South Carolina Wedding Photographer Journal

The Honeymoon Silhouette

2008-09-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Last week I received a phone call from a really nice couple from Louisville, KY who were on their honeymoon on Hilton Head Island. We set out to get a silhouette image to eventually become a large print on their wall at home. Despite the time of day and other obstacles we were able to get this image.

South Carolina Hurricanes

2008-09-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

I have discovered that the best way to predict a hurricane in South Carolina is to wait until the clouds start to gather and the wind starts to blow. If these two things happen, there is a really good chance that a hurricane may be coming ashore.

I have discovered that the best way to enjoy an oncoming hurricane is to surf. Thanks to the many tropical storms in the recent past that have skirted our shores there has been some phenomenal surf. I have surfed at least twice a day for the last week and I would like to thank them for the great waves.

I think the one to watch out for is Ike. If I were into making hurricane T-Shirts; I would create one that read “YIKES…WATCH OUT FOR IKE!”

Brand New Gear!

2008-08-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

This next year is going to be an extremely exciting year for Strainephotography. I am now shooting with some of the finest digital camera and lighting equipment in the industry. I have some big plans for some very cool new projects. I would like to send a huge thank you to all of my clients over the previous year that I have had the awesome and unique pleasure to work with. In the next month, I will be updating my entire outdated,current portfolio with this years work. Please stay tuned for this update.

Here is an image I shot at a wedding on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina just a couple weeks ago.

It's been a long hot summer!

2008-08-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

The summer on Hilton Head Island is winding down. Today might possibly be the nicest day of the whole summer. We had a big rainstorm yesterday and it really cooled things down nicely. I was hoping for some nice waves today but that simply did not happen, nor does it happen very much at all here on Hilton Head Island.

I believe it has something to do with the Continental Shelf cutting down the size of the swell moving shoreward. You really need a big swell to have decent waves on Hilton Head. So what else?

I have updated all of my photography equipment and I am now shooting with some of the nicest digital equipment available. It has taken about 10 years of photography for me to be able to appreciate what my new camera can actually offer. The images it produces are spectacular.

I will be revamping my entire portfolio on my website very soon to include my last year of work which is not even up at all yet. This will include photos from when I was on assignment in British Columbia, as well as some work from my years operating a dark room in northern Vermont.

I am also going to try and update this blog more often. If you happen to be looking for a Hilton Head Wedding Photographer, please get in touch with me through strainephotography.com

BROADWAY PHOTO IS A SCAM

2008-05-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

I apologize ahead of time for this blog post but I felt I needed to let you know about it. There are several photo companies on the internet that claim to offer the lowest prices that are actually scams. Broadway Photo is a scam. Their web address is http://www.broadwayphoto.com/about.aspx
Do not buy anything from Broadway photo. There are several more out there like it and I am working on compiling a list of those that are scams. It is such a shame that companies like this are able to exist. The internet is a lot like the wild west. It is wild and lawless for the most part. So just be careful of who you buy your stuff from on the internet.

Can you believe those tornadoes in the mid-west? Unbelievable. I have never seen a tornado but at some point I would love to see one. I think it would be awesome to see it from a distance.

Hilton Head Island Wedding

2008-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Mothers Day, I photographed a really, really cool wedding. The family was from outside Louisville, Kentucky and they had to be one of the nicest families I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

They rented a big house in Palmetto Dunes and the entire family was staying at the house. The wedding ceremony was just down the street at the Beach House overlooking the ocean.

It was a very simple wedding with just close friends and family in attendance but they sure had a good time. It was such a nice feeling to be able to be the photographer for such an amazing group of people. I don't think anyone stopped smiling all day long.

I left feeling better. When you are around people that kind and cool for so long and you are the one in charge documenting one of the biggest days in their lives it is difficult not to have some of their natural warmth rub off on you.

I felt honored to be their photographer. The sun broke out just before the ceremony and stayed out for just an absolutely spectacular sunset. The colors were amazing. Just perfect light for photography. The party went on into the evening and a warm ocean breeze kept the bugs at bay and air just cool enough for some good ol' fashioned dancin'

We were taking photographs at the home before the ceremony with just the family and Anna, the bride, pulled me aside and asked to take a picture of me with her. I had never had anyone ask and it was kind of cool. I have probably taken over 200,000 photographs in the last few years and I don't think I have any of me. Well, hardly any. But, it was cool. It was neat to have her ask and the photo turned pretty good. So, I thought I would share it. Here I am with Anna, a super cool bride, just a couple days ago.

