The Picturesque Routes of Historic Charleston
Charleston's Downtown is broken up into a few different neighborhoods on the map, but the areas that I focus on are: The French Quarters and South of Broad
When choosing Historic Charleston for your portraits you may think of it as a pretty small city with lots of landmarks all in one place. While we are indeed a small city compared to where you might be visiting from, in actuality, the picturesque part of our city spans over 10 blocks long and about 5 blocks wide. I often take my clients off the beaten path to really explore the magical light and the gorgeous architecture we have to offer. Some Routes can be as short as 20-30 minutes, and others 60-90 minutes. It all depends on the package you choose, the time of day, and what you'd like to see. It's important to keep in mind that Charleston is a booming city of tourism and with the many walking and carriage tours each hour it can be a pretty busy place. I always recommend my clients taking advantage of the earlier timeframes before the tours begin, or the early evening once everyone has head off to their dinner plans. Can't decide? I can also recommend a route based on what you plan to wear, or the backdrop colors your prefer.
The French Quarters and Rainbow Row
If you really want to showcase the colors of Rainbow Row in your session we'll likely be sticking to The French Quarters, right around the line of East Bay and Broad Street. There are SO many avenues and nooks boasting amazing textures, colors, and unique architecture here. Because this is one of THE MOST popular routes in Charleston I highly recommend sunrise to early morning.
South of Broad and White Point Garden
If you're looking to add a little greenery and the iconic oaks to your session I would highly recommend the South of Broad area including White Point Garden. This park is located at the southern tip of the peninsula and has thick overhead tree coverage, low hanging branches, and amazing water views that photograph perfectly at sunrise and sunset. This section of Historic Downtown is all residential, and has a wide variety of textures, and immaculate window boxes.
Hampton Park
Just outside of the city is one of the most photographed places in Charleston, Hampton Park. This park is a go-to for local photographers because it has iconic large live oaks, dreamy spanish moss, crepe myrtles, and charming street lamps. This park is my first recommendation for those wanting that "Angel Oak" look without the gates, tourists and "do not touch" signs. This park's morning light is absolutely unbeatable as the golden light kisses the mossy oaks and back lights the well kept grounds and it's absolutely gorgeous year round.
Can't Decide? Choose Two Locations!
Clearly Charleston has more to offer than just downtown, we also have some pretty amazing beaches, parks, and historic plantations! If you're looking to add variety in your session I do also offer two location sessions for $1399. These sessions give you the best of everything Charleston has to offer, and allows for multiple outfit changes.