer the seclusion the mountains and trails have to offer. Hands down, our favorite place to camp is Burrells Ford. 

Burrells Ford is a gorgeous, primitive campground nestled along the South Carolina/Georgia state lines. The campsites are large, private and like no other. From the parking lot, you have to hike down a steep trail road to reach the sites dotting the Chattooga River.

One of our favorite hikes while camping at Burrells Ford is the trek to King Creek Falls. King Creek Falls is a gorgeous 70 foot falls. It's a pretty easy and fun hike. 

This year, we decided to do a mini shoot of my husband at the falls. He had recently earned his black belt in Goju Ryu karate and we felt the peacefulness of the falls was the perfect place for a karate shoot. It rained throughout the day, but the skies cleared just long enough to grab a few shots in the icy Chattooga waters.

Aspen definitely approves :)

If you're into camping and the outdoors. I would highly recommend that you check out this gem in Oconee County, SC.

Madison: Dance Portraits in Myrtle Beach, SC

When I first began to think I might be interested in trying dance photography, Madison graciously allowed me to take some photographs of her to see if it was indeed something I was interested in learning more about. Since that initial session, I've fallen in love with dance photography and learned a great deal.  I was blessed to have the opportunity to work with her again and apply all the knowledge I've gained over the past two years.

Madison dances at Coastal Dance Center in Market Common, so it was only fitting that we began our shoot in Market Common. One of my favorite spots at Market Common is the columns at Valor Park. The columns create great depth, and the light hits them perfectly in the evening.

After Market Common, we headed over to Myrtle Beach State Park to grab some dance shots on the sand.

I wanted to try some pointe shots on the beach as well, but sand is not exactly the most stable surface to dance en pointe. I devised a plan......and for less that $5, we were able to rig it where Madison could dance en pointe on the sand! Hooray!

Surfside Beach Family Beach Portraits

I had such a great time with this gorgeous family. I absolutely adore it when extended families like this get together to vacation together. It's so important to reconnect and make new memories. 

We decided that Surfside Beach Pier would be perfect for their family beach photography session. Surfside Pier has easy access to the beach and gives you a little variety for a beach session because you have the pier to shoot around as well.

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach, SC based photographer that specializes in fine art dance photography, senior portraits and other portrait photography like this family beach session. If you are looking for a photographer to capture your family while you're on vacation in Surfside Beach, SC or the surrounding area (Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach or Cherry Grove), please give us a call!

Pawley's Island Family Photography: The Freeman Family

I have been so blessed to be able to watch these beautiful girls grow up in front of my camera lens. The grandma and I used to work together (she's in the wonderful world of retirement now) - and I have always looked forward to photographing her son, Courtland's, beautiful family when they come into town. This time they came with a new, gorgeous bundle of joy and it was such a pleasure to meet her!

The gorgeous, serene pointe of Pawley's Island was the perfect backdrop for these family photos. I absolutely adore Pawley's because the beaches are absolutely stunning, the dunes are tall and the sea oats plenty. You will often find a flock of pelicans like we saw that night. It's just a gorgeous stretch. Plus, it offers the best sunset on the Grand Strand!

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach based photographer that specializes in fine art dance photography, senior portraits and other portrait photography. If you're looking to book a family beach photography session in Pawley's Island or the surrounding area, please give up a call!

Myrtle Beach Head Shots and Portfolio Update: Chloe

I just adore this young lady! I guess you could say she's been my photography muse over the years. Many years ago, when I was a young new photographer - one with a lot of want but not a lot of creative know how - I ran across a photo where she was dressed up in this awesome anime costume. I reached out to her for a photo shoot and the rest is history. She's been Beatrice, the Black Butler, the Mad Hatter, a Dark Angel, donned a mask and ball gown, and tromped through a forest of mosquitoes and broken toilets (another story for another day). It's been an honor to watch her grow into this gorgeous young lady over the years. I'm so thankful she trusted me many years ago and continues to trust in my artistic vision. I had a great time (as always) capturing her head shots for her sophomore year in college. I'm warning you now, you will see her name in lights.

Garden City Beach Family Beach Portraits

What an amazingly fun, large family! When Pam contacted me and told me about her family's plans of coming down to Garden City Beach, SC to give the extended family time to spend with one another and reconnect, and she wanted to get some family portraits done, I was super excited!  They rented a few beach houses from the great folks at Garden City Realty so we planned to meet up at the beach right near one of the houses. 