The groom used to sing in a rock band in Louisville and his best man was the rythm guitarist. They were both awesome folks and I will never forget chatting about Aerosmith live in the 1970's with the brides Dad over a couple beers with the waves breaking and great people pronouncing their love for one another. A big, beautiful thing and in a world full of news that sometimes can be annoying and a shame, it feels good to see love.

south carolina wedding photographer Daniel Straine

French Broad River Festival

2008-05-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

Well,
May has arrived. I apologize for not updating this blog any sooner then now and unfortunately this post here is going to be a bit short. I have been out photographing, designing and surfing; not writing. Working too...here and there.

So, last weekend I was up deep in the mountains of North Carolina in the little town of Hot Springs where I was photographing a music festival. It featured some of the best bands from around Asheville, NC and those beautiful mountains around those parts. Absolutely amazing blend of music all weekend. Imagine bluegrass and country on speed. Imagine rock and roll dipped in bluegrass soul. Imagine classic rock in the mountains on a big raging historic river.

What a great weekend. I will do my best to keep this blog better updated. I am off to photograph a wedding in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island. The couple is from Kentucky and I am really looking foreword to meeting them.

Happy spring and welcome summer.
Daniel Straine

French Broad River Festival

2008-05-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well,
May has arrived. I apologize for not updating this blog any sooner then now and unfortunately this post here is going to be a bit short. I have been out photographing, designing and surfing; not writing. Working too...here and there.

So, last weekend I was up deep in the mountains of North Carolina in the little town of Hot Springs where I was photographing a music festival. It featured some of the best bands from around Asheville, NC and those beautiful mountains around those parts. Absolutely amazing blend of music all weekend. Imagine bluegrass and country on speed. Imagine rock and roll dipped in bluegrass soul. Imagine classic rock in the mountains on a big raging historic river.

Here is a photo of the band Acoustic Syndicate. What a great weekend. I will do my best to keep this blog better updated. I am off to photograph a wedding in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island. The couple is from Kentucky and I am really looking foreword to meeting them.

Happy spring and welcome summer.
Daniel Straine

Spring in South Carolina has arrived

2008-04-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Spring has arrived in South Carolina. It is everywhere you look. You can smell it; you can see it; you can feel it. A few minutes ago we had one of those spring showers that all those laundry detergents are always saying their product smells like; they don’t come close.

Last night, for the first time in a long while, Hilton Head Island got some waves. They were chest high and not too shabby. I caught about a dozen waves. That morning I surfed Tybee Pier in Georgia, just after sunrise and through the mist rising off the 64 degree southern waters, I was able to make out the glassy five to six foot sets rolling in.

I had my first wedding last Saturday in Savannah, Georgia in what is shaping up to be my busiest wedding run ever. I am nearly booked every weekend from April 1st through Oct 1st. I already have one date booked for November.

My equipment has all been upgraded and I am proud to say that I am now shooting with L-Series Lenses from Canon.

As far as music photography goes; I will be photographing for The French Broad River Festival May 2nd – 4th in Hot Springs, NC, just outside of the funky mountain town of Asheville. This should be an amazing weekend and I just cannot wait. Erin and I will be entering the whitewater raft race on Saturday morning which will be followed up by great music all day and night.

Was that a decent post? I felt I needed to pay some attention to my blog and so I did. Thanks for reading if you were reading and take good care.

Camping on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

2008-03-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

The many dedicated readers to this great and wonderful blog already know when I say Erin, I am referring to my extremely cool, awesome girlfriend. hah! I actually don't think anyone reads this blog but perhaps they do. Perhaps, I don't just write to the wind. To the internet spaces deep out there in cyberland.

To my story already... Well, alrighty then. So, last weekend Erin and I decided to go set up the tent on the beach minutes before a huge storm was about to strike. In fact, tornado warnings had sounded. The weather folks, they said, don't go outside and we not only went outside but we planned to sleep outside on an open beach under a sky full of lightning and threatening thunder.

The tent was soon erected in gail force winds mind you, but securely constructed and holding steady against the strong winds and pitter patter of rain.

Then, all was quiet. The storm had passed. Or so we thought.

The tarp came off and minutes later the rain came back in full force. So, there I was hopping around under a sea of lightning putting on a wet tarp and the bugs came out to greet me. They bit me hard. They swarmed me and made me cry like a little baby.

