Charleston has always called to me. The doors, the alleyways, the light — it's a photographer's dream hiding in plain sight. So when I decided to finally book a photography tour, Charleston was the obvious choice.
I searched around and found Charleston Photography Tours — a company offering half-day and full-day excursions through the city and surrounding areas. I booked their half-day boneyard beach sunset tour and brought my daughter along for the adventure. Best decision I made all year.
Historic Charleston on Foot
We started at Washington Square Park, right in the heart of the city. The trees alone are worth a visit — massive, draped, and full of that quiet drama I'm always chasing with my lens. From there we walked south on Meeting Street to Saint Michael's Church, built in the 1760s and still standing like it owns the block. We didn't go inside but I didn't need to — the architectural details on the exterior kept me busy for a good while.
We continued east on Broad Street past the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, a former revolutionary prison turned city hall. Something about the history layered into these buildings — you can feel it through the viewfinder.
A Vegan Cookie Detour Worth Making
We stopped at Annie O' Love's Cookie Cafe for a quick break and I'm so glad we did. Vegan cookies, paninis, good energy. My daughter approved, which is the highest endorsement I can give any food stop.
The Boneyard Beach — Where It Gets Magical
After our city walk we met up with our guide Tiffany Briley and headed out to Botany Bay on Edisto Island. I'd seen photos of boneyard beach before but nothing prepared me for being there.
The moss-covered trees arching over Botany Bay Road. The bleached, weathered trunks rising out of the sand where the shoreline has slowly swallowed the forest over decades. It's haunting and beautiful in a way that's hard to put into words — which is exactly why I photograph places like this.
I came away with some of my best images from that beach. The light, the textures, the quiet drama of it — everything I look for was right there.
One Last Morning
Before heading home we stopped at Waterfront Park to see the famous pineapple fountain. My daughter and I played around more than we photographed, which honestly was exactly right for that moment. Then a stroll down Broad Street where, true to form, I couldn't stop photographing doors and windows.
Would I Do It Again?
Without question. This was my first photography excursion and it won't be my last. Tiffany was a knowledgeable guide who pushed me to look at familiar subjects differently — and the boneyard beach alone is worth the trip twice over.
Charleston has layers. The historic streets, the coastal edges, the hidden details most visitors walk right past. I'm already planning my next trip — this time I want to catch the sunrise.
If you're ever in Charleston and you're a photographer — or you just love beautiful places — Charleston Photography Tours is worth your time. And if you're interested in any of the images I captured on this trip, you can find them in the Doors, Archways & Hidden Places collection.