Tracee Gadson of Tracee Gadson Photographer and Design
Not every photographer grows up with a camera in their hands – some discover the passion through happenstance. For Tracee Gadson, her pathway to becoming a wedding photography began with a graphic design degree, a single elective class, and a manual film camera.
“I never ‘set out’ to be a photographer,” Tracee says. “I wasn’t that person walking around with a camera all the time. But in college, I had to take an elective, and I chose photography. It was landscape and scenery at first—it wasn’t even for people.”
This all changed in a profound way when a friend at her church was getting married. Another friend was already photographing the wedding. “It was 25 years ago,” she recalls. “And I thought, maybe I should help out. I’d never done anything like that before and I wanted to help.” She offered to do a pre-wedding photo session with the bride—her first real shoot with a person. “We went to the park and did a photoshoot without the wedding dress. Just to see if the camera even worked,” Tracee Gadson laughs. “It was a film camera, black and white. When I developed the photos, I was like, ‘Wait a minute — I should start doing this.’”
At the wedding, she served as the second shooter. The bride ended up appreciating Tracee’s photos even more than the lead photographer’s. “I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “It was fun, and I processed all the photos myself. That gave me the confidence to start doing more shoots for people at church—so I did engagements and portraits—and it just grew from there.”
Graphic Designer to Trusted Shooter
Graphic Designer to Trusted ShooterTracee Gadson landed a job at a photography studio in Charleston—but not as a photographer. She began as a graphic designer. “I was hired to design wedding albums and edit photos in Photoshop,” she explains. But within her first year, the studio owner saw she was more than that. “He let me start doing family shoots and small weddings. It took about a year or two for him to trust me with weddings on his behalf. He began to send me out on his budget and what he charged his clients. That’s how I got my first real experience.”
Tracee ended up staying for five years, and by the end of that time, she was managing just about the entire studio. “He had an admin at first, but when she left, I took over. I was editing images, doing layouts, uploading to galleries—and shooting, too.”
When the economy collapsed in 2008–09, he was forced to close his studio. Like many creatives during that time, Tracee had to shift gears. “I didn’t have a job and hadn’t built my own wedding business yet. Survival was key,” she says. She moved to Columbia, South Carolina, and began piecing together her future with photography in small segments at a time. “I had my website up already and started connecting with different couples,” she says. “Maternity sessions helped me get my name out there, and eventually I began booking weddings again.”
Tracee Gadson’s Rebranding; Her Refocusing Begins
Tracee Gadson’s Rebranding; Her Refocusing BeginsAlthough she’d always kept photography in her life, Tracee admits that for years it was part-time. “I was still working full-time as an executive assistant for a company in Columbia that handles vendor affairs,” she says. “So weddings were something I did on the side. But in the past year, I’ve really become intentional about my photography—about the kind of work I want to do and the couples I want to connect with.”
That led to a full rebrand. “At the start, I had been shooting big weddings—150 to 200 guests—at venues like 12 Oaks Estate, Millstone at Adams Pond, River Road and Jasmine Houses, and the Robert Mills House and Gardens.” All of these venues boast larger affairs. “But I realized I wanted something different.” So Tracee found herself driving her business to smaller, more personable events. “I love those intimate garden weddings,” she says. “When it’s just the couple and a few people in the bridal party, it doesn’t feel rushed. It feels personal.”
Like most people who pursue their vision, her clarity reshaped everything, even her portfolio. “I had to start from scratch. I reached out to couples and asked if they’d model for me so I could build a new portfolio that reflected my style—natural, outdoorsy, true color, and creative. Not ballroom.”
Drawn to Nature and Adventure
Drawn to Nature and AdventureTracee’s Gadson’s style is a blend of genuine authenticity, artistry, and adventure. “I’m not afraid of getting dirty,” she says with an audible smile. “I love greenery, nature, waterfalls, and couples who are a little alternative or artsy.”
One of her favorite shoots was at a venue boasting a large waterfall. “She was standing on the rocks in the stream—it was magical,” she says. “That couple became one of my favorite couples ever. They were just different, creative, open. That’s who I want to work with.”
That preference for natural settings (especially waterfalls) is part of what drew Tracee to Weddings Over Waterfalls. “I wasn’t even looking, but I saw a reel—maybe on Instagram or TikTok—and it just stopped me. I said, ‘Wow. I love waterfalls. And this venue is stunning.’ It was speaking directly to me.”
And it wasn’t just pretty scenery—she sees in the venue her kind of people. “The kind of brides that get married there? That’s who I want to work with. Outdoorsy. Calm. Present. Creative. I don’t need to book a huge number of weddings—I want the right couples.”
Who Tracee Gadson Works Best With
Who Tracee Gadson Works Best WithIf you’re a couple who:
- Loves nature and isn’t afraid to hike, twirl barefoot, and dance in the water
- Wants photographs that reflect your real selves, not posed perfection in a ballroom setting
- Values emotion and storytelling in their pictures
- Wants smaller-more meaningful over grandeur
…then Tracee just may be your kind of photographer.
“I love shooting,” she says simply. “I’m doing this because I love it. Less is more. I just want to work with people who get that—and who want something special, not something big.”
Final Thoughts & How to Reach Her
Tracee Gadson is based in Columbia, SC, but she’s happy to travel—and absolutely open to photographing at Weddings Over Waterfalls or anywhere nature shows off. “The distance doesn’t matter at all,” she says. “It’s easy for me to get there—and I want to.”
Elopements in the mountains, a small garden ceremonies, and creative shoot in the woods are her thing.
To learn more and to view her portfolio, you can visit her here: www.gadsonphotographyandesign.com
Even if you’re getting married elsewhere, you’re always welcome to stay at Windows Over Waterfalls—our private, waterfall-filled retreat in the mountains. It’s perfect for a romantic getaway, honeymoon, or pre-wedding escape
