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Brian D Smith Photography

5.0

(23)

Charleston South Carolina, Northern Michigan and Destination

About This Vendor

2019 Film Photographer of the Year - Belle Lumiere

Hi, my name is Brian D Smith and I am a destination film wedding photographer based in Charleston South Carolina and Northern Michigan . Charleston has been my most permanent home for the last 6 years and holds a very special place in my heart, as the birthplace of my love for photography and documenting weddings. Northern Michigan has been my second home for my entire life, and will forever be my favorite escape. I typically spend my summers in Northern Michigan, Fall and Spring in Charleston and travel around the rest of the year and in between. I am available for destination and will travel anywhere, at any time for your love. I photograph weddings because they engage every aspect of my brain and seem to merge them in beautiful poetry. I left an engineering career to pursue photography because I fell in love with the energy of weddings and the challenge of making art on the fly. I bring a unique style, focused on film and influenced by fashion and my own personal exploration, wishing for my work to look like no one else's. I am passionate about film, storytelling, portraiture, printing and documenting unique and interesting people. Check out my website and get to know a little bit about me. Give me a call, text, email and I'll respond within 24 hours! If you want to chat wedding photography over a beer or coffee, I'll likely respond within 1! I love to talk about what I do!

Details

Destination Weddings

Destination Wedding Packages

Photo Shoot Types

Boudoir, Bridal Portraits, Day After Session, Engagement

Photo & Video

Digital Files, Film Photography, Online Proofing, Photo, Printed Enlargements, Printed Proofs, Second Shooter Available, Social Media Sharing, Wedding Albums

Photo & Video Styles

Artistic, Classic, Documentary, Dramatic

Wedding Activities

Getting Engaged, Rehearsals & Parties, After Party, Wedding

Brian D Smith Photography Reviews

Reviewed On 11/24/2020 by Katherine L

BEST DECISION WE MADE! Brian was one of the best decisions we made in our wedding planning process. The hunt can be overwhelming, or at least I found it to be, but I truly cannot recommend him enough. He is fantastic, down to earth, calming, in...

sanely talented and made both me AND my husband (who hates pictures) feel so comfortable and natural on our wedding day. We had genuine fun, with Brian photographing us - and that was something very important to me. I didn't want someone who would distract us from the natural unfolding of the day and also didn't want someone who tried to make us do poses that just weren't us and he greatly accomplished both. Aside from being such an asset to the day itself, the photos are far more than I ever expected. He delivered a black and white sneak preview to us while we were on our honeymoon. The way he explained to us was that the black and white photos allowed him to focus only on what natural lighting he was provided on wedding day. I personally liked this because while I was able to look at these and see parts of our wedding for the first time, there was still the hidden factor of what was to come with the rest of the photos to be delivered in color. About a month and some change after our wedding, the rest of the photos were delivered and I. just. cant. Stop. looking. at them. All of them were beautiful. Again, they were more than I could ever imagine because not only were they the ‘instagrammable’ shots, if you will, they were also the goofy, funny, unposed shots that our day embodied. He captured ALL of the RAW moments. Please hire Brian, you WILL NOT be disappointed.

Reviewed On 11/23/2020 by Findley M

We can't recommend Brian enough. Not only was he flexible with everything that 2020 brought, he was our only photographer and captured everything and more. Honestly we don't know how he managed to be everywhere at once. He is brilliant at captu...

ring those candid moments of joy - both from the bride side and groomsmen - in addition to some of the more traditional wedding photos. They all turned out stunning with his signature style. It's a good sign when everyone wants copies of the photos.

Reviewed On 4/03/2020 by Anna W

I've been trying to write this review for a week, and the best thing I can come up with is this: hiring Brian as your wedding photographer will be the single best decision you make in your planning process. Brian was a recommendation from our w...

edding planner (the amazing Erica Peper!) and I fell in love with the vivid, real style of his work immediately. What really sealed the deal, though, was talking to him about it. His passion for photography was so tangible, and it was obvious that he would pour himself into capturing our wedding as if it was the most important day he would ever document. Now that we have the photos in hand, I can say that was absolutely true. Every time I look at them (which is more times a day than I should admit...) I notice a new favorite. When I've shared them with friends, everyone comments on Brian's talent for capturing exactly what the day felt like – through the stunning portraits, the detail shots, and countless snapshots of moments you could easily overlook. Both during my bridal portraits and on our wedding day, I felt completely at ease – his energy behind the camera is infectious. If you sent me back to the beginning of wedding planning, I would hire him 10x over. He's a joy to work with and his photography is second to none. I couldn't recommend him more!

