Davis | Miss Clemson University 2022

Davis was crowned Miss Clemson University 2022! She represented Zeta Tau Alpha in the pageant. She won the talent award by singing Vita de la Rosa by Sandi Patty (in English and Spanish), and she won the evening gown award. She is a political science and communications major and competed in Miss South Carolina this year!

Davis’s portrait session was on a perfect April day, just a few days after the pageant. She came with her aunt, who did an amazing job on her hair and makeup. Davis borrowed an evening gown from Dressing Dreams just for this session. She decided to go all out since she didn’t need to worry about walking around in it for hours at a time, like she would for a pageant. It was somewhere between blush pink and Clemson orange and one of the biggest dresses I’ve ever worked with. I thought it looked especially regal on the steps of Sikes Hall! We walked around to some of our favorite places on campus, sharing stories about our time as Clemson students. Even though there was a ton of construction around the stadium, we still got some pretty photos with the rest of campus and some flowers that were in bloom. This year, the crown was less like the Miss South Carolina crowns and more like a tiara—complete with orange rhinestone accents!

I can’t wait to follow Davis’s journey representing the best school ever. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the photos from her session!

For more information about the Miss Clemson University pageant, click here. If you want photos like these at Clemson, click below.

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Where to Elope in South Carolina

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Devils Fork State Park/Lake Jocassee in Salem, South Carolina

Want to elope in South Carolina?

You’re in the right place if you don’t feel like a big wedding is the right fit for you and your partner, but you want the day to be a little more exciting than signing papers at the courthouse and calling it a day.

If you’ve read my post on how to elope in South Carolina, you already know that eloping doesn’t have to be at a courthouse or in Las Vegas, and you have multiple options for how to become legally married. A wedding without guests, or with only a few guests, still deserves to be the most beautiful day for you and your partner. Part of that involves setting the scene—where is the best place for YOU to elope in South Carolina?

If you’re looking for places to elope in upstate South Carolina, check out my post for where to elope near Greenville!

Skylight Chapel in Taylors, South Carolina

In this post, I’ll be talking about places to elope in South Carolina, including:

  • Wedding Venues in South Carolina

  • Hotels, Inns, and Rental Properties

  • Parks

  • Mountains

  • Beaches

  • Gardens

  • Lakes

  • Downtown

  • Waterfalls

  • Somewhere that’s special to you

  • And of course, the classic places: churches, courthouses, the post office, or your house!

What would your perfect day look like? Read about the elopement experience to get some ideas and see how I can help!

Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemassee, South Carolina.

Elopement Venues in South Carolina

Why would you rent a whole venue if you’re eloping?

  1. It can ensure that nobody else is around.

  2. You have a solid plan for a place to go, and you won’t show up and have it be closed.

  3. A venue will have bathrooms and usually better accessibility, like ramps for wheelchairs. 

  4. There are usually designated places within a venue, like a place to get ready and a place to eat, so you can keep your whole day in one place and between the two of you.

If there’s a wedding venue that you love, see if they offer an elopement package!  Some venues only offer this package during certain days or times of the week, and some allow a small number of guests. Here are a few pretty venues in South Carolina for an elopement:

Pretty Place Chapel in Cleveland, South Carolina

  • Pretty Place (pictured above):  Fred W. Symmes Chapel at YMCA Camp Greenville, or “Pretty Place,” is one of the most popular wedding venues in South Carolina, and one of the most popular places in South Carolina for an elopement. One of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen was at this open-air chapel in the mountains, right on the border between the Carolinas, and it gets some of the best fall foliage in the whole state.  Explore other parts of Mountain Bridge Wilderness as you head back towards Greenville, then stop for a nice meal in Greenville or Travelers Rest to celebrate!

  • Cypress Gardens:  If you’re looking for places to elope near Charleston, it doesn’t get more picturesque than Cypress Gardens. You can even ask the staff to take you to where some of your favorite movies were filmed, like where Allie and Noah take a rowboat through the cypress trees and Spanish moss in The Notebook.

  • Cliffs at Glassy Chapel:  This chapel is in a private living community in Landrum, in northern Spartanburg County. The view from the top of the mountain is one thing, but the stone chapel is one of the prettiest I’ve seen in South Carolina.

  • Hewitt Oaks:  When you picture a wedding in lowcountry South Carolina, this is basically as romantic-looking as you can imagine. These live oak trees in Beaufort are just dripping with Spanish moss!

  • View Point at Buckhorn Creek:  A garden venue with Japanese vibes in Greenville where you can see the mountains in the distance.  Honestly, I can’t get over how many colors are here in the spring and how big the fish in the pond are. There’s a getting ready area and plenty of space for you and any guests to have a catered dinner. Paris Mountain State Park is right down the road.

  • Old Sheldon Church or Chapel of Ease:  Both of these historic chapel ruins in lowcountry South Carolina are hundreds of years old with no shortage of Spanish moss and southern mystique. They are both part of St. Helena Parish.

  • Bent Creek Farm: This venue in Anderson offers multiple ceremony spaces, a getting-ready area, and a covered indoor area as a rain plan or a space for a small reception.

  • River Road and Jasmine Houses and Gardens:  These two houses in Columbia have plenty of beautiful garden space in between them, full of pretty flowers, bushes, and Palmetto trees.  There’s plenty of space for getting ready and you can pivot to an indoor space if you need to.

  • Skylight Chapel:  A small chapel in Taylors with both indoor and outdoor ceremony options. This is just a few minutes from Lake Robinson.

