Savannah Proper

A New Creative Chapter Begins in Savannah

Morning sunrise inspirational view from the Savannah Proper Art Loft.Sunrise over the Savannah skyline, captured from the downtown terrace where the vision for Savannah Proper continues to take shape.

From a loft overlooking the Savannah skyline, sunlight moves across church steeples, historic rooftops and the distant sweep of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. It is a view filled with beauty, possibility and the unmistakable feeling that Savannah is entering a remarkable new era.

Savannah Proper begins here.

Savannah Proper founder and Creative Director Charles Maring captures the city from a downtown terrace.

Founder and Creative Director Charles Maring first arrived in Savannah after the pandemic disrupted a successful photography and filmmaking business built over decades in New York and Connecticut. The uncertainty of that moment created an unexpected opportunity to reconsider where life and creativity might lead next.

A longtime home was sold. Possessions accumulated over many years were released. The journey south began with the hope of finding a place where meaningful work could be rebuilt and a new creative life could take shape.

Savannah had never been part of the original plan. Yet one long weekend was enough to reveal something extraordinary.

The beauty was immediate. Live oaks stretched across historic squares. Art, architecture and music seemed woven into the rhythm of everyday life. Restaurants, hotels and independent businesses were bringing fresh energy to the city while generations of history remained visible around nearly every corner.

The Mercer Williams House framed by Savannah’s live oaks reflects the history, architecture and atmosphere that continue to inspire Savannah Proper.

Savannah felt both timeless and unfinished.

For Charles, an internationally awarded photographer and filmmaker, fine art painter, musician and storyteller, the city offered endless creative possibility. Every square suggested a story. Every historic marker opened a door into the past. Every artist, chef, musician, business owner and preservationist added another voice to Savannah’s evolving identity.

As Charles explored the city, he recognized something that was missing. Savannah had many excellent guides, publications and travel resources, but there was room for an independent online magazine that approached the city through original photography, cinematic filmmaking, careful research and an artist’s perspective.

Savannah Proper was created to fill that space.

A Publication Rooted in Curiosity

Savannah Proper is an editorial exploration of the people, places and ideas shaping Savannah and the surrounding Lowcountry.

Its stories move through art and music, history and folklore, cuisine and cocktails, weddings and events, wildlife and nature. Some begin with a centuries old monument. Others begin in a kitchen, a hotel courtyard, an artist’s studio or beneath the live oaks of a quiet square.

What connects them is curiosity.

The goal is not simply to compile lists of things to do. It is to look more closely, ask thoughtful questions and create stories that help both visitors and residents experience Savannah with a deeper sense of place.

Charles leads the publication’s creative and editorial direction, producing its photography, films, historical features, interviews and visual storytelling. Through his work with Maring Visuals, he also collaborates with hospitality, tourism, wedding and lifestyle brands that value authentic stories and enduring imagery.

As Savannah Proper has grown, so has its ability to help people experience the city beyond the page. Jennifer Maring serves as Events Director and Travel Advisor, contributing extensive experience in travel and event planning through Squire Travel and Events. Savannah Proper also provides destination management services in Savannah for groups, corporate gatherings and thoughtfully planned experiences, with wedding expertise extending from intimate Savannah elopements and micro weddings to full scale luxury weddings and destination celebrations.

Events Director and Travel Advisor Jennifer Maring helps an elopement couple celebrate during an intimate rooftop experience in Savannah.

Together, these distinct areas of expertise allow Savannah Proper to connect editorial discovery with thoughtfully planned experiences while maintaining a clear and independent creative vision.

Documenting a City in Motion

Savannah is changing before our eyes.

New hotels and restaurants are reshaping familiar corners. Artists and musicians are building new communities. Historic places are being reconsidered through more complete and inclusive stories. Couples are choosing Savannah for intimate weddings and elopements. Businesses are bringing meetings, retreats and celebrations to the city and the surrounding coast.

Savannah Proper exists to document this moment while honoring the many generations that made it possible.

That means going beyond the surface. It means walking the squares, reading the markers, consulting credible sources, meeting the people doing meaningful work and creating original photographs and films that bring each story to life.

This publication will continue to evolve alongside the city it celebrates.

Join the Journey

Readers are invited to subscribe, explore the growing collection of stories and follow Savannah Proper as new chapters unfold across Savannah and the Lowcountry.

Those who appreciate the publication’s photography and visual storytelling can explore Maring Visuals for editorial, hospitality, wedding and commercial photography and filmmaking.

The broader creative work of founder Charles Maring, including fine art, photography, music and speaking, can be discovered at CharlesMaring.com.

Savannah Proper begins with a simple belief: this city deserves to be explored with imagination, documented with care and shared beautifully.

There is much more to discover.

The Savannah Proper Editorial Team