Now at… Lauren Carnes Photography

Hi everyone!

So glad you’ve found me here on Mason Jar Moments! I actually recently have launched my wedding, lifestyle and editorial photography business, so if you’d like to follow along on all things I’m up to, you can find me at Lauren Carnes Photography! 

I’ll be blogging there and would love to serve you if you need anything photography related! Plus, I’m always up for great collaborations, so if anyone needs anything, feel free to contact me. Can’t wait to hear from you and see you over there!

This is it!

Today marks the first day of my last full month in Athens, and we’re making every effort to knock off items on our bucket list and live up life in the Classic City. I sure am going to miss it here.

Any suggestions of what we must do/eat/see that we might not have yet? They are so very welcome!

Here’s a photo from a recent item checked off the list: World Famous. Shortly after this photo I may or may not have gone gah-gah over their Chicken & Waffle Club. Trust me… it’s worth a splurge.

Kaitlyn & Patrick Are Engaged | Roswell, GA Engagement Photographer

Imagine an engagement session full of laughter and easy-going personalities, and you’ve got this one. Kaitlyn and Patrick were such a joy to be around as we explored downtown Roswell and the Roswell Mill. At one point, we even had Kaitlyn hiking in her heels (see how cute they are below!). Without further ado, I’m so excited to share a few of my favorite photos from our evening.

Sanders’ 1st Birthday Party | Atlanta, GA Event Photographer

Today we celebrated the happiest 1-year-old’s safari-themed birthday party. About a year ago, before this little bundle of laughter came into the world, we celebrated a safari-themed baby shower in his honor! This time around bags of mix & match animal crackers to-go and delicious cupcakes were quite the hit. Sanders, we wish you many more years of smiles!

“Hmm… what is this thing?”

“Oh yea, I could get used to this!”

“That was pretty darn good!”

Whitney & Donnie Are Engaged | Alpharetta, GA Engagement Photographer

On Sunday I had the chance to photograph a long-time dear friend of mine and her fiancé. Whitney is the kindest soul in the world, and Donnie reflects that perfectly. I’ve known both of them for years, as we grew up in middle school and high school together. They simply adore each other. From the minute our time together began until the very end, they were completely focused on each other and the love they shared. Now I’m thrilled to share a few of my favorite photos from our session with you.

Whitney and Donnie, I can’t wait to celebrate your wedding in August and to see all that is in store for you two! Thankful our cities are close to each other!

Hannah & Connor Are Engaged | Athens, GA Engagement Photographer

If there are 2 things I’m sure of this month, they are as follows:

1. This weather is plain crazy. Yesterday was in the mid-6os and tomorrow we’re supposed to get snow! What?
2. On the most incredible weekend of the year so far, I got to photograph an engagement session for the sweetest of couples: Hannah & Connor

Hannah & Connor have been dating for 7 years and have been through lots of seasons of life together! Hannah currently lives in Nashville and Connor is finishing out his time in Athens after graduating from UGA and ending an awesome football season playing for the Georgia Bulldawgs. When Hannah reached out to me to see if we could get together for engagement photos while we was visiting, I was thrilled! They were so relaxed and such fun! With a wedding later this year at the UGA Chapel, it only seemed fitting to begin our session on the outskirts of North Campus and in Downtown Athens.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day:

Hannah & Connor, you two are such a joy! Thanks for letting me be a part of your engagement!

Happy New Year!

Let’s be honest, this year’s Christmas card went out so late it was almost humorous. It was just a busy season, truth be told. And while we were vacationing in NYC, Christmas cards were the last things on my mind. I was too busy searching for the next restaurant we’d eat at or store where we’d window shop. I convinced myself that since they were belated it was like a special “post-Christmas-surprise” for everyone who thought snail mail wouldn’t be showing up for about 11 more months.

However, I did find a way to hopefully make up for my slacking in the Christmas card department. Instead, I created simple cards for both families this year to mail out on time… for the New Year. And seriously y’all, it’s a New Year’s miracle that we got a family photo on both sides! Check them out:

So with those printed and heading in the mail: Happy New Year from our families to yours! God has immeasurably more than we can imagine in store for 2014!

 

Amber & Bo are Married | Athens, GA Wedding Photography

2013 was an incredible year of growth for me and my photography, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the people who came into my life and the doors that opened. To close out a great year, I had the chance to photograph Amber & Bo’s beautiful winter wedding (all rain aside!). Amber & Bo have been together for forever and immediately welcomed me into their relationship with the opportunity to document the biggest day of their lives. Amber & Bo, a heartfelt thanks and congratulations to you two! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for your lives together!

Alexis & Hunter are Engaged

2013 was an incredible year for so many reasons. Some of which were the great opportunities that I had to photograph engagements, family photos, weddings and all of our adventures. I always say that there is something special about being able to take photographs for people… it’s like I’m documenting a piece of history, and often, one of the most special times in peoples’ lives.

Yesterday kicked off 2014’s photography with one of the sweetest couples out there. Alexis & Hunter are friends of mine from college. When I heard of them getting engaged, I couldn’t be more excited. The chance to shoot their engagement photos was just the cherry on top! We got to visit some of their most cherished places in Athens & Watkinsville from their time together at the University of Georgia.

These two are some of the most encouraging, genuine and gracious people out there. Plus, they were total troopers in the freezing cold! It was tough for me to pick my favorites from our session because they are just that precious. But, alas, here is my weak attempt at narrowing them down:

Alexis & Hunter, thank you so much for letting me be a part of this special time in your lives! Can’t wait to see all of the amazing things that are in store for you two!

The Carcioppolo Family: Sneak Peek

This afternoon I had the chance to photograph a sweet family of three – the Carcioppolos! I have known Erin & Frank for quite some time, as they are cousins with the family I babysat for when I was younger. Their sweet girl, Sophia, is 2.5 years old and such a cute one. Here are a few of my favorite photos from our shoot today:

Can’t wait to share more of their shoot!