  • Palmetto Bluff: Want to get married in one of the places where Justin and Hailey Bieber got married? Well, here it is! This resort and spa offers white chapels and views of the South Carolina marshlands. This is in Bluffton, near Hilton Head.

  • Heyward Manor: In the quiet of Iva, South Carolina; you can choose between getting married in or outside a white barn, among the flowers, or in a rowboat on the lake!

  • Belle Tesoro: the name combines the French word for “beautiful” and the Italian word for “treasure.” This beautiful house near Spartanburg has Tuscan-inspired scenery, a gazebo for an outdoor ceremony, and gorgeous staircases for photos!

  • Ballenger Bridge: There are so many options here for where to elope, from mountains to a creek to a gazebo over the water. This is in Landrum, about 45 minutes from Greenville.

Ballenger Bridge in Landrum, South Carolina

Hotels, Inns, or Rental Properties

First things first: make sure the manager or the owner of the rental property knows you’re planning to get married here. Some AirBnBs specifically don’t allow weddings, so you’ll need to be on the same page with the owner about what’s happening, even if you’re not planning to have guests. Here are some hotels and inns that would be great places in South Carolina to elope:

This couple eloped in front of the mountains at the Red Horse Inn in Landrum, South Carolina. See more

Red Horse Inn (pictured above):  Red Horse Inn is in northern Spartanburg County along Scenic Highway 11. Coming up the stairs and seeing this patio just about took my breath away! You can see some of the private cottages in the background, where you and your dogs can spend the night.  Also, you could have a mini-pig as your witness. Campbell’s Covered Bridge is just a few minutes down the road, too. This couple had their elopement photos taken in both places!

Inn at Folly Beach: You can elope on the beach, at the Morris Island Lighthouse, or anywhere in between! The inn also offers services like cake and florals.

Bleckley Inn: One of my favorite venues is right in the middle of downtown Anderson. There are multiple spaces here that can be used for an elopement or a small wedding, even if there’s another wedding happening in the main courtyard that day.  You, and any guests you invite, can stay there the night before and after the wedding. This couple was married in one of the smaller dining rooms with a few family members and friends, then we took some photos outside.

Hotel Domestique: a small European-style inn north of Travelers Rest that overlooks the mountains.  The inn is small enough that you and a handful of guests can have it all to yourselves. Treat yourselves to dinner afterwards at their restaurant, Restaurant 17

Westin Poinsett: Another one of my favorite venues is the Westin Poinsett, or the Poinsett Hotel, right in the heart of downtown Greenville! This 1920s hotel has multiple ballrooms and some beautiful staircases, windows, and floor tiles. If you think the word “Poinsett” looks like “poinsettia,” they’re both named for the same person, and there are plenty of poinsettias in there near Christmastime! The Westin Poinsett is almost right across the street from Falls Park.

Grand Bohemian Lodge: This gorgeous hotel is right at the end of Liberty Bridge and has one of the best views of Falls Park. If the hotel itself didn’t already have enough scenery, you’re close enough to walk all around downtown Greenville.

Intimate wedding at Bleckley Inn in Anderson, South Carolina.

South Carolnia State Parks

While a few state parks have actual wedding venues (like the Table Rock Lodge, Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach, and the Legare-Waring House at Charles Towne Landing), you can also call the office at your favorite park to get information about eloping there! For more popular parks, you can avoid crowds by getting married on a weekday or during the winter. If you have a small number of guests, you can ask about renting a picnic shelter with a view.

I’ve been to all 48 state parks in South Carolina and can help you choose the perfect spot to get married. Waterfalls, beaches, mountains, marshes, a castle, a lighthouse - the state parks have it all! While I think all of them have the potential to be an amazing place to elope, here are some of the ones that stand out to me:

  • Table Rock (pictured above):  This park in Pickens County has something for everyone, whether you want to hike for days or just drive to a pretty view.  For an elopement, I’d recommend a short waterfall hike and watching the sunset over the mountains from the pier.

  • Caesars Head:  One of my favorite views in the state is sunset over the mountains from the Caesars Head overlook in northern Greenville County.  The overlook can be reserved during non-peak times so that you can have some privacy.

  • Devils Fork:  This park in Oconee County is the only public access point to Lake Jocassee, one of my favorite places in the state.  Say your vows on the shore or take a boat to some of the islands and waterfalls!

  • Hunting Island:  There’s a driftwood beach here that’s perfect for a sunrise ceremony.  Walk back to the rest of the park through a trail that feels like a jungle. You’ll be able to see for miles from the inside of the lighthouse!

  • Myrtle Beach:  Myrtle Beach State Park is a relief from the crowds and litter that you’d find in other parts of Myrtle Beach.  If you spend the night in the park, you can easily get to the beach for sunrise, when not as many people are awake.

  • Huntington Beach:  Just south of Myrtle is Huntington Beach, which is also beautiful.  There are lots of overlooks over marshes and if you like birds, you’ll probably see some cool ones.  Atalaya Castle, a Spanish moor-style mansion, is also available to rent as a wedding venue.

  • Charles Towne Landing:  One of the prettiest tree tunnels I’ve seen is the one in front of the Legare-Waring house, which is available to rent as a venue.  There’s also a small zoo here if you want to see some animals afterwards.

  • Edisto Beach:  This island is basically the epitome of lowcountry South Carolina scenery.  Not only can you have a sunrise ceremony at the beach here, our randomly chosen campsite had a gorgeous view of the marsh at sunset.

  • Santee:  Stay in a cabin that “floats” over Lake Marion and get married on the porch, overlooking the lake.

