sarakristen photography

Andrea & Dallas: Christmas Portraits

2012-01-17T17:39:00.001-05:00

These are long overdue - taken back at the end of November. We had a great little photo shoot at the park, good thing Dallas didn't try to jump in the pond!

Tessa & Marshal

2011-10-28T14:47:00.004-04:00

After meeting with Tessa and getting the "low down" on how they were planning their wedding, I knew this was going to be a great day. Talk about details! I wish I could post a hundred pictures here on my blog, there were just so many wonderful things that came together to make for an amazing day: Vintage books, goodie bags for the kids, horseshoes, top hats & big red lips! So here are some of my favorites from the day!

Little Haley, only 5 days old!

2011-10-20T23:00:00.000-04:00

Isn't she adorable!!! I have never seen a newborn hold her head up like this before, she was totally working it for the camera! We were so excited to welcome Haley into the world, and I am so happy for Matt & Heather, congratulations again!!

Tessa & Mark

2011-06-02T15:18:00.025-04:00

Meet Tessa and Mark, a super-fun couple getting married this fall. these two were naturals; did an awesome job and looked great! who would have thought they've barely been in front of a camera before :)

This shoot was bittersweet for me - it was the last one for me this summer since I'm now on maternity leave. Will definitely miss being behind the camera, but having a baby bump makes it difficult to get around during a shoot. Things like getting on the ground for the shot, climbing fences, and all the other fun stuff I get to do as a photographer will just have to wait till this fall!

Meet the Gates!

2011-06-02T14:36:00.000-04:00

I think anyone that knows them would agree, Rachel and Lee are wonderful. I've known them for a few years now, but this was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Lee's family. We took these photos down by the River Park in Chattanooga, it's a really great area and makes me wish we lived a little closer.

This dock was definitely moving while we were out on it - glad I had a firm grip on my camera!

Cohutta/Big Frog Mountain Bike Race

2011-05-03T12:56:00.000-04:00

To view more photos go to sarakristen.smugmug.com !

Senior Portraits | Crystal

2010-12-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

Talk about Spunk! I really enjoyed the enthusiasm Crystal brought to this portrait shoot. We had such a beautiful background at the Kilpatrick Springs Farm in Sweetwater Tn, but there were the sharpest little nettles scattered everywhere! I mean these were seriously dangerous. My hand was throbbing hours afterward from touching just one of them. But Crystal braved the ground and looked absolutely beautiful for the photos!

Senior Portraits: Taylor

2010-11-15T11:45:00.000-05:00

We headed out to Guthrie Pumpkin Farms for Taylor's senior photos. Love the location and the Guthries are really wonderful people!
Taylor is a highschool Cheerleader and all smiles, it was really a fun shoot. She looked great, and was able to keep from being distracted at the pumpkin farm by all the kids running around, shouting & laughing behind me! Man I wish I had some audio from all the commotion : )

Portrait Special Going on Now Through December 5th!

2010-10-01T14:22:00.000-04:00

shoot me a message to get additional information or to book your portrait session!
sarakristen@gmail.com

Connecticut Portraits: Rowlands Family

2010-10-01T13:56:00.004-04:00

The day after steve and I arrived in Connecticut, I met up with the Rowlands for their portrait session. I had a great time - this place was just beautiful - I have plans to return the next time we're in the area and hike some of the trails. This was a super cool covered bridge in connecticut, located at the Southford Falls State Park. Props to the Rowlands for choosing such a great place for a photo-shoot! Why? Because back handsprings are fun! that's why, and if anyone was wondering how it's done, you now have a step-by-step way to practice

Outer Banks, NC Wedding - Kip & Jeremy

2010-09-20T15:33:00.003-04:00

I think everyone was relieved when Hurricane Earl decided to stay away from the beaches in North Carolina. Kip and Jeremy's wedding date was just three days after the storm passed by. You would have never know it though, the weather was perfect for their special day! I'm still working on the photos, but wanted to post several because I just couldn't wait : ) Congratulations Kip and Jeremy!

Athens Portrait Shoot : Erica

2010-09-12T21:55:00.002-04:00

I really had a great time doing this photo shoot! Funny thing was, we ran into another photographer doing traditional engagement portraits at one of the same locations- I don't thing they approved of the tattoos : )

Mantooth Wedding

2010-07-26T15:28:00.001-04:00

Kip & Jeremy

2010-06-28T13:55:00.002-04:00

I had so much fun making these photos! Kip and Jeremy are such an awesome couple and were willing to walk all around downtown chattanooga to get these different shots. We had such a great time and afterwards went to mellow mushroom for some yummy pizza!