Thats the story. I live today though. Many welts later but here I am. It was a good character building experience. And afterwards, I was fully convinced, Erin is a bigger lady than I. She didn't once wimper against the wrath of the bugs and the dangers of the sky.

Strainephotography branches into fashion design

2008-03-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am currently working as a Marketing Director for a real estate company on Hilton Head Island. I handle all of their graphic design, copywriting and photography needs. However, I love to design outside of work. I recently opened up an online store where I am selling clothing with my designs on them. I call it The Indie Rock Cafe. You will notice that my prices are not any more expensive then what you would pay in a store and the shirts are all top quality. Please take a look around via the link below.

Love the weather in all of its forms

2008-03-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

“We are certainly having bad weather here.” “Oh, the weather is awful.” “:Everything is just fine, except for the damn weather.”

I don’t get it. Rain is cool. Clouds are cool. The wind is fun. Snow is heavy to shovel but fun to ski and make snowmen with. Hail kind of sucks. Thunder is awesome. It is natures drums and the lightning…well that is just neat to look at. Puddles can be jumped in and ice turns would be football or soccer players into hockey players. Plus it can be very cool to look at.

Now, come on you weather haters…it is time to embrace the weather in all of its forms. Embrace the cold, wet and raw days that come along, as much as the sunny ones. Before long…you will be saying. It is just beautiful; no matter what the sky decides to dish out.

All this stemming from overhearing people in my local coffee shop bitching about the rain. I should probably add that I love the rain.

The Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Did you see the Lunar Eclipse the other night. I sure did. It was very, very cool indeed. It was little extra spice in the night sky. A little salt and pepper where it was once rather bland. A bit of extra light on a normally mundane subject.
I set myself up out on a dock near a couple old rickety shrimp boats down in Bluffton, South Carolina. I set up my tripod, put in some 100 speed Fuji Velvia film into my Nikon FM2 body and pointed my telephoto lens to the stars or to the moon to be more exact, and took my first image. I then clicked an image every five minutes until the show was over. Its always a long shot with long exposures but all one can do is hope, is rely on your years of previous long exposure experience and the sometimes dissapointing results in the darkroom, and hope that you got the exposure you wanted. Time will tell. But, it was very cool indeed. At one point the moon turned bright red and all the wispy clouds that misted around its circular glow were suddenly bathed in a reddish hue. I think the moon was blushing because of all the sudden attention it was receiving from the stargazers on Earth. Sorry, no images yet...

Concert Photography

2008-02-12T07:21:00.000-08:00

My last few posts on this blog have all revolved around music and so I am sticking to that theme for just a bit longer. I have years and years worth of concert photography just waiting to be released into various books and films. For the first time in years I am starting to go through the archives and pull out some material that if not stored correctly would certainly have cobwebs tangled around the flimsy edges of the negative. (CAN COBWEBS GATHER UPON DIGITAL FILES TOO?) I don't think so. Perhaps, their is some sort of digital version of the cobweb and if there was such a thing it would most certainly have found a home on these rock files.
Anyhow, it feels good to be going through the old files and starting to get them out there. Nearly all of my work has never been seen. I would say 98% of it has been locked up in binders full of overflowing negatives. The other 1% is on filled up hard drives filled with digital files and the other 1% is on my website http://www.strainephotography.com
It's time to release the files! alright, alright. So, check out this little movie I made of the rock band RAQ. It is over 300 still images laid out side by side. That's right. This is not moving images. These are all stills shot by strainephotography.

Northeast Kingdom Music Festival

2008-02-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

For the previous two years I have worked as the house photographer for the Northeast Kingdom Music Festival in East Albany, Vermont. It is a three day music and arts festival that features rock and roll from around the world. The producer of the event, Ed Dufresne does an incredible job of putting together an eclectic musical lineup that is sure to please a wide range of listeners appetites. Everything from bluegrass to hip-hop to hard rock to soul can be heard. The stage, lighting and production is top of the line. This is not your backyard bbq/music shindig by any means. It is a full-on rock and roll festival and it attracts a lot of great people who come out to dance, hear new bands, meet up with old friends and toss back a few beers. I put together a short slideshow with some of the images from this past summer. check it out.
Thanks for reading about my photography. I am looking foreword to some great beach portraits on Hilton head island. Call me or visit my website to book your beach portrait on Hilton Head.
Daniel Straine.

Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals

2008-01-30T12:16:00.000-08:00

I will never forget it. I was on my way home from working for the previous 6 months as a photographer on assignment in the San Juan Islands of Washington State and British Columbia and I had two tickets to go see Jack Johnson open for Ben Harper and Innocent Criminals at The Gorge in Washington. The reason I had the extra ticket is a sad story that I am not going to get into here.
Well, I did not know much about Ben Harper except for what I had heard my brothers car. I was prepared for a lot of cheesy, tear jerkin' love songs. No sir. Not a chance mam. Ben Harper threw down one of the most hard rocking performances I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. It was borderline heavy metal and I loved it. Every note of it. Jack Johnson was much less impressive. Sounded exactly like he does on his studio albums. But Harper, whew! AMAZING. I have a little clip below from You Tube that gives you an idea of what I am saying. Check it out!

Iron and Wine. Simply said. A kick-ass band.

2008-01-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

I bought my girlfriends sister Iron and Wines CD, "The Shepherd's Dog" for Christmas and she was kind enough to burn me a copy before I left Ohio. Well, the entire CD is amazing. It is one of those CD's that was just really well thought out. The first tune to the last note is just smooth as butter. It is one of those CD's that you can listen to again and again and it does not get old. Very rare. Just think about the amount of bands that have albums where the first three tracks are good and the rest is crap. It is almost like they just needed some music to fill up the minutes. This is a sign of a band that does not have the depth needed to continue down a lengthy, healthy, far reaching rock n roll legacy.

I believe that Iron and Wine will do just this and more. This is a tight rock band with all the ingredients to truly span the years with creativity, soul and brand new sounds.
Check them out on Letterman. This might be my favorite song on "The Shepherd's Dog" I love the line about "nothin on the radio" because I bitch about this all the time. Their website is here

Rock Band Photographer

2008-01-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

In addition to being a Hilton Head Island Wedding Photographer and Hilton Head Island Portrait Photographer, I am also really into photographing musicians and rock bands. I have done this for a number of years and I love it. I am getting involved in some really cool projects this spring and summer that I am really looking foreword to. Here are some images from The Northeast Kingdom Music Festival in Vermont where I have been the House Photographer for a two years now.

Some great tracks from a great recording label.

2008-01-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

My hip and cool nephews Hugh and Duncan sitting next to my Dad on the boat back to Daufuskie Island, SC.

2008-01-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

My Mom and Dad live on Daufuskie Island, SC. You have to take a boat to get there. One really cool thing is that if you are a resident you can take a private boat over to Harbour Town. My brother Kev and his wife Erin were visiting and on the way back from dinner over in Harbour Town I shot this image, practically in the dark, of two of my nephews Hugh and Duncan sitting next to my Dad. I just ran across it and thought it was pretty cool.
My hip and cool nephews Hugh and Duncan sitting next to my Dad on the boat back to Daufuskie Island, SC.

To bee or not to bee. I love bees.

2008-01-16T08:25:00.000-08:00

"In order to be healthy and active you need to eat healthy foods and in order to get healthy foods you need more than just the produce delivery driver to do his job," I wrote this and wanted it to stand out as a cool header, so I put quotation marks around it so it would seem more official. It's my blog homeslice; I do what I want.

Life is quite hectic and if you are like most people, your hands are full.
In the morning you catch a few headlines of the newspaper, hear some news blurbs on the radio throughout the day, and catch the highlights of the worlds events on the nightly news, but how much of this all really sinks in?

Occasionally you hear something that really, truly speaks to your heart and you plan on looking more into the issue. This recently happened to me when I heard about Colony Collapse Disorder.

Honey bees are mysteriously vanishing across the country, putting $15 billion worth of fruits, nuts and vegetables at risk. Do you like carrots? What about cucumbers, broccoli, onions, pumpkins, squash, apples, blueberries, avocados, almonds or cherries? These crops will all be severely affected if honey bees were to disappear. In fact, they would not grow at all. You can forget about flowers.

In 2006, Beekeepers across the globe began to notice that seemingly healthy bees were simply abandoning their hives en masse, never to return. Researchers are calling this strange phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder and the issue does not seem to be getting any better.

Why are the bees leaving? At this point there is no clear evidence or a solution to the problem. What are your thoughts on this growing problem?

