S. Carter Studios

One thing I truly love about weddings is the food, namely the Cake! My sweet tooth cannot be denied and on days when I do weddings I don’t have to think about what I eat because I need all the fuel I can get. So I’m happy today to get to share about my great friend Jim’s business, Jimmy Cakes! Jim whom you’ve seen before, with his beautiful wife Alisha, is one of the most creative people that I know! I have benefited from his creativity several times and encourage you to do the same! He makes homemade cakes, cupcakes and pies. It’s 100% from scratch and he’ll even go organic for you. Recently he let me help by letting me make the icing for some cupcakes! INCREDIBLE. I think anyone who has had a Jimmy Cake would be happy to attest to the sheer tastiness involved in the experience! I encourage you to follow his blog so you can see even more wonderful creations and read a little about the process he goes through to make them!  Now, please be impressed by photos of some of his work. Be sure to read through the bottom if you’re a Lynchburg resident because there may be a special treat in store for you if you comment on this post!

Jimmy Cakes will provide goodies for all types of events: birthdays, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, rehearsal dinners, holidays and even if you just really want some incredible cake.

A Potterific cupcake cake.

This cake was made for my Josh’s 25th birthday! Go Dawgs!

Homemade peppermint mocha cupcakes!

The texas cake from Stephen & Leslie’s wedding!

The newest and my personal fav: The Grenadenhaver cake (happy-you-had-a-baby-it’s-a-boy-and-also-your-birthday-cake)

This is just the tip of the flavorful iceberg my friends! I love to hook my friends up so it’s time for a little give-a-way. Please comment on this post explaining which of these cakes is your favorite and why. Your name will be entered into a drawing for a dozen free Jimmy Cake cupcakes of the flavor of your choice! You must be a Lynchburg local to be eligible to win this giveaway! The winner will be announced with next Thursday’s take a look post!

When Tim and Samantha contacted me about their session which we scheduled for the beginning of December I knew the perfect place to take them. They mentioned loving the outdoors and animals and really wanted greenery incorporated in their photos. If you’re familiar with my blog you know this isn’t generally a problem, however, at the beginning of December it was a no brainer. The only place with greenery that I could think of was Green Needles Christmas Tree Farm. It’s owned by some very wonderful friends of ours who were more than happy to host us as we tromped around in the freezing cold weather. Tim and Samantha were flexible and excited, it helps that they are very much in love and comfortable around each other. Enjoy some shots from their engagement session as they look forward to their wedding tihs May!

I couldn’t get over how natural and simply beautiful Samantha was. She wasn’t aware of it but I think Tim is!

Evidence that Tim was…

It’s very clear that she’s fond of him too.

What a special opportunity I had to take family portraits for my friends the Beverlys! Ron, Leslie, John Chase and Noah were really fun. I will admit that Leslie’s parents being there to dance around behind me in order to keep the boys’ attention made things twice as fun! It was wonderful to meet Mr. and Mrs. Lanata who we have been praying for over the past few years. Kelly, Leslie’s sister, was there as well. What a family experience. I loved it!

I know I already previewed their wedding but the photos were so great it deserved another post! Zach and Crystal have known each other since high school. It wasn’t love at first sight, if I remember their ironic story correctly, but it developed into a desire to share their lives together. Their engagement shoot in September was very memorable! Their wedding day was great and filled with good old fashioned New York accents! I was so happy to hear Crystal’s mom get excited about the pictures! I think her compliments meant more to me than any other in S. Carter Studios history. I had such a good time working with them in documenting this once in a lifetime occasion. Thanks guys!

She was just absolutely classic!

A really fun group of guys!

I LOVE how her sister can’t help but look at her!

These girls were so cute.

Always one of my favorite shots, leaving the ceremony!

Here is to your happily ever after!

Some of you that know me, know that not much can stop me in my tracks like volleyball can. I played a few years in middle and high school and then several semesters of Intramural Volleyball during my time as an undergrad. I LOVE volleyball. Last year, my dad and I took on a special project together to honor the players of the Strasburg High School Volleyball team who went an incredible 28-0, winning a State championship. We had a great time and met some really wonderful people.

This weekend dad, Josh, Rebecca and I went to watch one of the girls from that team play at Bridgewater. I can’t remember the last time I watched such great, hard fought volleyball. Way to play Katie Baker! The Eagles lost but not without fighting tooth and nail to destroy the undefeated Washington and Lee Generals.

PS. These were taken with my brand new camera and lens! Couldn’t be happier.

I’m sure you have been around people who just immediately brighten your day. The Parks are like that for me! They are headed to the mission field and asked me to take some pictures for their prayer cards. We had so much fun!