Rachel & Matt: E-Session

2010-04-12T12:21:00.003-04:00

I loved shooting these guys (with a camera, that is!) This was such a beautiful day, and working with an awesome couple was just the icing on the cake. Not to mention the sweet vintage bus we found in this alley. Sometimes the best photos come from "stumbling" on some cool area of town, or exploring new backroads in the country.

December Portrait

2009-12-30T12:20:00.001-05:00

This is a sample from a photo shoot earlier this month. It was taken in a little back alley in downtown cleveland,TN. Thanks Kim & Tim for your patience while I tried some new techniques - you two are awesome!

Casavant Family

2009-12-07T13:39:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe it's been two years since I photographed their wedding, but now Hannah & Abner have a beautiful 1 year old girl, Eleni. It was so wonderful to see them again-and it was an absolutely beautiful afternoon for their photoshoot. Fall is my favorite season for outdoor photography!

The Barton Sisters

2009-11-11T14:43:00.003-05:00

These are my five favorites from Holly and Cayci Barton's photo-shoot. It was cloudy and dreary all day, but right before we started shooting the sun came out and made for a wonderful session! If you want to see more from this session, I've just posted some on my facebook page.

Nick & Ashley

2009-07-24T10:24:00.005-04:00

Black Bear Cove, Tennessee These two had such an amazing wedding. I cried. Maybe it was because I was just feeling emotional, but it was such a beautiful, intentional, and personal wedding. I love you both Ashley and Nick!

Living Word Church

2009-07-24T10:12:00.002-04:00

Our church has moved into a recently closed bookstore building. The building is huge and there is so much space for growth and new ministry. I'm praying for vision as we continue to pursue God and His plans for The Church.

Crystal & Allen

2009-06-15T16:23:00.002-04:00

With their wedding only two weeks away, Crystal and Allen decided it's never too late to get engagement pictures!

Timing

2009-05-13T15:46:00.001-04:00

09_SBP732.jpg, originally uploaded by sarakristen.

I took this shot (these shots) in a timed sequence near the cliffs in Charleston. You've got to love Photoshop!

E-Session

2009-05-13T14:00:00.003-04:00

09_SBP671.jpg, originally uploaded by sarakristen.

A few weeks ago, I shot an e-session for Anna & Danny. We had such a great time, the weather was wonderful, only a bit on the warm side. We tried to stay out of the sun for the most part. They're tying the knot this coming august and I couldn't be happier for them!

Dancing on The Fourth

2009-05-13T13:47:00.003-04:00

Canon 30D (ISO 125, 2.50, f/3.2, 28-70@36mm) An extended exposure of our sparklers for the Fourth of July.

Cara & Amos

2009-02-05T12:02:00.006-05:00

Theirs was a wedding unlike any other. Truly unique. Cara, Amos, and their wonderful families came together to make this day so very special. I loved every minute of it! For more pictures, click on the link to the right for a slideshow.

Family Portrait

2008-12-08T17:47:00.002-05:00

This shot is of the wonderful Curvin family. They were quite the troopers, let me just say. They came out to the family farm so we could get some outdoor portraits. Despite the cold, it was a fun little portrait session!

At long Last

2008-12-03T16:37:00.010-05:00

I'm finally getting around to it. posting our wedding photos. I'm still in awe of the ways things came together for the wedding. I owe a huge thanks for these amazing photos to Charlotte McPherson and Amy Renzulli

These are just a few, but perhaps more will follow.

Kimberly & Timothy's Whitestone Wedding

2008-11-06T10:18:00.003-05:00

Here's another shot of Kim and Tim. I've been going through all of their wedding pictures and have trouble just picking a few to post up here in the blog. So there may be more... we'll see.

Summer Weddings

2008-11-01T15:36:00.002-04:00

Not having uploaded any pictures in a while, I have lots to catch up on, so here are two pictures from July. Kimberly and Tim's wedding was at Whitestone Inn in Tennessee - an absolutely beautiful setting for a wedding.

Kim & Tim's Engagement Pictures

2008-05-12T22:46:00.004-04:00

" I went down to Tennessee to shoot these engagement pictures for Kim & Tim. These two were my favorites.

Something Old, Something New...