Poi Dog Pondering

2008-01-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

So, sometimes I wonder how I ended up living in the southeast and then I remind myself of how it is because I was offered an amazing job here that I could not refuse. That was actually sort of a strange delivery on a blog post that has nothing to do with the subject of the blog which is, as far as I am concerned, probably one of the greatest bands to ever live. Then again, perhaps it is right on. You see, Poi Dog Pondering probably never dreamed they would end up in Chicago when they left their native Hawaii years ago, but yet they are now a huge part of the Chicago music scene.
Occasionally, I get into conversations with people about music and of course the old question of who is your favorite band comes up and almost always for me, it is between Phish, the Pixies and Poi Dog Pondering.
Poi Dog Pondering is an amazing band. Every album they have ever put out is different than the last. They are progressive. They are creative and they more than perhaps anything else they possess a passion for what they do that is grounded in soul and raw talent. Check them out at their website and also check out the YouTube Video I have posted here.
Cool. That is it. Check out Poi Dog Pondering. You will be glad you did. If you are looking for a good album to get started with make sure to check out "Wishing Like a Mountain and Dreaming Like the Sea."

Hunting Island State Park, SC

2008-01-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon Erin and I arrived at Hunting Island State Park to go biking and camping. Our spot was literally right on the ocean. The only sound you could hear was the crashing surf. It was beautiful. The weather was off and on rain and rather cool for the average South Carolina day but it was still amazing. We brought our bikes and off we rode through the woods, down a curvy Low Country Road, out along expansive piers stretching far out into the bays and along the shoreline on the hard packed sand that you only find on the stretches beach along the Continental Shelf of the southeast. We ended our bike trek at the Hunting Island Lighthouse where we took a moment to take in the history.
We then made our way back to the site where we built a warm fire and cooked a large meal of Jumbo Shrimp with Tofu and vegetables. It was delicious. Afterwards, we sat back and sipped hot chocolate by the warm fire listening the sound of the crashing surf.
Some expertly prepared smores, thanks to Erin, were then prepared. With all that chocolate in our system we played a heated game of scrabble whose victor is still in question.
Sleep came soon after. The photo I have included in this post is one of my favorite surfing related images I have. I had my surfboard with me, but the waves in the morning were not that good, so I did not paddle out. Next time...

Remember. If you are looking for a Hilton Head Island Wedding Photographer you should get in touch with me. I have an extensive portfolio of weddings I have photographed on my website. My prices are extremely affordable. I also have a long list of references I can provide you. I will look foreword to hearing from you and I hope to be your Hilton Head Island photographer.

Belle and Sebastian can make a damn fine movie

2008-01-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Here is a cool music video by the Scottish band Belle and Sebastian. They are not only extremely talented musicians but they know how to throw together a nice, interesting film. Their movies are never over the top with lots of special effects but they rather let the characters and scenery do the work. I have a small music video I shot of them at a small theatre in Montreal a couple years ago. It is made up of over 400 still shots. It was a very good show. If you ever get the opportunity to see them you ought to go. The next show I am going to at this point is to go see Wilco in Charleston on February 29th. That should be a sick show!

Sound Century Radio

2007-12-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that after the new year Soundcentury radio, an indie radio station I developed with my partner Jean in California will be relaunching with new and improved features. Please take a moment to view the current site to get a feel for what is in store. It is going to be pretty amazing and absolutely huge. Look out WORLD!!!

Take a listen and then get in touch with Strainephotography to book an affordable, professional Hilton Head Photographer.

Santa Claus nearly clobbered me on Tybee Island, Georgia

2007-12-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

Santa Claus nearly clobbered me on Tybee Island, Georgia. Thats right. On Saturday December 8th my amazing, incredibly beautiful, intelligent and so much more girlfriend Erin Howell and I were on the beach hanging out, kicking the soccer ball around and just relaxing in general.
A dense misty fog hovered heavy in the air and visibility was poor at best. In the distance a rumble could be heard, but the sound was more of a mellow gurgle and so we dismissed the sound as that of a plane soon after it was audible.
Then, as the sound neared, as our hearts beat faster and our curiosity grew, a shape appeared out of the grey-blue mist that was making us wet. Were we in a steam room or on the beach?
The shape appeared to be a flying man. It was indeed the source of the sound. The man was wearing an odd costume and if Christmas were not just around the corner I would have never guessed it, but I did. It was Santa. It was Santa flying in the sky, through the fog, above the ocean, and coming right towards me. But how, how could this Santa fly? I did not see any reindeer. I did not see a sleigh.
This Santa was flying via a fan propelled hang glider and he was obviously very skilled.
He dipped down just enough to offer me a friendly wave from the sky and then off he went. He drifter mysteriously off into the mist. He must have been taking a break from all that work getting presents ready for Christmas.