We had a fabulous time getting some family photos of individual family groups as well as the while group of over 40! They were funny, sweet and sarcastic - my favorite combination!

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach based photographer that specializes in fine art dance photography, senior portraits and family beach photography. If you're planning a vacation in the Myrtle Beach area (including Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Litchfield, Surfside, North Myrtle Beach or Cherry Grove) and you're looking for a photographer to capture your memories at the beach, give us a call!

Cherry Grove Family Beach Portraits

I had such a wonderful time up in Cherry Grove with the Price family for their family beach portraits. If you haven't been to the Cherry Grove Pointe yet, I highly recommend that you add it to your 'to do' list. Cherry Grove Pointe is a gorgeous, mostly undeveloped stretch of beach just north of the Cherry Grove Pier. The waterway and ocean intersect creating a wide, gorgeous stretch of beach that is unmatched on the Grand Strand. 

The Price family was visiting North Myrtle Beach/Cherry Grove from Kentucky and wanted to document their family vacation with some gorgeous family beach photos. The Cherry Grove Pointe was just perfect for this. Unlike other areas of Myrtle Beach, we were not fighting the beach crowds, but almost had the beach to ourselves. 

Two of my favorite things about the beaches at Cherry Grove are the incredible dunes and the wild island across from the pointe. Because the island is undeveloped, shooting against it gives the photos such a unique look.

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach based photographer that specializes in fine art dance photography, senior portraits and family beach photography. Are you on vacation and looking for fabulous portraits that capture your family's love and personalities? Give us a call!

Myrtle Beach SC Underwater Maternity Portraits

When Ramona, another Myrtle Beach photographer, contacted me about doing some underwater maternity portraits of her, I was ecstatic! Back in February, I had purchased an underwater housing for my camera to use for the underwater portion of my mermaid styled session and I was itching to put that housing to good use again.  She was able to secure the pool at Waterford Plantation in Myrtle Beach, SC for sunrise and we spent a few hours in the pool making sure we got everything we needed. As for the rest of the story, I'll just let the images do the talking.

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach, SC based photographer that specializes in dance, family and senior portrait photography. She serves the Grand Strand area including:  Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawley's Island, Georgetown and Conway.

Pawley's Island, SC Family Portraits

I love, love, love my clients! When I hopped out of my Wrangler at Caledonia to meet the Jan family, I was tickled  pink. Not only are they a gorgeous family, but the mother, Huma, styled them perfectly!

You can't beat the gorgeous live oak and Spanish moss lined driveway that leads into Caledonia. It is as old world southern as you can get.

After we wrapped up at Caledonia, we headed down to the pointe on Pawley's Island. I absolutely adore that beach. It's one of the few beaches on the Grand Strand that aren't over developed. It has such great dunes and the jetties are amazing!

North Myrtle Beach Family Beach Session

I was so thrilled when Danielle contacted me about scheduling a family beach session for her and her extended family while they were on vacation. She was super sweet and booked this session as a Mother's Day present for her mother, Susan. What a wonderful surprise! Danielle's little girls were the cutest little girls - complete with gorgeous curls!

We took some time to do some posed portraits, but then the family just enjoyed the beach and I was able to capture some great playful moments. It was easy to see that this family really loves each other.

While we were playing around on the beach, a local fisherman who was surf fishing caught a baby black tip shark. He was kind enough to let the girls touch it before he released it back into the ocean.

What Danielle had to say about her family's session:

Stephanie took family beach portraits for us while we were on vacation. I cannot say enough wonderful things about her. She was easy to communicate with before the session. She was open to discussing locations close to our hotel and gave details about the pros and cons of different spots. The day of the session, Stephanie was amazing to work with. She took beautiful pictures of our family. My 3 yo can be a little difficult to manipulate into posed pictures. Stephanie allowed her to be herself and got shots when she saw them instead of trying to pose her. Because of this, the true personality of my kids shined! We are thrilled with all the images and cannot wait to have them hanging in my house!

