S. Carter Studios » spring

Jordan and Jen – Sweetheart Session – Portrait, Wedding and Engagement Photographer

sabrena — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:12:30 +0000

Jordan and I used to work together years ago. He was the graphic designer for our publication and adamantly insisted that there should be no photos of people smiling in the publication and really in life in general. It was the cause of great glee when he messaged me all the way from Hawaii because all he wanted was some good pictures of him and his then girlfriend (now wife!) smiling together. So, with a big smile on MY face I spent the afternoon with these love birds trying to explore downtown Lynchburg in a new way!

Wes and Emily – Hilton Head Island South Carolina Destination Wedding Photographer

sabrena — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:51:05 +0000

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of riding 11 hours to the great state of Alabama for Nate and Bekah’s wedding with Emily and Wes. I didn’t really know them well before the ride. It was definitely a situation where I knew we’d either have a great time or be thankful that we didn’t have to share the same ride back. As the Lord would have it, we struck a special relationship that continued for years after! My heart was filled with joy for them as they announced their engagement. Over Chick-fil-A Emily shared details of her wedding with me and invited me to be a part of their intimate destination wedding in Hilton Head South Carolina. It was an absolutely stunning, God honoring event and something I’m so glad that I could be a part of!

You can view the entire gallery of their images here!

It’s funny how traveling for a wedding can bring together people that live in the same city and never get to hang out! This was the case with many guests as well as that good looking married couple in the back Kyle and Kristin of the red suitcase engagement session!

The Mast Family – Lynchburg Family Photographer

sabrena — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:23:42 +0000

Years ago, when S. Carter Studios had barely formed, Stephanie and Joshua asked me to do a session for them. I still distinctly remember being so nervous! Fast forward to Law School bringing them back to Lynchburg and the happy news that they were expecting. We all agreed they needed a last few pictures as just a family of two so we returned to the same place we’d gone on our first session! They have a natural, sweet way around each other and it made my job quite easy!

Stephanie looked fabulous. Seriously, baby William could have come any day when we were taking these pictures!

This one is my favorite.

Then fast forward a few more months and the Masts asked me to take some new photos of their family of three! It was a very cold day and William had his game face on. I think he’s just practicing modeling!

and, just because I think it’s an awesome picture I want to brag on Stephanie for a minute! She took this great photo of her sweet boy!

Hand Picked: Monogram with Floral Accents – Lynchburg Wedding Photographer

sabrena — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:10:26 +0000

We’ve been super busy, as you may have seen on our Facebook fan page, but not too busy to take a little bit of time and share another Hand Picked project with you! I got this idea from a project on my friend Jamie’s site Julia’s Poppies. I LOVE monograms. It’s a little taste I picked up during my time in the South. So, as I was looking to decorate for Spring I came up with this handy little project which I realized would be great for the right wedding too!

Supplies: Monogram letter ($2.50 at ACMoore), ribbon ($1.50 at ACMoore), hot glue gun, one glue stick, recycle fabric (old shirt ruined by a rogue post-it note in this case).

Step 1: Draw two different sized circles on the fabric, these are about an 1.25 in & .75 in. Cut out.

Step 2: Place smaller circles inside larger circles.

Step 3: Pinch together, add glue to desired location on monogram.

Step 4: Place the “point” of the flower into glue, then twist the flower in the glue to desired shape.

Step 5: Cut ribbon to desired length, apply to back of monogram with hot glue.

Step 6: Install! This one lives on our front door and it makes me smile each time I walk in!

John & Kristen – Waynesboro Virginia Engagement Photographer

sabrena — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:22:21 +0000

One of the questions I got most when I was engaged was, “So, who is taking YOUR pictures?” The simple answer was Kristen! Over the process of my engagement & wedding planning Kristen became a friend as well as a trust photographer. Seriously, she rocked our socks off with a soaking wet engagement session. So fast forward two years and her boyfriend John popped the question (on a beach in St. Croix while singing a song he’d written for her, his future wife!) I was more than thrilled to snap a few photos of her and her husband-to-be and now I’m happy to share them with you!

(this one is Josh’s)

Oh, love. How wonderful. I’ll finish it off with a brief story: after the session we attended their couples shower thrown by Kristen’s aunt. It was really sweet. They played a game where they were both answering the same question. The final question was: In one word, describe your sweetheart. His answer: Mine.

Devin & Katelyn – Lynchburg Engagement Photographer

sabrena — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:39:26 +0000

I know it’s been a while since I posted but it’s certainly not because we haven’t been busy. If you like to stay on top of our new content then I would encourage you to become a Facebook Fan, you’ll get a chance to see the latest content first! There are about 8 sessions/weddings on there that have yet to debut here. I know it’s sad but we’re working on it! So, anyway! Let me introduce you to Devin & Katelyn. They are some of the best clients a photographer can dream of. Not only did they really come ready for anything but they trusted me completely and even agreed to a sunrise session! I hadn’t really thought they’d take me up on it when I offered but I am so glad they did. We had a great time wondering around taking beautiful pictures before most people even brush their teeth. We finished our photo date off with breakfast at Market at Main.

Between lots of laughing & comments about hairspray we talked about our families, challenges of married life and what we hoped God would do with our lives. It was like being with old friends! So, please feast your eyes on S. Carter Studios first ever sunrise engagement session! Seriously, leave them some love for being this good looking at 6:30 am.