2008-05-08T22:45:00.010-04:00

These are photos from Steve's most recent project in a stately, historic home in Darien, Connecticut. Combining contemporary lines with a touch of 1875 rustic charm seems to work rather well in this beautiful, complete master bathroom/walk-in closet addition. Click to enlarge this montage of elements first seen upon entry. Here is a wide angle view of the bathroom ( it's three individual shots overlapped to get this effect) Looking out from the spacious, beautifully tiled, glass-fronted shower.

Coffee & Old Bookstores

2008-04-14T14:25:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I can't believe how quickly time seems to fly.

It's during those times, when we are sitting still drinking coffee or browsing through Whitlock's book barn when reflection becomes a necessary element of living. It's as if those times allow our spirit to breath.

"The Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in the human beings here and now... (It) is the deity of God who continues to apply the power of atonement by the cross of Christ in our lives." - Oswald Chambers

warm weather and love is in the air!

2008-03-26T12:08:00.009-04:00

Last week Steve and I spent some time outdoors at Silver Sands and enjoyed the sunshine. I love the endless marshes of sea-grass, it's quite beautiful really.

"Silver Sands" beach hmm? I'm not sure how it got it's name

Sea-grass - a most excellent maze of fun!

With the sun's warmth, the spring air livens our spirits

as we walk across the shore hand in hand.

Sample Wedding Photos

2008-03-20T11:48:00.009-04:00

Aquarium Adventures

2008-03-11T19:28:00.004-04:00

Pictures from the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk

good ol' bullfrogs

Baby jellyfish - less than 1 cm across!

time on the shoreline

2008-03-07T12:16:00.003-05:00

The long island sound fishing pier on the beach in Fairfield.

What do you see?

Catch up

2008-02-27T23:29:00.008-05:00

I have neglected to post this past week so there quite a few photos in his entry.

Earlier this week I saw New England like I had never seen it before.

Believe it or not, I was actually driving around in this weather!

Connecticut really is beautiful after a good snow storm.

The beautiful Hannah Rose on her first birthday

Previously taken, before winter really set in : )

These are the stairs of the abandoned fire-tower back in Tennessee.

Just a little something from back home.

Reflections

2008-02-15T23:20:00.006-05:00

While exploring my northernly surroundings today, I stumbled on a beautifully quaint area of connecticut. A small walking trail afforded me the delight of a brisk photographic interlude.

It's ironic how sometimes the sky can seem even more vibrant in a reflection... It got me to thinking; how much more are we, as reflections of our Heavenly Father, meant to display His color to the world around us? That's the kind of life I want to live, reflecting the love of the Father, day and night, rain or shine.

Family

2008-02-05T17:46:00.000-05:00

Frank, Kadene, and their beautiful daughter Allanah

Family. It's such a wonderful and necessary element in life. I'm realizing how much I love mine, and just how blessed I am to have them around. With the move up north tomorrow, everyone's saying goodbye and expressing appreciation. I am excited about this new step in life and expectant that God's hand is at work in this new season.

A beautiful Thing

2008-01-30T18:43:00.000-05:00

It's a beautiful thing, not just to see the world around us, but to know what's behind it and to experience the love of our maker in our everyday lives.

2008-01-29T16:42:00.000-05:00

"Engagement pictures" not quite... at the time none of them were engaged, but now...

Kim ( my sister) & Tim got engaged the beginning of January and plan to be married on July 25th.

Rachel and Kevin (not engaged yet) were wonderfully fun and casual to work with.

Laura & Tony got engaged around thanksgiving and plan to be married on June 23rd

2008-01-25T11:42:00.000-05:00

A great photographer told me how rare it is to see a black/ white flower photograph like this one, for where is a flower's beauty if not in its color? Can the intricacies alone not be marvelous?

I say the beauty to be found is in the way we see it, as with life. We find beauty sometimes in the most unlikely of places.

Beginnings

2008-01-23T20:06:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure where it began. Art has been a part of my childhood much like crayons and glue. But now I've outgrown the play-dough and markers, and photography instead has filled their place. Art has taken different forms in my life thus far, from painting and sculpting to computer and graphic design. However none of these appealed to me as highly as photography.

Maybe it's because I am capturing reality, unfettered and unedited through the camera's lens. It trains my eye to see beauty in everything, breaking down my negativity and skepticism. Maybe it's because rather than sitting behind a computer screen or paint canvas, the world is my unending canvas and people my focus. Whatever the case, and whatever the future holds, unless my God commands me otherwise, I'll keep carrying my camera at my side.