If you're looking for family beach portraits in the North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove, Myrtle Beach or Pawley's Island area, please give us a call. (843) 424-1652

Payton: Socastee High School Cheerleadering and Dance Shoot

Payton is absolutely AMAZING. She's a rising freshman at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, SC and is on their JV Cheerleading Squad. Not only is the girl super smart, and - quite obviously - gorgeous, she's such a humanitarian that truly tries to give back to her community. It seems that, in today's world, the trend in 14 years old is self-absorption. Payton is rebuking that trend. She's constantly volunteering, whether is is to feed the homeless, ring the bell for the Salvation Army, or to collect clothes and blankets for the less fortunate. She's recently wrapped up donation drives that collected items for the United Way and for the Ronald McDonald House.  

We headed to Caledonia Golf & Fish Club for the dance portion of the shoot. You can't get any more southern than Caledonia's oak lined drive - and it just fit Payton's Gatsby inspired dance outfit perfectly!

This girl dances in nearly 100 degree heat and looked flawless doing it. 

We decided to do the cheerleading portion of the session at Payton's high school, so we headed up to Socastee High School's Brave Stadium.

Since we shot on National Flag Day, it only seemed right that we incorporated the American Flag into at least one image!

Payton's competing for Young Miss Teen South Carolina in just a few weeks. I can't wait to see how she does!

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach based photographer that specializes in fine art dance photography, senior portraits and family portraits. 

Myrtle Beach Portrait Locations: II

Location, Location, Location:  Central and Inland Myrtle Beach, SC

A few weeks ago, I began a blog series about great locations for portraits in the Myrtle Beach, SC area. The first blog in the series focused on the state parks and southern locations on the Grand Strand. For the second blog in the series, I'd like to focus on locations that are more centrally located in Myrtle Beach, SC and those that are further inland.

1. Market Common

Market Common is located off Farrow Parkway on the old Air Force Base. It is accessible from 17 Business (Kings Highway) or 17 Bypass.

Positives:  

1. Modern Cityscape:  If you're looking for a modern cityscape for your portraits, Market Common is a great choice. It's filled with a ton of great choices, from full length reflective windows, to great alleys, street lamp lined sidewalks, etc. It's a great chic site.

2. Market Common is located extremely close to Myrtle Beach State Park. This makes Market Common a great choice if you're looking for variety that includes beach portraits. My larger package includes 2 locations. If you've chosen the larger package to fit your needs - Market Common + Myrtle Beach State Park are excellent choices.

3. A few of the old Air Force Base buildings are still standing and are now covered with graffiti. If you're looking for a spot with an urban vibe, Market Common is a great choice. 

Things to consider:

1. Because there are so many popular restaurants and shops at Market Common, it can be quite crowded on the weekends and summer months.

2. There can be a good amount of traffic around Market Common. For this reason, I do not recommend Market Common as a location for families with children under the age of 5.

2. Downtown Conway

I absolutely adore downtown Conway, SC! Conway is located inland off 501, approximately twenty minutes from Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Positives:

1. Conway is so full of amazing history and gorgeous old buildings. If you're like me, and you love old historic strips - this is the place for you! Main Street of Conway is just fantastic! There are large live oak trees, quaint brick alleys, an old theatre and so many little nooks and crannies for photographs that it is impossible to list them all.

2. It is located right near the River Walk of Conway, so if you're looking for some variety, I would highly recommend my larger package and pairing the two locations together.

3. Most of the shops and restaurants are closed on Sundays, which means you can take advantage of this great town without a ton of people and vehicles crowding in on you. 

Bonus: Conway is full of amazing restaurants. So, you can get your session done then head out to an amazing meal. My favorite restaurant on the Grand Strand is located in Conway. Make sure to check out Rivertown Bistro.

Things to Consider:

1. Shooting in Downtown Conway, SC involves a good bit of walking to fully explore the city and take advantage of everything this location has to offer. For this reason, I do not recommend historic Conway for anyone with health impairments that limit mobility.

2. Except on Sunday, there can be a large amount of traffic and people. For this reason, I do not recommend choosing Conway as your portrait location if your family has children under the age of five, unless you are willing and able to schedule the session for a Sunday.

3. Booth's Christmas Tree Farm

Booth's Christmas Tree Farm is located at 5918 Adrian Highway in Conway, SC. It is a family owned farm with the most amazing owners. It may sound odd to recommend this location for anytime of the year other than Christmas, but Booth's has a ton to offer in the way of location no matter what season it is.

Positives:

1. The most obvious positive is that if you're looking for family Christmas portraits, this is the PERFECT location. Booth's has acres of Christmas tree fields for your Christmas portraits.