Reviewed On 11/01/2019 by Esther M

Brian photographed our wedding, and we couldn't have been more pleased with his creativity and skill. He captured all the special moments throughout the evening with close attention to every detail. He was a such joy to work with, and his finis...

hed product is phenomenal. We love our wedding photos and would absolutely recommend Brian to anyone looking for a professional wedding photographer.

Response from the Vendor on 11/03/2019

Thank you so much for the kind words Esther! I'm so happy you love the photographs. You both were wonderful to work with, and I hope they help you relive the joy of that day over and over.

Reviewed On 10/23/2019 by Audrey B

I’ve actually worked with Brian twice now and I have nothing but good to say about his talent, his attention to detail, and his likability and professionalism. He is extremely personable and easy going. Which is EXACTLY what you want in a pho...

tographer. I always tell my clients that they need someone who is easy to mesh with other wise it will be hard to have a fun wedding day! Like I mentioned above he also is extremely detailed and he makes sure to take advantage of every beautiful moment. Not to mention his final results, the actual photos, are incredibly beautiful. Highly recommend using Brian for your wedding and portrait needs!!

Response from the Vendor on 10/23/2019

Thank you, Audrey! It was such a pleasure working with you as well :) I can't wait to collaborate again.

Reviewed On 10/10/2019 by Abby P

Brian and I worked our first wedding together in May. He went above and beyond to connect with the bride and make her feel comfortable in front of the camera. We were on a tight timeline and he made sure we got all of the pictures knocked out e...

fficiently AND beautifully. No one ever felt rushed but we definitely were able to stay on schedule. He turned a driveway into a beautiful backdrop and found hidden gems for backdrops throughout the day. He wasn’t afraid to go on the beach and get dirty either. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous and I would highly recommend him to all my brides.

Response from the Vendor on 10/23/2019

Thank you, Abby! It was so wonderful working with you and it makes the world of difference for me when I have someone there to help the day go off without a hitch.

Reviewed On 10/08/2019 by Mark B

After reviewing Brian's incredible work, we knew we had to hire him as the photographer for our wedding day (held at The Homestead in Glen Arbor, Michigan). From the moment he arrived, he displayed a true sense of professionalism and passion f...

or his craft. He took the time to make us both feel comfortable which ultimately made it feel more like hanging out with a friend rather than a tense photoshoot. He also focused on the subtle details and candid moments throughout the day (that most wedding photographers overlook). He proved his true passion and talent for photography by having several different types of cameras on-hand which gave our photos beautiful variety. Brian was an absolute dream to work with and we cannot recommend him highly enough to be the photographer for your big day. Don't just hire someone with an expensive camera who knows how to to point and shoot. Hire someone like Brian who takes photography seriously and has a natural talent in the medium.

Response from the Vendor on 10/12/2019

Thank you so much for the kind words, Mark. You and Elizabeth were so wonderful to work with from the very get go and made me feel comfortable and as a welcomed guest on your wedding day. This truly means a lot to me, and I think the mutual lev...

el of comfort and trust shows in the photos. Thanks again! -Brian D Smith

Reviewed On 9/20/2019 by sara a

Brian is one of our favorite photographer's in the area to work with. He is at the top of our preferred vendor list and our couples adore him!

Response from the Vendor on 09/23/2019

Thank you for the kind words, Sara. It was so wonderful to work with you and your team as well. You made my job easy!

Reviewed On 7/13/2019 by Jessica D

Brian was the first vendor we booked. We found him after noticing an engagement session he did with another interracial couple. For us, it was very important that we selected a photographer that could capture both of us. After meeting with Bria...

n, he immediately set the tone for other vendors we were going to work with. Brian was personable, detailed, thorough, engaging, and his attention to detail was impeccable. We felt connected with him immediately, which we knew was going to be important both during our engagement shoot and wedding day. He is remarkably talented behind the camera. His communication from engagement to wedding was timely, seamless, and clear. He was accommodating and made my vision for our engagement shoot come to life! As he put it, "Vanity Fair!" Brian knew exactly where to go for the best shots in Charleston, and made us feel completely comfortable and confident. He got along marvelously with our videographers, and other vendors. Everyone raves about our photos to this day. We could not have asked for a better result. I say this all the time, and sincerely mean it. Brian has gained lifetime customers in us! We wholeheartedly recommend him!