  • Jones Gap:  Most of the scenery here involves a little hiking, which can vary from an easy trail to some of the hardest in the state.  I’d choose Jones Gap Falls because the trail isn’t too hard, so you won’t be exhausted by the time you say your vows.  The fall colors here are so beautiful!

  • Keowee-Toxaway:  There’s a beautiful little overlook here that requires a little bit of hiking.  Stay a while to have a picnic and watch the sunset!

  • May Forest: South Carolina’s newest park is still in its “soft-open” phase, but it would be a great spot for an elopement! It used to be a convent, so there’s a pink chapel surrounded by garden scenery and a perfect view of the Charleston Harbor and skyline.

If you want to know more about each park from someone who’s visited every single one, you can read about all of them or reach out to me if you have questions!

Elopement at Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee (Salem, South Carolina).

Gardens

One great thing about gardens is that they’re made to look beautiful at any time of year. In the “pretty” times of year, you’ll have a wider window for when you’ll get spring or fall scenery. Here are some gardens in South Carolina where you can elope:

  • South Carolina Botanical Gardens (pictured above in the winter):  This is part of Clemson University, which has strong roots in agriculture and tons of people who are passionate about plants.  There’s endless scenery from around the whole state of South Carolina.  There are also venues and ceremony spaces to rent if you’re planning to have guests.

  • Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens:  Get married, then walk around the zoo!  There multiple venues and ceremony spaces here that can be rented, with scenery inspired from all over the world.

  • Brookgreen Gardens:  Just south of Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens has some beautiful garden scenery, sculptures, and Spanish moss.  You will have to become a member of Brookgreen Gardens to get married here.

South Carolina Botanical Gardens

Downtown in Your Favorite City

If you don’t mind a crowd, or if urban scenery is your vibe, you can elope downtown in your city! As a resident of the Greenville area, I’m partial to Greenville’s downtown, which has a waterfall and a beautiful little park right in the heart of downtown, so you don’t have to choose between a place with urban or natural scenery.  But downtown in any city could give you the option for renting a patio space, amphitheater, restaurant, or rooftop.  You can also hop from your ceremony to dinner to anything else that excites you there:  live performances, festivals, ice skating, or just a hotel to relax afterwards.

Here’s what an elopement in Greenville could look like!

Liberty Bridge in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina.

Mountains

Should you hike to a summit with a gorgeous view, or make it an easy day at a restaurant, inn, or venue? Up to you!

A small part of the Blue Ridge crosses into South Carolina, giving similar scenery to western North Carolina or northern Gerogia.

While I’ve already mentioned some venues in South Carolina with mountains, you can also find a view from a few different summits.  Catch the sunset at Bald Rock or Caesars Head, or trek up to Sassafras Mountain for a 360 view while one of you stands in North Carolina and the other stands in South Carolina.  Some of these views require hiking, so check out some of my suggestions for finding a trail.
To learn more about choosing a hiking trail for your photos, see what I look for in a trail.

More places to elope in the mountains of South Carolina

Pretty Place Chapel in Cleveland, South Carolina

Waterfalls

Whether you’re looking for a hiking adventure or an easy walk from your car, you have plenty of waterfalls to choose from in South Carolina. Waterfalls are a little tricky because they can either be difficult to get to or they can have a lot of people. Here are a few not-so-secret ones that I’d be happy to use for an elopement, but you can see more here.

Oconee County alone has over 150 named waterfalls.

Station Cove Falls (pictured above): This is one of my favorite waterfalls. It’s an easy trail with plenty of scenery along the way. It’s in Oconee County, close to some other cool natural scenery, like Oconee Station and Stumphouse Tunnel. This couple chose Station Cove because they had about 10 family members they wanted to join them and they wanted a trail that wasn’t very difficult.

Reedy River Falls: This is the most famous one, right in the middle of downtown Greenville, but there are other smaller waterfalls within walking distance of it. There are plenty of restaurants around it if you want to celebrate afterwards! For more ideas on having a reception after your elopement, click here.

Rock Quarry Garden: It’s easy to drive right past Rock Quarry Garden without realizing it’s there. It’s in downtown Greenville, below two streets. It has a small waterfall at one end of the garden.

Wildcat Wayside: This is a one-mile trail in northern Greenville County with 3 waterfalls. The first one is a 10-foot waterfall that you can see from the road. The second is a smaller, wide waterfall up a set of steps. The third one is the biggest, but it looks more like a little trickle on a rock to me, so I’d stick with the two at the bottom.

Table Rock State Park: There’s a dam near the visitor center, but there are also 3 waterfalls of varying sizes along the 2-mile Carrick Creek Trail.

Lake Jocassee: There are at least 5 waterfalls on Lake Jocassee that are only accessible by boat.

Jones Gap: While Rainbow Falls is one of my favorite places in the state, it’s a difficult trail for only being 4 miles. I’d suggest Jones Gap Falls, which is a little shorter and not as difficult.

Reedy River Falls in Falls Park, downtown Greenville

Beaches

Everyone thinks of Myrtle Beach and Charleston when they think of South Carolina. Even though MOST of the state isn’t actually beaches, the coast does have some really pretty spots, and it’s no wonder people visit there so much, but you can find plenty of beaches that aren’t as crowded. For a more private ceremony, get married close to sunrise, when the sun is over the water, and enjoy the rest of the day on the beach as a married couple!

Since South Carolina beaches tend to get a lot of tourists, I’d recommend either choosing a beachfront venue with an elopement package, finding a rental property along the beach, or reaching out to a park office to see if they can find a private place for you.

The four South Carolina State Parks along beaches are Myrtle Beach State Park, Huntington Beach State Park, Edisto Beach State Park, and Hunting Island State Park. Each has its own unique scenery!