2. Booth's also offers the perfect country chic location for any sort of session, anytime of the year. There are two large barns, great county fencing, tractors, a vintage car, dirt roads, and much more! I am a huge fan of the rowed pine trees - they photograph beautifully (see above) and the wildflowers that bloom during different times of the year (see below). This year, Booth's has planted rows and rows of SUNFLOWERS that will bloom during the month of July (YAY!) as well.

3. This farm is locally owned and ran. You are spending local and helping our local economy. 

 After getting your family Christmas portraits done, get your tree! Booth's grows a ton of varieties of trees that you can cut yourself, and they import Fraser Firs from North Carolina. They drive to NC and get the trees themselves, so the Frasers from Booth's are much fresher than the ones from other large chains you will find in the area. Additionally, they flock trees and sell garland. This year, my family went and cut our own tree for the first time, and we had such an amazing time finding the perfect tree in the fields and my boys really had a blast cutting it down. We didn't just get a tree, we made memories.

Things to Consider:

1. Booth's can be very, very crowded during the Christmas season. Despite this, there seems to always be enough room to not feel too cramped during your session.

2. Sessions must be scheduled with Booth's as well to make sure other photographers aren't out there at the same time. Some sessions, like the Sunflower Sessions fill fast.

Next time.....

For the next blog, I will focus on some niche locations that are scattered throughout the Grand Strand that fit a specific need for certain clients. 

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach based photographer that specializes in fine-art dance photography, senior portraits and family photography.

Myrtle Beach Photography Portrait Locations

Location, Location, Location Part 1:  State Parks and Southern Locations

If I am honest, I feel so very lucky to live in an area with so many incredible places for portrait locations! Of course, Myrtle Beach's gorgeous beaches are the obvious location that many people, both locals and tourists alike, think of first. The reality is, though that there are so many different options available. I don't know about you, but I am a very visual person (probably why I'm a photographer), so I decided to put all of my favorite Myrtle Beach photography locations into a blog series so that you guys can reference them easily to pick the perfect location for your Myrtle Beach portrait session with Necessary Photography!

State Parks

1. Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park is located just south of the city of Myrtle Beach, SC at 4401 South Kings Highway; Myrtle Beach, SC 29575. Depending on the season, you may find azaleas or gorgeous white lilies in bloom.

Positives:

1.  Tons of variety of locations within the park. There are boardwalks over swamps, awesome trees, a green meadow, a pier, the beach and tons of nooks and crannies that provide unique shots.

2. The beach within the park is undeveloped, so you don't have to worry about homes or towering hotels in the background of your pictures.

3. It's pretty centrally located and easily accessible for those coming from the north or south.

Things to Keep in Mind:

1. It can be VERY crowded during the summer months. 

2. There is a $5 entry fee per person unless you have a South Carolina State Park Pass.

2. Huntington Beach State Park

Huntington Beach State Park is located in between Murrells Inlet, SC and Litchfield Beach, SC right across from Brookgreen Gardens at 16148 Ocean Highway; Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

Positives:

1. Tremendous variety. Huntington Beach State Park has so many different options in one. First, there is Atalaya, AKA the "castle." You can use the outside of the castle at anytime, and the interior can be used from 9am-5pm for $2 per person. Huntington also has numerous trails that wind through the forests, several boardwalks that lead out to the beach, lovely sand trails that also lead out to the beach, as well as access to the inlet and boardwalks over the inlet.

2. While the part is definitely busier in the summer months, it is not nearly as busy as Myrtle Beach State Park.

3. Huntington Beach State Park allows dogs on the beach year round. If you are looking for a session that will include your furry friend, this is a great place for it.

Things to Consider:

1. There is a $5 entry fee per person unless you have a SC Sate Park Pass.

Locations on the South Strand

1. Caledonia Golf Course

Caledonia is located in Pawley's Island, SC at 369 Caledonia Drive, Pawley's Island, SC 29585. Although it may sound weird to recommend a golf course as a potential portrait location, the ground are timelessly southern and, as you can see, a gorgeous backdrop for your portrait session.

Positives:

1. The gorgeous live oak lined driveway! Talk about southern. This drive is breath taking and offers the perfect backdrop for your portraits.

2. Their landscapers are top notch - there is usually something in bloom at Caledonia.

Things to Consider:

1. First and foremost, this is a golf course. It is important to remember there will be golfers around, and we are not allowed to disturb them or their game. For this reason, I do not recommend Caledonia as a location for families with children under the age of 5.

