Charleston Engagement Session at the Gibbes Art Museum and Babas on Cannon

This Charleston engagement session was rooted in places that already held meaning. Most of their relationship has unfolded here, so instead of manufacturing moments, we walked through spaces that felt familiar and lived in, letting the afternoon move naturally from one location to the next.

We started at the Gibbes Art Museum, one of my favorite backdrops in downtown Charleston for engagement photos. The architecture is classic but not stiff, and the surrounding streets offer soft light, quiet corners, and just enough texture to keep things visually interesting without overpowering the couple.

The bride-to-be wore a short Selkie dress for the first part of the session, which felt playful and intentional without reading overly styled. It worked especially well against the clean lines of the museum and the historic sidewalks nearby. As we wandered farther into downtown, we stumbled onto a small street lined with cypress trees, the kind of scene that briefly feels more European than Southern, and leaned into that slower, almost cinematic pace.

Midway through the session, she changed into a casual white midi dress she already owned. The shift felt natural and personal, which is always the goal. Nothing about this session was about dressing up for the camera. It was about reflecting how they actually move together.

They are high school sweethearts, and that ease shows quickly. There was no need for heavy direction. Most of the time, I simply let them walk, talk, sit, and settle into each other. Those in-between moments are where the images come alive.

We finished the session at Babas on Cannon, tucked into one of Charleston’s most charming corners. Drinks at a small sidewalk table gave us the perfect ending, relaxed, intimate, and full of quiet energy. It felt like a snapshot of real life rather than a staged ending, which is exactly how I want engagement sessions to feel.

If you are planning a Charleston engagement session and want photographs that feel effortless, documentary, and rooted in place, this city offers endless possibilities when you let it unfold naturally. You can view more photos like this on my portfolio page.

Send an email or reach out with the contact form to get in touch today about your Charleston engagement session.