Hilton Head Island Photographer

2007-11-30T14:31:00.000-08:00

This is a really cool photo from a wedding I photographed just outside Charleston, South Carolina. There is something just really bitching about it. He just looks so happy and so in tune with what he is doing. Would you guess he is walking up the aisle to wait for his bride to be? Maybe... I don't know. I just like it.

Frank Black and The Catholics Music Video

2007-11-29T09:43:00.000-08:00

I think it is only proper to put a video up of one of my favorite bands of all time. Frank Black and The Catholics are simply amazing. I saw them play a few years back at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and it was one of the coolest shows I have ever seen. They are not only extremely talented, but they rock. Absolutely rock.

Frank Black and The Catholics Music Video

Hilton Head Island Rock Band Photographer

2007-11-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

The post title is not really true. I mainly travel outside of Hilton Head to shoot bands. The music scene on Hilton Head, for a lack of better words, sucks.
I have been photographing rock bands for close to ten years now and have accumulated a serious body of work. Here is the guitar player for "The Coup" I shot this image while working as the House Photographer for the Northeast Kingdom Music Festival.
I am in the process of trying to get booked as the house photographer for the Pixies.
I can only hope it actually happens. I think it is going to. Two weeks on the road with one of the greatest rock bands of all time. HEAVEN!!!
Hilton Head Island Rock Band Photographer

Wedding Photographer on Hilton Head Island

2007-11-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I really never thought I would become a wedding photographer. I was always more into fine art photography. In fact, I never even touched a digital camera until a couple years ago. I ran a darkroom in Vermont and did everything with film the traditional way. Never did I think I would become so deeply involved with photographing people in any form or fashion.

The other day I was thinking of all this and it hit me. I am a photographer who now specializes in wedding photography. I have shot over 20 weddings and I am nearly completely booked through next year. It is truly amazing.

I started to wonder do I really like it. I guess what I mean, is that, do I go, "Oh no, shit, I have a wedding to shoot today." Or, "I would love to go do that, but I have this stupid wedding to photograph and I have to work it, so I can't"

No, No, NO. It is not like that at all. The truth is, I really love photographing weddings. I really do. It is such an important job and such an intimate experience that I really think only certain people can handle. To get great images you need to get close and personal and you need to this with people you have never known previously. You have to be fast. You have to quick and you cannot waste time.
For some reason, I am not sure why, this comes completely 100% natural to me. I just get in there, right away, and get the shots that make my photography stand out and why I continue to get booked up and down the east coast.

My images come directly from my heart. The day wedding photography does not mean as much as it does now to me, is the day I throw in the towel and right now I don't see myself throwing that towel anytime soon.

Dan Straine
Wedding Photography Chatter.
Speaking the truth about his wedding photography on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

South Carolina Wedding Photographer Journal: Charleston Wedding Photography

2007-11-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

South Carolina Wedding Photographer Journal: Charleston Wedding Photography

Hilton Head Island Wedding

2007-10-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

I have had a few really beautiful weddings lately in and around Hilton Head Island, SC.
Last weekend I photographed an absolutely amazing couple at a large beachside estate in Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island. The weather was perfect and family had flown in from all over the United States and Europe. The bride, Olga was from Russia and her mother flew all the way to America to see her daughters big day.

The wedding ceremony itself was held right out on the beach, followed by a festive reception at the large estate. I shot over 1000 images throughout the day. Here are a couple that I really love. I will have more posted on my website in the coming weeks. Please take a look at them.

Strainephotography prides itself on extremely unique, photo-journalistic style wedding photography. These two images will give you a good idea of the type of imagery you can expect should you decide to have me photograph your wedding. Please give me a call to discuss your event.
802-730-3247
I still have a few remaining spring dates and several dates open this winter.

California Wildfires

2007-10-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

I feel so horrible for all those people in southern California who have to evacuate their homes. Can you even imagine that? My ex-girlfriend had her whole home burn down when she was around ten years old and she lost just about everything. She said it took her years and years to come to grips with what happened.

Catastrophic events like this truly put things in perspective. It is difficult to complain about anything when across the nation half a million peoples lives are about to change forever.

Just think about what you have in just your bedroom and imagine losing all of it at once. Pretty scary huh?

Lets all take a moment to be happy with what we have.

October and November are shaping up to be really busy months for me.

