MEET KATIE IVES

Savannah & Hilton Head Family Photographer

Katherine Ives is an award-winning family, branding and wedding photographer serving Savannah, Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, Sea Island, St. Simons Island and the surrounding Lowcountry.

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Katie — the photographer behind Katherine Ives Photography.

For more than a decade, I’ve had the privilege of photographing families, celebrations, brands and some of life’s biggest moments throughout Savannah, Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry.

My approach combines timeless Southern portraiture with the candid, in-between moments that make a photograph feel like your family. I’ll guide you when you need it, keep things moving when there are 20 people looking in different directions, and leave plenty of room for the laughter and personality that can’t be posed.

INQUIRE HERE

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

I established Katherine Ives Photography in 2011 and have photographed everything from intimate surprise proposals to extended families of more than 40 people, weddings, corporate events, editorial assignments and commercial campaigns.

Since 2019, I’ve also worked as a contributing photographer for Savannah Magazine, photographing people, businesses and stories throughout the Savannah area.

That experience means I know how to walk into just about any situation — toddlers, large families, changing weather, tight timelines and once-in-a-lifetime proposals included — and make it feel easy.

Over a Decade Behind the Camera

Montage Palmetto Bluff couple photography session with Wilsons Village Chapel on dock.
Sea Pines Resort Beach Family Photography Session with Sailboat

I KNOW THE LOWCOUNTRY

Wilmington Island Savannah Yacht Club docks

One of my favorite parts of this job is helping clients choose a location that feels right for them.

I regularly photograph throughout Savannah, Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines, Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Sea Island, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.

From moss-covered oaks and historic Savannah streets to the beaches of Hilton Head and Sea Island, I know how dramatically the location, tide, season and time of day can change a session. I’ll help you figure out all of it.

Savannah, Hilton Head & Beyond

More Than Just Photographs

WHAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER

Beautiful photographs matter, but so does the experience you have while making them.

My goal is for your session to feel relaxed, organized and genuinely fun — and for you to walk away with photographs that still mean something to you decades from now.

Because eventually the little hands get bigger, the family changes, and the season you’re in right now becomes one you’ll wish you could visit again.

That’s what I want to preserve for you.

Martin Montage Palmetto bluff Family session in Bluffton, SC.
Martin Montage Palmetto bluff Family session in Bluffton, SC.
A woman with long dark hair in a blue and white floral dress is holding a young girl in her arms outdoors. The girl has a headband with a bow and is wearing a matching dress, looking at the camera. In the background, there are large trees with Spanish moss, a bridge, and a grassy area, suggesting a park setting on a sunny day.

  • Always! My visual storytelling style leans toward candid, documentary approach (the kids being hilarious, the dog licking your face), but posed family photographs with everyone smiling while looking at the camera are also treasured keepsakes. We find a way to work both into our session.

  • The most important thing you can do is relax. Children can sense stress. Think of this as time you get to spend having fun family time. Be prepared to be a goober. I love it when parents bring out their inner silly to help their children smile and laugh.

  • Oh…. let's count on it! As a mama of 2, I absolutely understand this fear (and the reality of it, too!) But don’t worry-I've got a few tricks up my sleeve and just go with the flow. I know how hard it can be to stay calm when you feel pressure to look and act a certain way, so I'll assure you... there's no pressure here! We can work around most big feelings, the kids get to know me a bit, they almost always truly enjoy the session.