Leigha’s senior session in Charleston was one of those shoots where we had to pivot quickly, trust the process and literally out-run black storm clouds the entire time!!! We originally had a different timeline planned, but because of thunderstorms in the forecast, we made the last-second decision to move her session up to the middle of the day. Mid-day light can be intimidating, especially in Charleston heat and humidity…but somehow, we ended up with glowing SUNSHINE at every single location!

We started downtown and moved quickly through some of the prettiest spots we could find before the storm clouds caught up with us. It was one of those sessions where you are checking the radar, watching the sky and making decisions on the fly…but Leigha made the whole thing look effortless. She handled the heat, humidity and weather chaos like such a pro, and you would never know from the photos that we were racing storms the entire time!

After downtown, we ended her session at Magnolia Plantation, which made this shoot feel extra special for me. I have always wanted to photograph there and had somehow never gotten the chance until Leigha’s session!!! It was such a beautiful ending to the day, and I still cannot get over the images we captured on the bridge. Just WAIT until you see them. The scenery, the light, Leigha’s outfits and the little pockets of sunshine we managed to find came together in the dreamiest way.

This session was such a good reminder that beautiful images can still happen when the plan changes completely. Was mid-day summer light our original dream scenario? Not exactly. Were we slightly sweating and watching black clouds roll in behind us? Absolutely. But Leigha and her family were so sweet, flexible and willing to roll with every pivot, and I am SO glad the shoot turned out the way it did. Sometimes the sessions that require the most flexibility end up being some of the most rewarding!

Leigha: Thank you so much for trusting me through such a wild weather day! You and your family were so gracious and flexible with all of the last-minute changes, and I loved getting to photograph you in both downtown Charleston and Magnolia Plantation. You made the heat, humidity and storm-dodging look way too easy, and I hope you love scrolling through some of my favorites

Photographers: Want to learn how I handle mid-day light, weather pivots, tricky timelines and location changes when a session does not go according to plan? Inside The Senior Scoop, I share how I think through posing, lighting, location flow, troubleshooting and creating beautiful images even when the weather keeps everyone on their toes. I’d love to have you inside!

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE TRIAL!

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Lauren’s Sunrise Senior Session in Downtown Charleston

Oakley’s Sunrise Senior Portraits at Boone Hall Plantation

Ada’s Boone Hall and Sullivan’s Island Senior Portraits