Myrtle Beach Wedding Chapel: There is a small wedding chapel on Myrtle Beach with a reception hall area, providing an indoor option for bad weather.

Inn at Folly Beach: Get married in front of the best surfing waves in South Carolina or the Morris Island Lighthouse! The inn also offers services such as cake and florals.

Palmetto Dunes at Hilton Head: This resort provides space for up to 50 guests and has the option to add decor, such as an arbor to go with the ocean backdrop.

If you’re in the Upstate, but still like the look of the beach, Devils Fork State Park might be the place for you!

Devils Fork State Park - not on the ocean, but still has some beautiful beachy scenery.

Lakes

If you love water but you don’t live near the beach, we have plenty of lakes in South Carolina to have your wedding!

The lakes in the upstate along Highway 11 have some gorgeous views of the mountains. This couple got married at Lake Keowee with just a few family members!

I’ve mentioned Lake Jocassee a lot in this post, since it’s my favorite lake, but there are several in South Carolina. I was married at Clemson in front of Lake Hartwell, one of the biggest lakes east of the Mississippi River. Lake Keowee (pictured above) has multiple access points, but there are also lots of lake houses available for rent. Several of the South Carolina State Parks serve as a public access point to a lake, and you can ask the park staff what their policies are for weddings.

Lake Oolenoy at Table Rock State Park

Courthouse or Post Office

A post office? Hear me out on this one:

First of all, one venue in upstate South Carolina actually is an old post office that was converted into a wedding venue, but kept the aesthetic of a 1940s post office.

Second of all, a post office can provide a notary public, who can take care of the paperwork for you to become legally married.

A courthouse could also be where you sign the papers saying that you’re legally married so that you don’t have to worry about that on the actual wedding day. That gives you the rest of the day to adventure together as a married couple!

Churches

This is a great option for couples who want intimacy for their ceremony, but still like the idea of a church wedding. One good thing about getting married in a church is that it comes with officiants!

If you don’t want to get married at the church you attend, you can ask your pastor to come with you to a chapel that isn’t affiliated with a parish, like Pretty Place, Cliffs at Glassy Chapel, or the chapels at Palmetto Bluffs.

Private Property

You could even get married at your own house! If a family member or friend has a beautiful house or land that you love, you could ask them to be a witness to your wedding.

A backyard wedding doesn’t sound glamorous, but using your home as your wedding venue can be really special. Make it as pretty as you want, and you can even keep it decorated if you want!

Somewhere that’s Special to You

If it’s just the two of you, the sky is the limit for where to get married! For this couple, it was the amphitheater at Clemson University. Let’s face it, that amphitheater is a gorgeous place to get married, and they’ve been there so many times together.

At the end of the day, it’s about you two. It doesn’t matter how crazy your ideas sound to anyone else, especially if you’re not having guests.

Read more about the elopement experience to get some ideas, then we can start planning together!

How do you want to remember your wedding day?

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love being outside as much as we love being on the couch and watching Pixar movies together.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it has just about everything in terms of scenery. Whether you’re looking for a mountaintop, a lake, or a beach; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

North Carolina Mountain Engagement | Amy and Brock

Amy and Brock first met at CrossFit when they lived in Louisiana. They moved to South Carolina a few years ago when Brock started grad school, and they’ve have hiked some beautiful places together. They were engaged on a snowy day at Max Patch. Brock proposed with a ring made from his grandmother’s diamond!

Amy and Brock knew their engagement photos HAD to be at this one summit in Linville Gorge Wilderness. When we got to the summit, it was so easy to see why! There were 360 views that were just beautiful in every direction, and to top it off, there were pink flowers in bloom EVERYWHERE. We felt a few raindrops, but never for more than a few seconds. We saw in the distance where it was raining though. Right before the sun went down, it came through the clouds just enough for us to have some beautiful light. Someone at the summit said it looked like Amy and Brock were in a Disney movie. When we lost the sun, another group reminded us that the Blood Moon was happening that night, so we got to see a little of that before the clouds covered it up.

This trail was a bit steep, but Amy and Brock were well prepared. Amy wore the shorter dress to go uphill; the other one would probably make her trip and get muddy before we started taking photos. They dressed in layers so they could change in the trees at the top. Amy brought a cordless curling iron to touch up at the summit—that humidity was intense! They both decided to wear Chacos instead of boots because they could change into nicer shoes more quickly. After the sun went down, they changed into more comfortable hiking clothes, and we hiked back to our cars with headlamps. All the little details came together perfectly!

Amy and Brock will be married later this year in Louisiana with a few of their close friends and family members. Check out some of my favorites from their engagement photos in Pisgah National Forest!

Do you want an engagement session that looks like this? Click here to get in touch, or check out some of my other posts below!

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Ideas for Elopement Receptions

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If your wedding ceremony is just the two of you, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a reception. It’s your wedding day, and you still deserve to celebrate it!

Elopement Reception Ideas:


1. Have a meal catered for two at your ceremony site.

Elopement at Clemson | Christine Scott Photography

Some caterers will deliver and set it up, just like they would for a traditional reception. A local restaurant might offer this as well. Eat some good food, cut your cake, pop some champagne, and enjoy the rest of your wedding day!

2. Make a dinner reservation.

You can celebrate at one of your favorite places to eat together, or you can treat yourselves to a new restaurant that’s a higher-end dining experience than what you’d normally choose.

3. Bring your own food to have a picnic with a view.

Make your own food, order takeout, or use a picnic service! Yes, picnic services are a thing—check out one service based out of Greenville!

