Meet Kelly!

If you had told younger me carrying disposable cameras around everywhere that photography would eventually become my career, I probably would have believed you immediately.

I grew up in southern Delaware, spent my college years in Indiana, and eventually made my way down to the Charleston area of South Carolina, where I now live and work as a photographer. Looking back, photography has really been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was always the kid documenting everything, whether people wanted me to or not. Family gatherings, school events, random moments with friends. If there was a camera nearby, I probably had it in my hand.

A lot of that started with my mom, who loved photo albums and scrapbooks and preserving memories. At first, taking photos was about capturing moments for keepsakes. Over time, though, I started falling in love with photography as an art form too. I became fascinated not only with memories, but with light, composition, emotion, and storytelling.

In high school, I unexpectedly ended up in an upperclassman yearbook class because it was the only thing that fit into my schedule. The class was designed for students with prior experience, and I definitely did not have any at the time, but I learned quickly and absolutely loved it. That class opened the door to photographing school events and eventually sporting events, especially football games. Suddenly I had sideline access, a camera in hand, and a new understanding of how powerful photography could be.

When I went to college, I originally planned to pursue sports photojournalism. I worked with the athletic department during an internship and photographed for the campus newspaper, both of which gave me incredible experience. Somewhere along the way, though, I realized that while I enjoyed the journalism side of things, my real passion was always the photography itself. I loved telling stories visually much more than writing the accompanying articles.

That realization led me further into portrait and fine art photography. I took classes in darkroom photography, digital photography, photo manipulation, graphic design, web design, metalsmithing, and a variety of other fine art mediums. What I discovered during that time was that I could combine my photojournalistic background with portrait work to tell the story of a person in a very natural and authentic way.

That approach still shapes the way I photograph today.

Whether I’m photographing a wedding, a couple, or a family session, I lean heavily toward prompts instead of rigid posing. I’ve always believed that when people are uncomfortable, it shows in photos. If someone is overly focused on exactly where their hand goes or how they’re standing, it’s hard for genuine emotion to come through naturally.

Instead, I like to create movement and interaction. I might ask you to look at your partner, walk together, twirl your child around, laugh, talk, or simply exist together in the moment. Those little interactions create the kinds of expressions and connections that feel real because they are real.

The same philosophy carries over into weddings. Of course, I’ll guide family portraits, wedding party photos, and couples portraits throughout the day, but beyond that, my goal is usually to document the day as it naturally unfolds. I’m not someone who wants to constantly interrupt moments or recreate things that already happened. Unless there’s something specifically requested, I prefer to quietly observe and capture the story as it happens, almost like a documentary approach.

After moving to South Carolina, I continued photographing weddings and portraits in one of the most beautiful areas imaginable. Charleston is known for its scenery, destination weddings, and coastal charm, and it truly is an incredible place to photograph. While I absolutely love working with visitors vacationing here, I also love working with local families and couples to create images that feel personal to them, including in locations that may be a little less tourist-heavy and a little more meaningful.

I work with all kinds of family units, couples, individuals, and weddings, though newborn photography has never been my main focus. No matter the session type, my editing style stays very natural and minimal. My goal is never to make someone look overly altered or artificial. I focus mostly on light, color, and subtle refinements that help the image look the way the moment actually felt in person. I want people to look like themselves, just at their absolute best.

Outside of photography, I’m also a mom to an amazing teenager and someone who’s happiest near the water. I love swimming, the beach, fishing, boating, movies, occasional computer gaming, and honestly just about any creative hobby I can get my hands on. Painting, woodburning, etching, sewing, crafting. If it involves creating something, I’ll probably try it at least once.

Photography has been part of my life for a very long time, but more than anything, I’m grateful that it allows me to preserve real moments and real connections for other people. That has always been the heart of it for me, and it still is.