Charleston Destination Senior Photography Session with Emmah
Charleston’s Golden Light and a Senior Adventure to Remember
June in Charleston has a way of slowing time. The air feels thick with sunshine, the streets hum with life, and everything—the food, the flowers, the laughter—feels a little extra golden.
We flew from Williston, North Dakota, chasing that southern light that makes every frame shimmer. With us: my son Lane, my mom Diane, our friend Brittany, and Emmah—the Williston High School senior whose destination session we’d been dreaming about for months.
From the start, this Charleston destination senior photography session wasn’t just about photos—it was about the experience. The laughter, the late nights, the early mornings. The memories we’d carry home long after the sand washed off our shoes.
Day One: Farmers Markets and Cobblestone Magic
Our first morning began under that soft Charleston glow. We wandered through the Charleston Farmers Market—rows of handmade jewelry, flowers, and artwork glowing under oak trees.
Emmah and Brittany found matching rings, tiny reminders of this trip. I grabbed a piece of art that looked just like the Pink Figgy we’d be shooting with later.
The Charleston rain rolled in that afternoon—big, warm summer drops that drenched Brittany and Emmah on their bike ride home. They came back laughing, soaked but happy.
That night, we kicked off Emmah’s first senior session on Chalmers Street, where rain-soaked cobblestone shimmered like glass. Emmah rocked a leather-look skirt, white one-shoulder top, and black boots that could stop traffic. Dinner at Rudy Royale wrapped the day with deviled eggs, fried pickles, and so much laughter.
Day Two: Sunrise, The Pink Figgy, and King Street Charm
Before sunrise, Emmah was up and glowing—ready for The Pink Figgy session. We met Meredith in front of a pastel pink mansion where the morning light felt like a dream. Emmah looked radiant in her white dress and heels, the ocean sparkling behind her.
Halfway through, she slipped into jeans and a floral top for a softer, relaxed look. Then we hit Rainbow Row and The Charleston Place Hotel, capturing elegant marble details and those iconic pastel tones that define Charleston destination senior photography.
Coffee plans turned into bagels, because—Charleston. Huge, warm, fresh-from-the-oven bagels from a local shop that was worth every minute of the line.
That evening, we ended the day laughing our way through a haunted graveyard tour—equal parts spooky and hilarious.
Day Three: Magnolia Gardens and Folly Beach Sunsets
We started at Bad Bunny Coffee, pastries still warm from the oven, before heading to the breathtaking Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
Even under the Carolina sun, it was pure magic. Sixty-six acres of gardens, bridges, and moss-draped trees. We shot near the iron gazebo and wooden bridge, where Spanish moss swayed in the heat. Mosquitos loved Emmah (O-positive blood, their favorite), but she smiled through it all.
Later, we headed for Folly Beach. Ice cream in hand, sunset spilling gold across the sand. Emmah posed near the pier in jeans and a black top, then switched into a flowing dress as the sky turned pink and lavender. Barefoot in the waves, she laughed as the light melted into twilight.
Dinner at 23 Restaurant & Bar was the perfect finale—burgers, shrimp, nachos, and that feeling of “we did it.”
Day Four: One Last Walk Down King Street
Morning came too soon. We loaded the car and wandered King Street one last time. I picked up a few Charleston treasures, while Brittany and Emmah grabbed coffee from Rise Coffee Bar—voted “best of the trip.”
Travel home was its own adventure—delays, an overnight in Minneapolis—but when we finally landed in Williston, our hearts were full.
Emmah turned 17 the next day. How fitting that such a milestone came after a trip that captured her light, laughter, and courage to embrace every new chapter.
That’s what I love most about photography—it freezes time. It turns adventures like this Charleston destination senior photography session into something forever golden.
Get to Know Emmah
What is your favorite thing to do?
Read or bake
What is your favorite movie?
Princess Diaries
What is your favorite drink?
Sweet tea
What is your favorite snack/candy?
Hot Tamales
What is your dream job?
Pastry chef
What is your favorite scent?
Vanilla
What is your favorite color?
Pink
What is your favorite place on Earth that you’ve been to?
Paris
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Ireland
What is your favorite place to shop at?
Altar’d State
What is your favorite restaurant?
In-N-Out
What are 3 things you can’t live without?
My dog, my phone, and my curling iron
What is your favorite food?
French fries
What makes you happy?
Being with my friends
How would your friends describe you?
Outgoing, passionate, caring
What are your plans for after graduation?
I am going to NDSU for exercise science
What is your favorite team?
MSU dance team
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Strawberry cheesecake
What is your favorite dessert/cake?
Macarons
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas
Trips like this remind me why I love what I do—capturing moments that feel like sunshine you can hold forever.
If you’re dreaming of your own senior travel experience, peek at my Oregon travel session, my Glacier National Park session, or reach out through my website and let’s start planning.
