Benjamin Williams knows what a good picture looks like

Benjamin Williams takes beautiful photographs.

His style includes faded color, organic scenery and natural sunlight; he is inspired by the countryside and simplicity.

His work has been featured locally in Charleston Magazine, Kiawah Island's Legends Magazine, Garden & Gun magazine, the Charleston City Paper, The South magazine (based out of Savannah) and Links magazine (based out of Hilton Head Island).

With his career beginning in film, Williams grew tired of the medium and didn't know in which direction to turn his creative energies.

His says his father gave him poignant advice: "Do whatever you want. If you do it long enough, you'll become good at it. If you're good enough at it, someone will pay you for it. And then, you're just getting paid to do what you love."

With that guidance, Williams began taking professional photos almost three years ago and now works full time as a wedding and freelance photographer.

His professional work is client driven. But his personal photos are motivated by his friends and his creativity; these are not for sale.

If someone loved one of his photos, he says, he would share the file and allow them to print it themselves.

Web site: www.benwilliamsweddings.com; www.benwilliamsphoto.com.

Contact Info: benwilliamsphoto@mac.com, 609-7813

Birth date and place: November 1984, Indianapolis.

Residence: Downtown, 2 1/2 years

Family: Father, Gately; mother, Ann; sisters, Libby and Meg.

Education: Bachelor of Science, Ball State University, 2007. Studied journalism and portraiture photography.

Career: Freelance photographer.

Goals: Photograph a minimum of 24 weddings in 2011.

books reading now: "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and "The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Influences: Jeff Lipsky, Richard Avedon, Peter Frank Edwards, Wadmalaw, my friends.

Price Range: Wedding packages begin at $2,450.

projects: Collaborating with Rachel Gordon and her dress designs.