4. Have a big reception with your family and friends on a different day.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but there are three reasons that come to mind for why someone might want to do it this way:

  1. You like the idea of celebrating with other people, but still want the privacy and intimacy of an elopement ceremony.

  2. It’s hard to get both of your families together. For example, my cousin married someone whose family lived overseas, so they had one reception with her family and one reception with his.

  3. I’ve seen some couples who have a smaller ceremony before their planned wedding date to accommodate extenuating circumstances, like military deployment or to include a relative who is terminally ill.


Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 47 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Sunrise or sunset?

The best natural light happens within the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset. Depending on the time of year, the sun rises in the upstate between 6:15 and 7:30, and sets between 5:20 and 8:45. I usually have my sessions closer to sunset because people tend to not want to be out at sunrise, but I’m usually open to either one. 

How you decide whether sunrise or sunset is the better option for you? 

Where does the scenic view face?

You’ll want the view behind you, but you also want the sun behind you for more flattering lighting and more colors in the sky. The sun rises over the water on east coast beaches and it sets over the water on west coast beaches. One example in the upstate is Pretty Place Chapel vs. Caesars Head. They overlook the same area, but they face different directions. Pretty Place will have the sun rise behind the cross, and Caesars Head will have the sun set behind the overlook. 

Do you want people there?

If you want to avoid crowds, it’s usually better to wake up early and get there before people are usually out. If you want other people there with you, like your family and friends, it might be easier for them to get there at sunset. 

Temperature

The outside temperature tends to be cooler at sunrise and warmer at sunset. If you want your photos on a mountain, the cool air in the morning might be too much in the colder months. There could also be ice at higher elevations, which is more likely to form overnight and still be there in the morning. For a summer beach session or an elopement that involves hiking, sunrise might help you beat the heat. 

Clouds

Sometimes in the mornings, the clouds are lower. At higher elevations, this might mean you don’t see the views down below, but it could also look really cool. 

We arrived to the park right when it opened, which was about an hour after sunrise. Nobody was at the overlook except for us, we were above the clouds, and Leah and Jacob got to spend the rest of the day celebrating being engaged! Read More

Timing

A sunrise session gives you more time to spend the day together later, while a sunset session gives you more time beforehand. If you want to have your hair and makeup done or head to a barbershop before having your photos done, you might have better luck with scheduling that before a sunset session. If you want to get married and spend the rest of your wedding day adventuring, sunrise might be a better option for you. 

We had this overlook all to ourselves and the background looks like a painting!

What if I can’t do sunrise or sunset?

It’s not impossible to get good photos midday, but the light isn’t as easy to work with, so it’s harder to get what you want in the background with flattering light on your faces. If midday is the only time you’re available, we can work it out. I typically pose people with the sun behind them, but if that’s not where the pretty background is, I try to have one person block the sun on the other, or I have them face the side so their eyes aren’t in the shadows. The sky tends to be bluer, but the background may be overexposed. Here are a few examples of photos I’ve taken midday to help you get an idea of how they’re different.

I hope this helps you decide what time of the day is the best option for you! For more information about weather and what it might look like in your photos, check out these posts:

Ready for the best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. We love finding new outdoor places to visit, but we also love hanging out on the couch and watching Pixar movies.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

How to Choose a Trail for Your Photos

I absolutely love going on hiking trails with couples! We can do this for an engagement session, or you could even have an intimate wedding ceremony out on a trail! I have some guidelines for trails so you can have a good time AND plenty of photos you love!

1. What is the scenery like along the trail?

Are there multiple spots along the trail that can look pretty in your photos, or is there only one tiny overlook? For example, this trail has plenty of variety before you get to the waterfall, like plant life, a pond, and a bridge over a stream.

2. How difficult is this trail?

I don’t want it to be too strenuous because I don’t want you to be red, sweaty, and exhausted in your photos. I also don’t want any of us to not feel well during/after the session. I know plenty of views here that overlook mountains and waterfalls, and won’t take a toll on your well-being or how you look in your photos.

3. How long is this trail?

It needs to be short enough for us to get good light on the trail and still get out before it gets dark or the parking lot closes. For example, getting to a scenic view for sunset on the Table Rock trail can take hours, and it could be completely dark and after the park’s operating hours by the time we get back to the trailhead.

4. Does it get crowded here?


The trail needs to not be too crowded so there aren’t a lot of people in the background. Also, your session is a lot more intimate if other people aren’t around. For example, any trail at Paris Mountain will probably have lots of hikers and mountain bikers on a Saturday. ⠀

5. Most importantly:

We need to be able to do this safely—I don’t want to risk anyone getting hurt to get good photos. A 3-mile scramble might not be worth the photos, and I need to be able to pose you safely. The Falls Creek Falls trail, for example, is mostly covered in rocks and tree roots, so it’s easy to trip or roll an ankle. There also aren’t a lot of places in front of the waterfall where I’m comfortable standing or telling someone else to stand.

Believe it or not, this photo was taken at a drive-up overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway. No hiking with that baby!


If you and your partner still want to head out on a trail for your session or elopement, awesome! I know plenty of trails in the upstate that meet most, if not all, of these bullet points. Also feel free to check out my blog post to give you ideas of what places in the upstate might fit your vision—you can check it out here!

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Asheville Maternity Photos | Lara and Stephen

One of my oldest friends is now a mom!

Lara and I met in the summer before third grade when she moved to a house across the street from mine. Through the next 20 (!) years, we’ve been in lots of classes together, we’ve been on two cheerleading teams together, and she was drum major for the marching band for the two years I was color guard captain. When we were sophomores in college, we introduced each other to the men we would eventually marry, and we were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. Now, we live about an hour and a half apart and can see each other more often!

