Top Fine Art Wedding Photographers in Charleston
Charleston has developed one of the most refined fine art wedding photography markets in the country. The photographers represented here are full-time professionals rooted in Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry, regularly entrusted by leading planners, historic properties, and couples hosting deeply considered celebrations.
Film remains foundational in this region, not as nostalgia but as a deliberate aesthetic choice. Its ability to interpret coastal light, historic architecture, and skin tones with depth and tonal subtlety continues to define the visual language of Charleston weddings. Many of these artists work in medium format, 35mm, or a hybrid film and digital workflow that balances technical discipline with editorial restraint.
Collectively, their work has shaped the modern visual identity of weddings in Charleston through publication features, long-standing industry partnerships, and a shared commitment to narrative integrity and enduring documentation.
This list reflects established Charleston-based fine art wedding photographers who consistently work within the luxury and editorial wedding market.
Lauren Jonas Photography
Lauren Jonas is a Charleston-based fine art wedding photographer specializing in medium format film photography, 35mm film, and digital wedding coverage for luxury and destination weddings. Her work blends film-forward color, natural movement, and observational storytelling to create wedding imagery that feels timeless, emotional, and editorial without feeling overly posed. Lauren photographs both Charleston locals and destination couples planning multi-day wedding weekends, with coverage centered around natural light, environment, and emotional authenticity. Her work has been featured in Southern Bride, BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Columbia Metro, and is known for documenting weddings in a way that preserves how the day felt, not just how it looked.
Anne Rhett Photography
Anne Rhett is one of Charleston’s most recognizable fine art wedding photographers, known for producing timeless imagery with remarkable consistency and restraint. By incorporating film into her workflow, she maintains softness, tonal depth, and a classic portrait quality that pairs seamlessly with Charleston’s historic venues and legacy-driven celebrations. Her work reflects both technical discipline and a deep understanding of light, composition, and atmosphere. Long respected within the local industry, she continues to set a high standard for refined, enduring wedding photography in the Lowcountry.
Brian Smith Photography
Brian Smith is a long-established presence in the Charleston wedding industry, respected for his authentic, observational approach to wedding coverage. Working quietly and intentionally, he often relies heavily on film to produce imagery that feels grounded, nuanced, and consistent with Charleston’s classic visual character. His work prioritizes subtle storytelling over spectacle, allowing emotion and atmosphere to unfold naturally within the frame. Couples drawn to his approach tend to value understated elegance and legacy-driven imagery that reflects the true rhythm of their wedding day.
Clay Austin Photography
Clay Austin’s work leans toward documentary storytelling supported by strong artistic framing and emotional awareness. His imagery emphasizes real moments and natural interaction rather than heavy posing, resulting in photographs that feel present and visually considered. There is a thoughtful balance in his work between spontaneity and composition, giving his galleries both energy and cohesion. Couples who gravitate toward his style often seek photography that feels authentic, immersive, and quietly refined without sacrificing visual intention.
Cushla Beasley Photography
Cushla Beasley brings a refined, design-aware perspective to Charleston fine art wedding photography, often incorporating film to enhance tonal softness and depth. Her imagery leans romantic and aesthetically cohesive, with careful attention to styling, detail, and visual balance. She moves comfortably within highly designed environments while maintaining emotional warmth and approachability in her work. Couples planning visually elevated celebrations often resonate with her polished yet romantic aesthetic, which blends thoughtful composition with subtle emotional nuance.
Gayle Brocker is known for her refined, romantic interpretation of Southern weddings, blending fine art sensibility with an intuitive documentary eye. Her work often highlights soft natural light, thoughtful composition, and subtle emotional exchanges that feel genuine rather than staged. She brings a calm presence to wedding days, allowing couples to feel at ease while she quietly documents both the grand and understated moments. Her imagery reflects a deep respect for atmosphere, architecture, and legacy — making her a trusted choice for couples planning elegant, detail-driven celebrations across Charleston and beyond.
Hannah Alyssa Photography
Hannah Alyssa is known for warmth, connection, and emotionally intuitive wedding storytelling that centers relationship dynamics and natural interaction. Her work prioritizes presence over perfection, allowing moments to unfold organically while maintaining a soft, refined finish. There is an ease to her imagery that reflects both trust and emotional awareness, often highlighting subtle gestures and meaningful exchanges. Couples who value comfort, genuine connection, and a relaxed photography experience tend to resonate deeply with her approach, resulting in galleries that feel heartfelt, intimate, and quietly enduring.
