Burns Alley after Dark: A gritty glamour Session

Nestled in the heart of King Street is my favorite dive bar—Burns Alley. It’s a little off the radar, tucked away just enough to be invisible to the untrained tourist eye, but it’s home to the misfits, degenerates, creatives and honestly, some of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet.

Over the years of being an occasional patron, I’d always thought, This place would make such a sick shoot location. Between the glowing neon, the grungy bathroom walls, and every surface plastered with band fliers, the whole bar just oozes character. So, I finally decided to make it happen.

I knew exactly who I wanted as my model: Alyssa. Her goth-alt style, bold attitude, and killer presence made her the perfect muse to bring this vision to life and she absolutely delivered.

Gear, Grit, and a Whole Lot of Hustle

I envisioned this shoot with a gritty, direct-flash aesthetic, but I also wanted to experiment with something new, an LED light stick that lets me control the color output. Picture this: one hand balancing my heavy camera body, the other gripping this glowing, moody light wand. Yeah, I could’ve used an assistant, but sometimes you just gotta roll with what you’ve got.

We started in the bathroom. I know, I know… it sounds gross. But trust me...I had a vision. And once I saw those shots, I knew I was onto something.

A dark moody scene with artistic green neon lighting illuminating someone through a mirror in a dive bar atmosphere.

A black and white photograph taken in a graffiti-covered bathroom stall with tiled walls and floor.

Moody nightclub scene bathed in neon green lighting showing silhouette posing against graffiti wall.

See, I told you. They turned out even better than I expected. Totally worth it.

Back Alley Dreams

Next, we wandered outside into the alley behind the bar. The night air was thick with the sounds and smells of King Street nightlife echoing faintly in the background, just enough to remind us we were still in the middle of Charleston, even though this little slice of back-alley chaos felt like its own world. The flicker of the neon signs reflected off the cracked pavement and brick walls, casting streaks of red, green, and purple light that flickered across Alyssa’s face and hair, adding even more edge to the scene.

There was graffiti. Trash cans. A upside down mop bucket. And somehow, it was all perfect. The grime added grit, and the way Alyssa moved through the space with total confidence and just the right edge made every frame feel like a scene from an underground indie film.

Close up beauty shot featuring green hair highlights and dark eye makeup against a graffiti wall in dim lighting.

A person in edgy street fashion poses by neon-lit window blinds casting vibrant red and blue lighting effects.

Artistic dark portrait with dramatic green lighting creating a moody gothic atmosphere against black background.

Arcade Nostalgia

Then we headed back inside. And that’s when I saw it... the skee-ball machine, glowing under the arcade lights like it was just waiting for us. It had that perfect retro energy. Flashy, slightly beat-up, loud in all the right ways. I didn’t even have to think twice, I knew we had to shoot there.

The combo of colors and textures was insane. The warm tones from the lights bounced off Alyssa’s skin, and the glossy surface of the machine added just the right amount of shine. She climbed up like she belonged there, totally unfazed, owning the space with this cool, effortless confidence that made every frame feel like a moment. I started shooting, switching between direct flash and colored light, and immediately knew we were onto something.

These ended up being some of my favorite shots from the whole set. The vibe, the attitude, the mood, it all just came together in a way that felt spontaneous and real. Exactly what I wanted this shoot to be.

A person in dark clothing with green hair streaks poses on an arcade game machine in a dimly lit venue with neon lights.

A woman with black and green hair poses in a nightclub setting with a digital clock display showing 20:00 in the background.

Cosplayer with green hair poses playfully in an arcade with neon lighting and game machines in the background.

A Little Chaos, a Lot of Creativity

Shoots like this remind me why I do what I do. There’s something magical about taking a location most people overlook and turning it into art. It’s not polished or perfect and that’s exactly the point.

Burns Alley gave me the grime, the glow, and the gritty nostalgia I wanted. And with Alyssa’s killer energy and a little creative chaos, we made something electric and unforgettable.

Until next time y'all.