Lara and Stephen were planning a trip overseas for a babymoon, where they would have maternity photos taken, but decided it was safer to stay close to home instead. They chose to check out Asheville for the first time and asked me if I would do their maternity photos. After I finished an elopement that was just over the South Carolina border, I headed up to Asheville! Apparently everyone else in the world had the idea to go to Asheville on a Saturday in October, but we could understand why—the foliage was amazing and the weather was just right.

We started off at the North Carolina Arboretum and we barely left the parking lot because there were so many pretty orange trees. Sometimes, I have a hard time with having two locations in one session because I love the first and don’t want to leave, but I know the second will be epic. This was one of those times. Lara had found an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway that was about 10 minutes from the arboretum. That 10-minute drive at golden hour was stunning and we passed a few other overlooks that looked like a good place for photos, but we held out for the one we had planned. When we got there, it was easy to see why this parking lot had more cars than the others. We made use of a few feet where nobody was standing, and it looked like they were all alone on a mountaintop. I wished the golden hour at that overlook could last forever!

Check out some of my favorites from Lara and Stephen’s maternity photos in Asheville!

Ready for updated photos with your partner? Click here to contact me, or check out some other posts below for inspiration!

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2021

Right as we’re ending 2021, I stumbled across a blog post I made at the end of 2016. It wasn’t exactly my first on my website, but I’d just learned that photographers need to use their blogs, so it was the first where I was actually trying to blog with purpose. Nowadays, I use it to bring people to my website and show them what a day with me might look like. It’s not an online diary like I thought all blogs were, and it’s probably my current favorite channel for my work.

I’d just started hearing that people want to see photos of the people who were posting (not just photos I took? What?). I took a few awkward selfies with a Clemson 2016 tassel before I posted one on Instagram saying to look at my blog about what I did in 2016 and what I would do in 2017. The advice I’d gotten about posting pictures of myself was actually good—I’ve had people at vendor events recognize me from Instagram and remember things I’ve posted.

When someone who just got married 5 minutes ago offers to take a phone photo of you because you’re both obsessed with the venue’s pig

This 2016 blog was mostly along the lines of “I bought a new lens, I’m going to British Columbia, and I’ll get to take photos of an eclipse next year.” I was also in the early stages of trying to use my actual voice online, not just the academic writing I’d worked so hard on through high school and college. It’s still a work in progress, but there’s a noticeable difference.

Instagram reels weren’t a thing in 2016, but I love that I can share some of my favorite music with my photos now. A reel of me taking a photo of this gorgeous waterfall was set to a deep track by Chicago and was one of my top posts of the year. Click here to see it (and more of the waterfall because it was stunning with the foliage and the blue sky)

I had written in that blog about getting better at shooting, and therefore not spending as much time editing. Again, there’s been lots of improvement there, but it’s still a work in progress. Here’s a photo I posted along with that blog to show how little I’d edited, alongside one from earlier that year that had a lot of editing done to it. Today, I’m sharing that December 2016 photo alongside a December 2021 photo. My photo style has gotten brighter and more vibrant over time as I’ve gotten better about showing colors the way I remember seeing them. I also have a lot more variety in poses and backgrounds in each session, but I’ve made good use of this bush at Clemson for headshots.

I posted that I was watching a lot of photography webinars and I was on a lot of email lists, which was really exciting and not annoying (yet) because I was learning so much. Since Dan was in school in Florida at the time, I could just come home from work, turn on a webinar while I ate dinner, and do it again the next day with a different photographer. This led to me getting more Facebook ads from photographers, so I kept ending up on more email lists.  Eventually, my inbox did kind of become noise, and I learned to refine my email lists down to what I was most interested in learning about. There are three photography email lists that I’m still on five years later, and they’ve all been influential to me the whole time: Katelyn James, Amy and Jordan, and Ben Hartley. 

2016

2021

I had written about how I had never expected to like portraits, but I had done so many that year. I specifically mentioned my friend Tracy asking me to take her Miss Clemson University photos in March 2016, which got me the confidence and portfolio to get something like 15 more Clemson portrait sessions that year. That was a huge deal to me at the time. My photos of Tracy caught the eye of the next year’s Miss Clemson University pageant director. I’ve now covered the 5 pageants since Tracy won, as well as doing a session afterwards with the past 4 winners. Those sessions are some of my favorites each year! Not only did Tracy ask me to do more sessions with her over the next few years, her now-husband reached out to me to secretly take photos of him proposing to her. This past year, the pageant director said they were struggling to find judges, and I happened to know someone with a little experience with the pageant.

Tracy in 2016

Winner of the 2021 pageant that Tracy judged

I wrote about how I hadn’t gone into portraits earlier because I was scared of having bad interactions with people, but I’d had a great experience so far. That’s still true for the most part—I’ve learned that communication upfront goes a long way, and that it’s okay to not be the right fit for everyone. In 2016, I started to love walking through a beautiful place on a gorgeous day, making something beautiful together, and getting to know someone new during our session. That’s still true.

I had no idea in 2016 that I’d fall in love with weddings and engagements less than a year later. The idea scared me because I felt like weddings would be a lot of pressure. With the help of some friends who trusted me with their photos, a few wonderful wedding photographers who I got to assist, and some more courses and webinars on the side, I learned how to be a more versatile and organized photographer, and it wasn’t so scary anymore. I’d also just found out that some people specialized in elopements, it that blew my mind that you could do that. Here I am with a wonderful couple who eloped this fall!

