March Wedding/ Clemson Wedding Photographer

Someone's got a hold of my heart 

Someone's got a hold of my heart 

Someone's got a hold of my heart 

You- Yeah, you got a hold of my heart

~Bob Dylan

More beautiful photos from Mary & Judson's impromptu wedding to come. It was a wonderful/crazy weekend!

Announcing Best Gal Photography

"Every new beginning comes from some another beginning's end."

~Seneca

Check it out! (I can't figure out how to change the underlining, boo!)

www.bestgalphotography.com

I couldn't possibly maintain Sarah B. Photography as, well, my name isn't Sarah B. anymore. :) After much thought and prayer (believe me, lots of it), we have renamed SB Photo, Best Gal Photography! For those who are close friends, you know my sweet (now) husband asked me if he could call me his best gal when we decided to start dating. :) Sweet huh?

So since I will always be his best gal (*sigh*) I figured it was a safe bet for our business name. :)

Enjoy some beautiful shots of some sweet kids!

oh yes we did!

"always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question."

~e.e. cummings

"I do!"

(more, oh so much more to come) :)

So many photos, so little time!

Though I have not been posting lately here on this blog, I have been very busy with various photography projects such as these. Here we have families, newly engaged lovies, sweet children, nature, self-portraits, my sweet Mima-enjoy the diversity! I have been preoccupied....

...because I have been doing this! Only 17 more days to go! :)

Kenny & Bethany= Married!

So weddings are an amazing thing.

As an almost giddy newlywed myself, my sweet beau & I have spent some time looking at the historical, practical and spiritual significance of marriage. It sounds more didactic than it is, really we just are reading everything we can about marriage!! :) The beauty of a wedding ceremony is, in my humble opinion, the story that is being told on multiple levels. There is the story of a family that raised a child to be an adult to love another for a lifetime. There is the story of two lovers that were knit together over the length of a courtship. There is the story of a community coming around new life and blessing it with prayers, love, and joy.

And then there is The Story.

The one that is from the dawn of time, that rustles in the Autumn leaves, that calls to the weary heart through dark nights and stormy days, that is heard in the laugh of small innocent babes. It is the Story of the Great Lover calling to us, His Great One True Love! It is amazing and overwhelming and too much for the small human heart to handle. So, in His Wisdom, He has made the most beautiful of metaphors, marriage, to give us a glimpse into His deep love for us!

I love weddings.

I especially love weddings of people I love! I ESPECIALLY love having been a witness to how God the Father, the Great Lover of the Soul, wrote their personal human love story with such a loving, steady Hand.

So enjoy Kenny and Bethany, my dear dear friends who are now forever family to one another. As I was in the wedding (M.O.H.!!) I couldn't photograph it. However, I snuck in some shots when I had the chance. Enjoy. Their love is precious, strong and inspiring! I love you guys!

Here is my pre-post quote. It is long, like my personal commentary. Long but worth it. :)

Because soon will come the Celebration Wedding

and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.

Soon will come the Celebration Wedding

and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.

The trumpeter is taking a breath

The guests are taking their seats.

The Bride is putting on a veil.

The Father is making last-minute preparations.

There's Thousands Times Ten Thousand

angels waiting in holy expectation.

The readied groom is readied.

Soon will come the Celebration Wedding

If you are hurting, your hurt will cease.

If you are restless, you will find peace.

If you are empty, You will be filled.

All of these doubts, they'll be stilled.

If life for you is just to trying, Your tears will be dissipate.

There won't be anymore crying.

If the only thing you know is shame, you will be cleansed

and never again feel the same.

If you can't see straight.

foucus.

persevere.

And wait...

Soon will come the Celebration Wedding

and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.

~Bradley Hathaway

I love these people. Love. Sigh*. :)

"Yay happily married best friend! Oh, what a LOVELY Maid of Honor you had! Wow! Lucky girl!" :)

Ooooooh!

Yay yay yay!!! More amazing beautiful lovingness to come!!!

~Best Gal

Photos courtesy of ikphoto:)

the day she said "YES!" by: bryan m.

(Tues. September 1, 2009)

Tuesday night is date night. Sarah and I were supposed to go running, then enjoy one of her amazing home-cooked meals. In a burst of spontaneity, I postponed these activities announcing that I now knew how to dedicate our little altar to The Lord we had fashioned (out of uncut stones) in a spot down along the little creek. Said venue being our place to sit, talk, pray, emote, love factory, relax . . . After a recent discussion with Sarah’s Mima, I had come to find the perfect Hebrew phrase needed to dedicate our prayer space.

Remember that time described in Genesis 22, where G-d asks Abraham to sacrifice his son? After, perhaps the longest hike in recorded history, G-d faithfully provides a ram and Abraham names the altar they had built ‘The Lord will provide’ (Yahweh yeeray).

Under this guise, I was able to place all the elements necessary for this moment while retaining the element of surprise. Citronella candles to ward off pesky insects, prayer incense to enhance the spiritual atmosphere, a Bible to present G-d’s Word on the matter at hand. Nervously, I laid out three pictures of Sarah and I from our dating past, each with one of the Hebrew words for love ‘raya’, ‘ahava’, and ‘dod’.

I explained that we have much to be thankful for from our heavenly Father. The Lord has provided, is providing, and will continue to provide. I explained the three Hebrew words for love and how each of them apply in our relationship. I said much of what I wanted to tell her, forgot the rest, then blurted “I just really want to marry you.”. Sarah’s encouraging reply, “Yeah, I know”, showed a bit of misunderstanding. Emphatically, I reinforced “I mean, I would like you to be my wife!”. Shock! Surprise! “Ohh, you mean now? We are doing this now? Yes, yes!”. Indeed, and here we go!

While still a bit baffled, I gave her the re-purposed canister bearing tokens of my love. She fell backwards, enjoying the moment, rolled around a little. I helped her up and explained my gift. As recorded in Genesis 24, Abraham sends a servant out to find Isaac a wife. After some doubt, deliberation, and prayer, The Lord again provides and the servant gives Rebekah a nose ring and two bracelets. Sarah graciously received handmade nose rings and a bracelet. We prayed. I reiterated my love and promised to serve her while washing her little feet in that little creek.

Delight yourself in The Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4 is true.)