Response from the Vendor on 07/15/2019

I honestly don't even know what to say, Jessica. Your words brought the biggest smile to my face and it means so much to me that you love the photos, and the experience in general. I've adored you and Casey from the moment I met you. You both ...

are so sweet, genuine, and loving to one another and it truly makes my job a joy. Honestly, it's everything to me in this wedding industry. You've got a life long friend and I can't wait to see how your marriage and family evolves, and I'm here for anything you ever need documented!

Reviewed On 6/27/2019 by Gaia C

Brian's photography is like no other in the area and his style is 100% original. We could not be happier with our wedding photos and will cherish them forever. Hands down recommend!!

Response from the Vendor on 06/27/2019

The originality comment means everything to me :) Thank you and Charlie both for being so welcoming and enjoyable to photograph. I left your wedding day with a beautiful sense of who you and your family are as people, and I am so happy to have...

been able to document that beauty. -Brian

Reviewed On 4/10/2019 by Blakely S

Getting the right photographer was probably #1 on the list of wedding priorities for my husband and I. So when we saw Brian's work, we immediately knew he was the person we wanted to capture our special day. He has a fantastic eye and we absolu...

tely love the tone of his images. He was friendly and professional during our whole correspondence leading up to the wedding, which really put me at ease! Our guests told us how impressed they were at what he was able to capture. My only regret is that we didn't get engagement photos as well because his work is so lovely!

Response from the Vendor on 04/11/2019

It was my pleasure, Blakely. You and Anthony were a joy to work with and made my job easy!

Reviewed On 1/11/2019 by shannon l

Brian is so incredibly talented with his camera! We initially booked our venue solely based on a photoshoot he did there. We were not impressed with the photos on the venues site (they have updated since then), but then came across a shoot Bria...

n did and we fell in love with it. We knew we needed to hire him for our wedding, he was the first vendor we hired. The day of the wedding Brian knew exactly where to go to get all the best shots, and worked perfectly with our videographer. We are so happy with how all of the photos turned out. We have gotten so many compliments on them. I would definitely recommend Brian!

Response from the Vendor on 01/11/2019

I'm so glad you found me, Shannon! It was such a pleasure to work with the two of you. You both were so kind, and I had a really great time at the wedding. I still can't get over how pretty those oaks were on your wedding day. What a dream!

Reviewed On 10/07/2018 by Elizabeth B

My husband and I planned our Michigan wedding mainly online from New Mexico. We were SUPER lucky to be able to book Brian and his team for our big day. Brian himself was one of the photographers throughout the day and he was fantastic. I was...

worried that we would not get too many great photos that included me because I was super sick all day, it rained all morning, and although it cleared up in time for our outdoor beach wedding, it was SUPER hot and humid with initially ZERO breeze coming in, but all of the photos turned out phenomenally. In addition to taking the photos, he was checking out different areas for unique photos. He was also more than willing to include our dogs in the photos, which made my husband and I happy. Not only did he send us a link to download all of the photos that he had taken, he also mailed us an adorable wooden box with a USB with all the pictures and some printed out copies.

Reviewed On 9/06/2018 by Kristina F

We contacted Brian a month or so before our wedding and, though we had considered forgoing photography, we are so happy we went with 3E8! We love the authentic and candid way he captured our day and truly believe he has an eye for the drawing t...

he personality of a couple. We have shown our pictures in a slideshow in two different different open houses after our wedding and many have exclaimed over the quality and beauty of the photos. Thank you Brian!

Response from the Vendor on 09/06/2018

Nina! Thank you so much. I got into wedding photography because I am captivated by the thrill of making art on the fly, but equally so by making the most beautiful day of someone's lives just a bit more so. To hear that I captured the real yo...

u and drew out your true personalities is the greatest complement you could give me. I am so thrilled with your decision to add photography to your wedding day, and it meant so much for me to be there to capture all those smiles. It was a beautiful thing to witness.

Reviewed On 7/30/2018 by Alison M

My fiance (now husband) and I planned our own wedding with the exception of a highly talented day of wedding coordinator to help us pull it together the day of. Every detail was crucial in helping us achieve the aesthetic and vibe that we were ...

striving for. Brian was on board from the start and super supportive of our vision. He understood that we not only wanted him to come and take photos of us and our family, we wanted him to capture the entire feeling of "our day". Brian not only delivered what we had wanted, he went above and beyond my highest expectations. I was up the night before the wedding working on the most minute set-up details, things that I thought of last minute that I didn't get a chance to tell Brian about beforehand. However, when we received our pictures after the wedding I saw that Brian could see it all without me having to point anything out. His eye for detail is excellent. Brian captured the mood, the details, the emotion, our friends, and our family perfectly. We loved working with him. He caught on quick to what we wanted, showed up early to take additional detail shots, and was friendly and professional. His work is beautiful and of the highest quality. Brian took our day as seriously as we did and we cannot thank him enough!