I wrote that I was spending the time between Christmas and New Year’s revamping my website, just like I did during that same time period in 2021. In 2016, that meant separating my work into galleries like “portraits, sports, still life, landscape, and animals.” It did take a good amount of time and I was proud of how much more organized it looked. Most of my portraits were Clemson graduation photos, so there wasn’t much variety in locations and outfits. In 2021, I mostly used that week to work on my SEO, which I’m pretty sure I didn’t know about yet in 2016. If you don’t know what that means, it means making your site more likely to show up on Google when people search for certain things. It’s an intimidating thing to learn about, especially if you’re not into the tech side of things, but I’m finally getting more comfortable with it. 

I was pretty anti-Pinterest, especially while I was planning a wedding, but I’ve learned how to use it to reach people who like the things I like. My best-performing Pinterest pin is a video of me and my second shooter playing with these light sabers before setting up this shot. Click here to see it!

So where am I at the end of 2021? I’m a photographer who loves vibrant colors and going to pretty places with unique couples. I’ve established a business flow that lets me take care of myself, make memories with my husband and dog, and still deliver my best work. I know that photography is more than just art or “capturing moments,” something that every photographer tries to phrase differently on their website so it doesn’t sound cliché. Here are some of my favorite blog posts from this year, so click each one to see more and read about that day!

Are you looking for a photographer who appreciates all your quirks and wants you to have the best day ever? Fill out the form below to get started!

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Proposal at Caesars Head | Melanie and Karl

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I was so excited when Karl told me he wanted to propose to Melanie at one of my favorite places in all of South Carolina: the overlook at Caesars Head State Park!

Melanie and Karl live on the coast and planned to come up to the upstate for a weekend to hike in the mountains. They had heard Caesars Head was beautiful, so they wanted to check it out. Karl and I talked on the phone a few weeks before and came up with a plan for the proposal. I helped him choose a pretty trail near the Caesars Head visitor center that wouldn’t wear them out too much or take too much time. Since it’s hard to get phone signal in that area, we had to make sure we were on the same page beforehand, so I sent him a photo with what I had in mind for where he should get down on one knee:

Note that this was from the first attempt at my very first engagement session. We got all the way up there and the clouds/fog covered EVERYTHING, so we decided to come back a different day. I just sent him this one because it was the widest shot I had of the overlook.

After Melanie and Karl hiked to the Raven Cliff Falls observation deck, they came to the overlook at Caesars Head. Since it was right before Thanksgiving, there were a ton of people on the overlook, so I just stood right there taking pictures like everyone else was. Melanie waited for some people to clear away from the railing so she could take a picture on her phone. When she turned around, Karl was on one knee! The amount of happiness radiating from them in these photos is contagious, and I was smiling so much while I was editing these.  

Karl remembered that Melanie had shown him her Pinterest at one point, and that there were rings on there. He looked her profile up and chose a ring that was similar to the ones she had pinned. I thought that was a pretty good idea! I also like the red box that it was in. 

I had so much fun with these two and I hope you love their photos!  If you’re looking for a photographer, click to read about the engagement experience and the elopement experience!


My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

Greenville, SC Wedding | Mary Jane and Joey

Mary Jane and Joey were married at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenville, South Carolina!

I met them at their beautiful house in Greenville, where we took their husband-and-wife portraits. We lucked out with a cool fall day with a little bit of foliage around their house. They showed me some of the parts of their house that they loved and we took their photos there. I loved that their photos were taken in the place they call home! 

There were 8 guests at Mary Jane and Joey’s wedding ceremony. The ceremony was held in the smaller chapel at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenville. The pastor arranged for all of the guests to stand in a circle around the couple at the altar. It was really special that everyone in attendance could stand beside them as they said their vows, and they got to have pictures with everyone who was there! 

Enjoy the photos from Mary Jane and Joey’s beautiful intimate wedding!

If you’re looking for an elopement photographer in Greenville, read more about the experience!

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

South Carolina Mountain Elopement | Heather and Scott

Heather and Scott were married in an intimate ceremony on a perfect fall day in front of the South Carolina mountains!

These days, there’s a lot of chaos and uncertainty that comes with planning a wedding with a large group of people, so Heather and Scott decided to embrace the idea of an intimate ceremony with just each other. Their ceremony took place on the veranda of the Red Horse Inn in Landrum—right off of Scenic Highway 11. I had seen photos of the inn on Instagram, but when I walked up to the ceremony site, I couldn’t believe how beautiful the view from the mountains was.  Their voices were the only sound breaking the silence around us. 

After they signed the marriage license, we got to meet Phinney, the venue’s mini pig. We were given Cheerios to feed him and his tail wagged just like a dog’s! After we took some photos around the venue, we went to their cabin, where they cut their beautiful cake. One of their cake flavors was almond, which is one of my favorites, and a flavor I never see anyone else have at their wedding. We had to take a few photos with their dogs, Brie and Beamer, who were waiting for them at the cabin. 

To finish, we drove about 5 minutes down the road to take some more of their wedding photos at Campbell’s Covered Bridge. This beautiful red bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in the state, and there’s some beautiful tall grass nearby. After we said goodbye, Heather and Scott had dinner together and enjoyed the rest of the perfect fall weather with each other and their dogs. 

Check out some of my favorite photos from this beautiful South Carolina mountain elopement! 

Vendors:

Venue and florals: Red Horse Inn

Officiant: Raya Jackson

Hair and Makeup: Kapelli Salon

Cake: All Good Things

Photo: Christine Scott Photography

Ready for your best day ever?

