On this episode of Coffee with Cool People, host Chip Munn sits down with Donald Hovis, a photographer whose career and calling extend far beyond the camera. While Donald is the owner of Tides Eye Photography and an award-winning real estate photographer on the Grand Strand, his story is equally defined by a lifelong commitment to service and giving back to the community.
Donald grew up in Myrtle Beach after moving to the area as a child, developing an early love for photography through school yearbooks and his first professional job at Dixie Stampede, now Pirates Voyage. By the age of 18, he was already leading the photography department there, managing staff, equipment, and sales. Yet, despite early success, Donald chose to step away from that path and pursue a hospitality degree at Johnson & Wales University. That decision led to more than 16 years in hotel management across Virginia and South Carolina, before a career pivot in 2018 brought him back to photography full-time.
Today, Donald specializes almost exclusively in real estate photography, capturing homes, rentals, and commercial spaces with a sharp eye and a lighthearted philosophy. He jokes that his favorite subjects are “things that don’t talk back,” but his work reflects deep professionalism and pride in helping clients present their properties at their very best. Photography is his livelihood, but service is his purpose.
That passion for service began at home. Raised in a family deeply involved in hospitality and community giving, Donald learned early that receiving often meant first giving to someone else. Influenced especially by his stepmother’s work in special education, Donald found his calling in organizations that support individuals with special needs. In 2008, a single volunteer event introduced him to the Grand Strand Miracle League, a sports organization designed to give children with disabilities the chance to play and compete. That first experience turned into an 18-year commitment.
Donald has served in nearly every capacity with the Miracle League, including board leadership roles, but today he is best known as the on-field announcer, bringing music, energy, and excitement to every game. What began as a baseball-focused program has grown into year-round opportunities that now include soccer, golf, cheer, dance, basketball, bowling, swimming, and more, meeting a growing and deeply needed demand in the community.
His service didn’t stop there. Through the Miracle League, Donald became involved with Special Olympics, where he now competes as a unified golf partner alongside his close friend Jacob. Together, they have won medals at the state level, competed nationally, and will soon represent South Carolina at the USA Games in Minneapolis, an experience Donald describes as life-changing.
Donald’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with a simple “yes.” Through photography, volunteerism, and unwavering commitment, he continues to prove that community impact isn’t a side project, it’s a way of life.