Response from the Vendor on 08/07/2018

Thank you, Ali! I appreciate the kind words, so much. It was wonderful to work with someone so creative. Capturing each and every moment meant so much more to me, because I knew of the time and creativity you had invested in each detail. I sti...

ll can't get over how pretty that venue was! I hope married life is off to a wonderful start for you and let me know if I can do anything for you in the future!

Reviewed On 5/25/2018 by Erica K

We can’t thank you enough, Brian! Your photos are amazing and you were great to work with. Even with the rain there wasn’t a downfall. You captured every important person, detail and emotion. We are so thankful you captured our wedding day. Th...

ank you so very much! -Erica and Mike Kennedy

Reviewed On 5/03/2018 by Kadon K

I contacted Brian for a surprise engagement photo-shoot with my fiancé and it was the best decision. Brian was amazing and the pictures speak for themselves. We have gotten a number of them enlarged and printed on canvas as they are truly works...

of art. I highly recommend Brian to capture any and all special moments!!!

Reviewed On 5/02/2018 by Madelaine M

My fiancé contacted Brian for our engagement photos and it was a great choice. Brian delivered top-quality images and it was a pleasure to work with him. He was very professional and so easy to get along with. His technical talent and artistic ...

ability is displayed in every image. He made us feel really comfortable throughout the entire session and we had so much fun as we uncovered hidden gems for engagement shoots within downtown Charleston. I treasure our photos and I'd highly highly recommend him!

Reviewed On 10/11/2017 by Tyler C

I can not say enough about how wonderful the engagement pictures turned out. Brian was extremely personable and easy to work with, he understood my vision but far exceeded my expectations in capturing the moment. I cannot recommend him highly e...

nough!

Reviewed On 10/11/2017 by Karen L

Brian photographed our son and daughter-in-law's wedding recently on Hilton Head Island. I've never seen a photographer take so many shots at a wedding (and in a totally non-intrusive way). And his photographs are ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! They capt...

ured the mood and the emotion of that day in ways we didn't think were possible. Thank-you Brian for putting your heart and your soul into your business and for allowing ALL of us to cherish these photos and memories forever.

Reviewed On 10/04/2017 by Brianna S

Brian with 38E Photography was so wonderful to work with for our engagement pictures at Legare Waring House in Charleston, SC. Being a couple from Pennsylvania, Brian spent a lot of time communicating with us about our photo shoot & helping us ...

create an idea of what we wanted. He has such an easy spirit & made our quick “golden hour” session fun. He helped us laugh through the awkward poses & muddy ground. I would definitely suggest Brian to any soon to be bride and groom! Thank you Brian!

Reviewed On 7/18/2017 by Sarah L

Brian captured our day perfectly and provided us with timeless images which captured the emotion, excitement and love that filled the day. His warm and witty personality made the portrait sessions a blast and then he faded seamlessly into the ...

background to capture natural action shots for the ceremony and reception. To say that Brian is talented would be a bold understatement. He has a eye for perfection and a technical skill set that far surpasses the average photographer. I cried, I laughed, and then cried some more when reviewing our photos. Brian has a gift and will provide you with flawless images that are beautifully packaged to remember your special event. We will definitely be contacting Brian again to capture life's greatest moments and highly recommend you book him for yours!

Reviewed On 7/13/2017 by Stephanie L

If you're reading this, book him now!! My husband and I could not be happier with the decision to have Brian shoot our wedding (and engagement prior to the big day). I am not a huge fan of being in front of a camera, but Brian made it so much m...

ore comfortable for me just by his easy going yet passionate personality. His love for photography is so apparent not only in the outcome of the pictures, but also in his hard work during the process. Brian was the only photographer we booked for our wedding with 150 guests! He was there from start of getting ready to send off pouring everything he had into our big day. His artistic style beautifully captured these perfect moments that will be cherished for the rest of our lives! Lastly, Brian is very reasonably priced especially given the fact that the quality of his work is right there with the best in Charleston. We look forward to using him for all of our special memories ahead and recommend you do too!