2007-10-04T08:17:00.001-07:00

When I first moved down to Hilton Head Island from Vermont I did not think about the fact that it is relatively nice here almost year around. I am used to snow in the middle of October straight through to the end of May. No one gets married in Vermont, well hardly anyone, gets married in Vermont during these cold months.

Down in South Carolina it is certainly a different story. I have almost every weekend booked through November and into December. Some of these weddings are going to be extremely exciting.

I am really looking foreword to October 20th when I will be photographing a wedding at a private beach cottage on Hilton Head Island. A lot of planning is going into making this wedding amazing. I am really looking foreword to it.

I will be certain to post some photos from it on the blog. I still need to get some pics up from my last camping trip to the North Carolina Mountains. I will.

I wanted to make sure to get a link to myspace account here. In addition to weddings, I also do a lot of Rock Band Photography. I have much of my musical side presented here.
http://www.myspace.com/strainephotography
Check it out.
Well, thanks for reading my blog.
I am doing my best to keep the content fresh for ya!
Take care,
Dan
Hilton Head Island Portrait Photographer
Strainephotography

Heading out to Brevard, NC this Weekend

2007-09-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have no weddings to photograph on Hilton Head Island this weekend or any other photography assignments for that matter. So, I am heading out to the North Carolina mountains with my girlfriend Erin to go camping.
It is around a 4 hour drive from here. We plan on getting up there around 11:00P.M. and setting up camp. Tomorrow we plan on going for a good hike in the mountains, as well as some nice swims in some deep river holes.
I cannot wait to lay inside my new "Marmot Stargazer" tent and stare at the stars. There is just something about camping that makes you feel brand new again. The weather is supposed to be amazing too.
I will put up some photos from our trip on the blog. Thank you to those that participated in "animal" poll.
Take care,
Dan Straine

Palmetto Dunes Wedding

2007-09-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday September 15th I photographed a beautiful wedding at Palmetto Dunes Hilton oceanfront resort on Hilton Head Island. It was such an amazing wedding. This was my fifth Hilton Head Island beach wedding. It was also one of my favorites. Ben and Jessica were just extremely pleasant and the weather turned out beautiful.

I woke up in the morning to overcast skies and the forecast was for a good chance of thunderstorms. Well, those storm clouds decided to skip town because when the wedding ceremony began, the sun shined through and strainephotography was able to really get some beautiful photographs.

I posted the new photos in the category of, Hilton Head Island SC Beach Wedding. Check them out at http://www.strainephotography.com

Here is one of my favorite images from the day.

Thanks and take care,
Daniel Straine
Hilton Head Island SC Wedding Photography
South Carolina Beach Wedding Photographer

Check out some Cool music on this player

2007-09-10T14:57:00.002-07:00

Hilton Head Island Professional Photographer. Whoops! I mean Surfer

2007-09-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

That is right boys and girls. The hurricane season is upon us and this means that the waves are a coming and this photographer/surfer is one big happy camper. Break out the wax. Break out the rash guard. Stretch those arms and nappy up that hair because it is time to hang ten, get tubed and eat sand deep in the pit. It is time to ride a left with a huge smile and dig a massive bottom turn on a barreling right.
Hilton Head Island does not have the greatest waves. That is ok though because just down the road towards Charleston or south to Savannah there are great surf breaks.
Lets get it on!
Daniel Straine
Hilton Head Island photographer
Lowcountry portrait photographer
Surfer

The wedding package epiphany by a Hilton Head Island Photographer

2007-09-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know the title of this post is a bit strange but hang in there with me for just a moment if you will. I recently changed my price list for my wedding packages and I feel great about it. Here is why.

Getting married on Hilton Head Island is a popular thing to do. This is not new news. Hell, getting married anywhere is pretty popular. Alright, there I go, rambling away again. So getting married is popular. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, what is your point.

There is a lot that goes into a wedding ceremony. The wedding photographer should not be an additional stress. I don't think so anyway. So, why make a wedding pricing list that is complicated and full of confusing language? Why? Well, you don't do it. I did it and I have come to my senses. No longer will anyone have to choose, choose, choose from multiple wedding packages. South Carolina Wedding photographers look out. A new package has hit the streets and it is so, so sweet.

Check it out on my website http://www.strainephotography.com on my services page.

There is just one SC wedding package. It is everything you could want and a bit more. The price will make you smile and the photography will all be shot by Daniel Straine.

I have discovered after years of doing this that this package is what my clients wish for. I have delivered. The time has come for an affordable Hilton Head Island Wedding Photographer.