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 47 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about Greenville is that it’s everything you DON’T think about when you picture South Carolina, but it’s still picturesque. Whether you’re into mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Elopement Planning Resources

Citrus Wedding Styled Shoot at Heyward Manor

Vendors:

Venue: Heyward Manor
Design: Corey Johnson
Planning\design: McKee Events
Florals/design: Your Special Day
Balloons: Pinch Twist Balloons
Hair and makeup: Julia and Rachel at Collective Beauty
Gowns: Katharine Marie Weddings
Rentals: BBJ Linen, Professional Party Rentals, Tri-County Event Rentals
Cake: Holly's Cakes
Models:Katherine and Tyler

Photo by Shehzad Ziaee

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

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South Carolina mountain elopement at Red Horse Inn | Greenville, SC photographer

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Where to Take Engagement Photos in Upstate SC

Katrina and McKenzie's spring wedding at Bleckly Inn in Anderson, SC | Christine Scott Photography

What to Know about Digital Files, Prints, and Albums

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Planning Your Proposal

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So you two are ready to start planning the rest of your lives together! Going from “dating” to “engaged” is a big step. How do you want to pop the question?

First of all, there’s no right way for everyone to propose. The only thing that matters is that it’s what you and your partner want. It can be as simple or complex of a plan as you want. These are just some steps to make it less stressful.

Spring engagement photos at Clemson University.png

1. Pick a special place. Maybe it’s a place with a pretty view, and maybe it’s a place where you two share memories together. Think about how many people will be there and how easy it’ll be to access the spot you want.

Karl and Melanie had never been here before, but they heard how beautiful it was and made a weekend trip there. See More

2. Pick a time. The hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise are what we call “golden hour.” This gives us that pretty glow and is the most flattering on your faces. The exact time of golden hour will vary depending on where you are and what time of year it is, but I’m happy to coordinate that with you. Getting the sun behind you will be prettiest, but if that doesn’t work with your plan, we can find a spot in better light.

This proposal was midday because Tracy and Lawrence would be heading home later that day. I got there early and picked a place for Lawrence to stop that was in good lighting. I put a piece of tape on the ground and sent him a picture of my view. See More

3. Decide when your partner will know what’s going on. If you want it to be a total surprise the second you pop the question, then you’ll need to be in a place where I can easily hide. That could either mean finding a hiding place or blending in with a crowd.

For this proposal, there was not a safe place for me to be out of sight. Connor said that was okay because his plan involved Jess knowing earlier in the hike what would happen at the overlook.

For this proposal, there was not a safe place for me to be out of sight. Connor said that was okay because his plan involved Jess knowing earlier in the hike what would happen at the overlook. See More

4. Pick a spot you know you can easily get to. Let’s use the Table Rock summit as an example, because I’ve gotten this request before. And I get it—getting on one knee in front of that overlook would be so beautiful. Physically, it takes a lot for you, your partner, and your photographer (if you have one) to get there, especially in the warmer months, even if you’re experienced hikers. To quote another photographer who has been to this summit, “You will not be cute by the time you get to the top.” If one of us needs to turn around, or if the parking lot is full, we may not be able to communicate that to each other because cell service is so spotty there. It’s way easier if we simplify the plan, especially if your partner isn’t supposed to know I’ll be there.

For places in the upstate that are beautiful, easy to navigate to, and won’t wear you out before it’s time to take pictures, click here. If you were actually thinking about proposing at the Table Rock summit, that post will tell you about similar views and other pretty parts of the park.

Clemson university engagement photos | Christine Scott Photography

The South Carolina Botanical Gardens have a variety of scenery that will change at different times of year. The trails are paved, there aren’t really steep parts, and you don’t have to go far to find beautiful places.

See More

5. Think about what to wear. If getting dressed up will tip off your partner, it’s up to you how to proceed, but keep in mind that they may want to wear something nicer for these photos. If you do choose to wear something nicer, make sure it won’t get messed up as you’re getting to the spot.

I helped Joe pick a restaurant in the area so that he could get Bree to the spot he wanted to propose. He told Bree she should wear something nice that day because they had a reservation at a nice restaurant. See More

6. Protect the ring. How you hide the ring depends on the situation, but some people have found that a ring box doesn’t sit well in their pockets. You could find a smaller box, a different container to protect it, or put the box deep in a bag you’re carrying so it doesn’t get moved.

Engagement photos at South Carolina Botanical Gardens

Believe it or not, you can get desert scenery in the upstate! Click here to see!

7. Leave time to tell everyone. You might not know until after the proposal whether you’ll want to tell your family and friends ASAP or take some pictures first, so leave a little bit of time in case you decide to make a few phone calls.

Proposal at Clemson University | Christine Scott Photography

AC wanted to call her family right away, but she didn’t know until later that Ben had planned to go by her parents’ house, and her whole extended family would be there. Read more

8. Consider the crowds. Are you and your partner okay with having onlookers as you get engaged? If not, consider proposing in a time and place where you might not encounter as many people. People tend to not be awake around sunrise on the weekends. There tends to be fewer people going downtown or to hiking trails on weekdays. Overall, not as many people go outside during the winter.

For this proposal, we got to the park right when it opened. Not only were we getting that just-after-sunrise light and those low morning clouds, we were also the only three people at the overlook when the actual engagement happened! See More

I hope this helps give you some peace of mind as you take the next step in your relationship! Read more about my engagement photo services, and check out some of the blog posts below to get some ideas!

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all 48 of our state parks. Sometimes we wear hiking boots, sometimes we wear dress shoes, and sometimes we’re barefoot in the surf.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Planning Resources

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