2. The ground of Caledonia are only available when the proshop is open. This means, that the shoot must be prearranged with enough reasonable time to make sure that it corresponds with the proshop's hours for that time of year/date. 

3. Caledonia is not available for portrait sessions when a private event like a wedding is happening.

2. Hampton Plantation

Hampton Plantation is a State Historic Site. It is located roughly 15 minutes south of Georgetown, SC at 1950 Rutledge Road; McClellanville, SC 29458. The plantation home was built in 1735 and sits on roughly 300 acres. The grounds are lovely year round, but in early spring, it is particularly gorgeous at Hampton because the azaleas are in full bloom.

Positives:

1. If you love history, specifically southern history - this place is for you! Not only is the home in wonderful condition, the ground also host the separate kitchen, George Washington once slept here (he is even rumored to be the reason why the huge live oak in front of the house still stands) and they are currently excavating the slave area of the plantation.

2. It's FREE! Other plantation homes in the area charge between $150 -$400 for a location fee.

3. Because the ground are so wide open, this is a great location for large family photo shoots as well.

Things to Consider:

1. It is a long drive. From Myrtle Beach, you can expect to drive roughly an hour - maybe more depending on traffic. 

2. The ground close at 5pm in the winter and 6pm in the summer. So, unless you plan your shoot right before Day Light Saving's Time ends, you will not be able to take advantage of the beautiful sunsets that South Carolina has to offer.

3. If you plan on using any areas other than the main house or the driveway, I highly suggest close-toed shoes. Many of the gorgeous trees and ground are located in the midst of fields that are quite wild.

3. Pawley's Island Beach

Pawley's Island is located between Murrells Inlet, SC and Litchfield Beach, SC. The southern pointe of Pawley's Island is the area that I generally shoot at. It is gorgeous, uninhabited, and offers one of the few water's edge sunsets at the beach.

Positives:

1. The southern tip of Pawley's Island is uninhabited. There is a large area of beach that has no homes or hotels on it, providing a natural beach backdrop for your portraits.

2. Because the sun sets in the west, it is nearly impossible to have sunset photos on the beach. Yes, with most beach locations, you can get lovely pinks and oranges in the sky on the beach at sunset, but you never really get the full impact of the sunset. Because Pawley's is an island, and the pointe is at the very tip with water on both sides, Pawley's Island offers a fantastic location for those looking for 'sunset beach pictures' in the Myrtle Beach area. I believe Pawley's Island offers, hands down, the best sunset on the Grand Strand.

3. Even though it is only a beach location, the jetties at Pawley's Island as well as the vegetation on the inlet side offer some variety from your normal beach photography.

Things to consider:

1. Choosing Pawley's Island for your portrait location is only recommended if it will be low tide during your session date and time. The beach is very short and the jetties unusuable during high tide.

2. During the later summer/early fall, black biting flies can be found in great abundance at Pawley's Island at sunset. I do not recommend shooting at Pawley's this time of year because I have yet to find a type of bug spray that deters them and they are horribly painful.

4. Surfside Beach, SC

Surfside Beach, SC is located on the southern end of the Grand Strand in between Myrtle Beach, SC and Murrells Inlet, SC. It has a small, quaint historic strip as well as the beach and the Surfside Pier. 

Positives:

1. The beach offers a little bit of variety with the addition of the pier.

2. While it does get crowded during summer months, Surfside is generally not as crowded as Myrtle Beach, SC and it is more of a family friendly beach that Myrtle.

3. The small historical strip offers several neat locations including some awesome staircases, wood piles (don't laugh - they photograph beautifully) and great streetlamp lined sidewalks. The strip is less than a mile from the beach, so it's easy to do both in one session.

Things to Consider:

1. The historical strip is quite small. If you're looking for a historical city feel, I would definitely recommend historical Conway over Surfside. It is also important to note that the strip can have heavy traffic flow. For this reason, I do not recommend the strip of Surfside for families with children under the age of 5. Surfside Beach and pier is fine for all ages.

2. If your session is scheduled before 7pm, you will need to pay for parking at the Surfside Pier. It is $1.25 an hour - and the machine takes cash and credit.

Stay tuned for my next blog which will cover locations in Myrtle Beach and Conway!

Necessary Photography is a Myrtle Beach based professional photographer that specializes in fine art dance photography, senior portraits and family pictures. Contact me today to schedule your custom portraits!