Thank for reading and let me know your thoughts.
Until than I will be out photographing Weddings in the Low Country of South Carolina.
Daniel Straine

Charleston SC wedding photo

2007-08-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

My favorite recent wedding candid moment.

Hilton Head Island Wedding Photography

2007-08-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

So I am a transplant from up north and getting used to southern living has been interesting and hot! Yes indeed. Hot! I think the biggest adjustment I have had to make since relocating to Hilton Head Island has been coping with the relentless heat and consistent sunshine.
Ok, I know what you are thinking. Oh, poor him...He has to live somewhere where it is warm and sunny all the time. Well, get this. I love the rain. I love cool, cloudy weather. I like to wear comfy pants and a sweater some days. You see, in Vermont, the weather is constantly changing. You can have a 90 degree hot day followed by a 50 degree day with chilly rain showers. I think this is what I miss the most.

The sunny weather does make my job as a Hilton Head Island Wedding Photographer much easier. There is nothing worse than attempting to get supreme imagery out of a cloudy, rainy day. It just makes everything that much more difficult. I suppose you just have to deal with it, but I am thankful for the bountiful sunshine we receive here in sunny South Carolina.

I cannot wait for the fall though. I will be photographing 3 weddings in September and 2 in October. I may have just gotten my first destination wedding at an exclusive property in the North Carolina Mountains. I will keep you posted.
Thanks,
Daniel Straine

Photography South Carolina

2007-08-14T10:57:00.002-07:00

Just the other week I made my way up to the Northeast Kingdom Music Festival in East, Albany Vermont to work as the house photographer for my third consecutive year. I slept little, shot over 2,000 images over a two day period, danced like their was no tomorrow and overall had a great time. I wish I had slept more.
Now, I am back in South Carolina and it feels good to be living in the south. It has taken me a while to really appreciate it here and lately I am really beginning to love it here.
I have enjoyed establishing myself as a leading South Carolina Wedding Photojournalist.
More exactly, a professional wedding photographer on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. My calendar is filling up fast with all types of interesting photography assignments throughout the southeast.
Next month, I will be photographing weddings in Charleston, SC, Hilton Head Island, SC and Savannah, GA. Strainephotography is lifting off into uncharted successful territory.
This is extremely exciting. My newest project is in the form of a book I will be releasing independently in Charleston, SC.
Thanks for reading,
Dan.
www.Strainephotography.com

Family photos on Hilton Head Island

2007-06-18T10:00:00.001-07:00

I suppose my biggest reason for starting this blog post was just to really try and explain my photographic style and philosophy a bit better so that someone interested in my work, such as yourself, might understand who they are hiring a bit better.

The other day I was riding the boat over to visit my parents in Haig Point on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina and a friend of my family, as well as a resident of Haig Point asked me take a family portrait on the beach. I was excited about their interest in my work. They asked me how they should dress for the shoot.

I told them that they should dress however they wish. I told them that they should dress however they feel most comfortable because after all, the photographs are supposed to represent who they are in all aspects. I told them that my goal, as a specialist and seasoned veteran in beach portraiture on Hilton Head Island, that the moment when everyone is prepared to have the images taken, dictates how those images should be taken. In other words, each family has their own personality and requires a different photographic approach. I do not believe that there is a set recipe for success, nor is there an exact proper attire geared for all families.

So our beach portraiture shoot is scheduled for June 28^th on the beach in Melrose Resort on Daufuskie Island and how those images are taken will only be known at our evening meeting time on June 28^th.

I will have more posts regarding my photographic style and philosophy. Thank you for reading about this one.

Charleston Wedding Photography

2007-06-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Well I had my first wedding in the wonderful town of Charleston, South Carolina. What a great day it turned out to be too. I left Hilton Head Island around 2:00 in the afternoon and made my way to Charleston. It takes about an hour and a half for me to get there. Along the way I stopped at a farmers stand and picked up some peaches which cooled off the hot afternoon. I arrived about an hour before the start of the wedding at the Palmer House. This is a great place to take photos. The wedding party and I went out on the deck overlooking the harbor and with the sun peeking in behind us we were able to get some fantastic shots. Kristen, Todd and I then went for a walk out in the garden in the back where we got some beautiful images. The ceremony was small, short but really cute and quaint.
After the ceremony Kristen, Todd and I took a long stroll around the harbor in Charleston getting some incredible candid imagery. Please check them out at www.strainephotography.com