Julie Livingston Photography
Julie Livingston’s work has long been associated with timeless, emotionally honest wedding storytelling marked by consistency and restraint. Her portfolio reflects a strong sense of legacy, with imagery that feels understated yet deeply intentional. Rather than chasing trends, she maintains a steady, refined aesthetic rooted in real wedding moments and authentic emotion. Couples drawn to her work often appreciate its enduring quality — photography that feels elegant, sincere, and grounded in the kind of memories that age gracefully over time.
Nicholas Gore Weddings
Nicholas Gore operates firmly within the luxury editorial wedding photography space, bringing a strong fashion and styling influence to his work. His imagery is often design-aware and production-forward, balancing polished composition with a heightened sense of visual drama. There is a clear emphasis on aesthetic cohesion, from wardrobe and architecture to lighting and framing. Couples planning visually elevated celebrations with strong creative direction often gravitate toward his approach, seeking imagery that feels curated, sophisticated, and aligned with contemporary luxury sensibilities.
Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay
Sean and Elizabeth are widely recognized for cinematic wedding storytelling defined by dramatic light, intentional composition, and strong technical control. Their work carries a distinct visual presence, often blending sculpted lighting and bold contrast with emotionally grounded narrative. Rather than simply documenting a wedding day, they create imagery that feels atmospheric and immersive, balancing high visual impact with genuine connection. Couples drawn to their work often appreciate imagery that feels powerful and artfully constructed while still maintaining emotional clarity and narrative depth.
Sol Basconcillo Photography
Sol Basconcillo is known for instinct-driven, emotionally immersive wedding storytelling and a reputation for always being precisely where the moment unfolds. His work leans raw, honest, and deeply present, capturing celebrations in a way that feels lived-in rather than staged. As a longtime film shooter working within a hybrid workflow, he brings dimensionality and tonal richness to his imagery, often highlighting fleeting interactions and layered emotional exchanges. His galleries resonate with couples who value authenticity and cinematic depth over perfection, resulting in work that feels both timeless and viscerally real.
Taylor Jordan Photography
Taylor Jordan blends modern documentary coverage with clean editorial finishing, creating imagery that feels polished, current, and emotionally grounded. Her work reflects a thoughtful awareness of composition, light, and architectural context, resulting in galleries that feel cohesive and intentionally curated without appearing overly stylized. She often resonates with couples planning contemporary, design-conscious celebrations who want refined imagery that still feels natural and unforced. The overall effect is elevated yet approachable, balancing sophistication with subtle emotional presence.
Tim Will Photography
Tim Will is known for documentary-driven wedding storytelling paired with a clean, refined editing style that feels timeless rather than trend-based. His approach prioritizes observation over orchestration, allowing moments to unfold naturally while maintaining a polished, elevated finish. Couples who gravitate toward his work often value authenticity and subtlety — imagery that feels effortless but still thoughtfully composed. His galleries tend to balance movement, light, and restraint, resulting in a body of work that feels both emotionally present and visually cohesive.
Virgil Bunao
Virgil Bunao is one of the most widely recognized names associated with luxury and editorial wedding photography. His work seamlessly blends medium format film with high-fashion editorial influence, creating imagery that feels elevated yet emotionally grounded. With a strong understanding of composition, styling, and light, he brings a refined sophistication to every celebration he documents. His influence on film-forward luxury wedding photography is notable, shaping visual trends within both destination and high-end wedding markets. His work consistently resonates with couples seeking a wedding gallery that feels both artful and enduring.
Choosing a Fine Art Wedding Photographer in Charleston
The right photographer is not just about aesthetic alignment. It is about how you want your wedding day to feel while it is happening and how it will live on visually for the rest of your life.
Some couples are drawn to film for the softness, depth, and timelessness it creates. Others are drawn to storytelling approach, presence, and the ability to move seamlessly through a wedding day without disrupting it.
If you are looking for photography that prioritizes emotion, natural light, and imagery that will still feel meaningful decades from now, I would love to learn more about what you are planning.