If you found yourself driving over the overpass into Lynchburg and wondering who those crazy people on the side of the road were taking pictures, well, proudly I’ll answer, it was US. I think they’d agree it was totally worth it.

After a quick outfit change (which was clever to pull off at 7:30 am in Lynchburg) we were back in action at a more relaxed location.

one of my VERY favorites!

Bling, Bling.

We went down by the water and I asked them to just go and have fun, this is what I got in return lol

Take a look at the slideshow for more photos from this awesome session!

Devin & Katelyn – Engagement Session from sabrena deal on Vimeo.

It was such a pleasure to spend time with you guys. Thanks for letting me celebrate with you!

Emily Sharp Cooper – Lynchburg Bridal Photographer

sabrena — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:35:16 +0000

It’s a little ironic that Emily, Sharon and I were dodging raindrops on the day that we took these bridal portraits and that there were plenty of rain drops to be found on her wedding day as well. She was such a lovely bride & I think it could be argued had one of the most beautiful and unique weddings between crazy flash flooding, steady drizzle and one of the most gorgeous sunsets Virginia has to offer. Well, enough about her wedding, here some of her lovely bridal portraits that we kept unwraps until now!

She looks just like a princess waiting for a prince…

just to tease you a little, here’s a preview from her wedding! Unless you’re a Facebook Fan, in which case you would have seen this photo before they’d even left for their honeymoon!

Brenton & Aimee – Lynchburg Engagement Photographer

sabrena — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:53:55 +0000

I’ve known Brenton for a while, we marathoned it in his little truck on the way back from Nate and Bekah’s wedding! That was a long but fun trip, plus it ended with fireworks, literally, so how can you beat that. After that I’d see him around, always with this bubbly young lady who I anticipated, after a while, would end up being Mrs. Brenton some time in the future. They got engaged earlier this year and when we started scheduling our engagement mini sessions I was hoping it would work out for us to celebrate their engagement together! Everyone should have engagement photos, or at least that’s my opinion. It was a pleasure to hang out with them on just one of a few weekends before they tie the knot! As it turns out my wonderful intern (though sadly not after tomorrow) Jenny is taking their wedding photos so you can keep your eye on her site for some pictures after they say I do!

He makes her laugh, I believe this was the story about discussing a mammal of the donkey family in 4th grade. I had to laugh at that one too.

Just 5 days until they tie the knot! Best of luck to you both!

Solomon and Angi – Lynchburg Engagement Photographer

sabrena — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:21:59 +0000

Angi grew up in Poplar Bluff, Missouri with her mom, step-dad, three brothers, a sister, and a dog. Solomon grew up in Nonthaburi, Thailand with his parents, two brothers and a sister. How in the world would these two end up meeting, becoming friends, dating, falling in love and finally preparing to be married? Well, Liberty University played a key roll as did soccer, ministry, thai food, thai language & Global English school. She helped him through heart break and he helped her through a broken toe. The rest is three and a half years of history! Angi and I became true and wonderful friends while she spent the year in Thailand. She was there the day I got engaged and I was so thankful to be there when Solomon popped the question to her! I love how he makes her laugh, how he takes such great care of her & really anyone else who happens to be around him. I love how she makes him feel special, loved and important and how she cooks thanksgiving dinner for him, even in April. They are a pretty good pair if I do say so myself, so Josh and I couldn’t help but go all out on their engagement photos! This is a long one so buckle up, but enjoy photos from their 3 part engagement session!

Part 1: Cute & casual

Part 2: Ode to soccer roots

Part 3: Cuddly & Cozy Picnic…inspired by one of their favorite and frequent dates

a plate full of this month’s DIY, button flowers!

We waited a long time for this bling!

Can’t you just imagine how great looking their kids are going to be? Seriously.

That’s all for now but it’s surely not the last you’ll see of these two as we prepare for their end of July wedding!

Hand Picked: Spring Centerpiece Decor – Lynchburg Wedding Photographer

sabrena — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:48:20 +0000

I did this one a while ago but hadn’t had much time to post about it! This was part of the decorations for Angi’s bridal shower (a post to come on that soon).

Ingredients:

Fabric – A sheet found at Goodwill for $2.00

Permanent Double Sided Tape – Kroger – $3.75 , Scissors, Pencil

Tin Cans – Collected from dinner preperations over the span of a few weeks

Total: $5.75 (for up to 20 cans) Time: About 10 minutes per can, faster as you get used to it

Step 1: Select which part of the fabric you’d like to show on the can and mark off the width of the can on the opposite side of the sheet, in pencil. [Tip: I started with the side of the sheet which already had a hem to save time later]. When measuring make two lines, one is the edge of the can and then create a line about 3/4″ further than that line where you’ll cut the fabric. Roll the can up to determine where the end of the material should be to cover it and add 3/4″ on both sides of that measurement as well.

Step 2: Cut the pattern out & place can on top. Mark the bottom and top edges of the can on the border where you’ll create a fold.

Step 3: Place double sided top along the inside edge of your new line. I used 1″ strips separated by about 1/2″. Then fold the extra material over the top of the tape.

Step 4: Repeat as needed on all sides. so that fabric will not fray around the edges.

Step 5: Use double sided tape to apply one edge directly to the can.

Step 6: Use double sided tape to apply the other end which competes the can.

I created nine of these to use at Angi’s bridal shower. We put water in them and lit floating candles on top. Since then I’ve put them around my house with little daisies for spring decorations. We plan to use them as wedding decorations as well!