Hello! I’m Lauren, but you can call me LB! :-)

About Me

My “Why”

Photography is a saturated market. You can pick up a rock and find three photographers under it. Who you choose to tell your story matters. Why should you choose me?

Robert Frost wrote, “Nothing gold can stay.” The days are long but the years are so short. Photography is so important. Times, things, and people all pass. Photos and video are our best shot at keeping a shadow of them. That’s the gravity of my job. I’m always smiling when I’m working, but I never forget why I’m working, that heavier reason. I never forget for a moment, and I never forget how important these photos will be some day to someone. I feel it in my bones, and that’s my lens.

Aside from that, I’m a pretty lighthearted person. Evidence below:

Here is a photo of me wearing my favorite shirt. ☝️

My favorite joke is, "If you leave hydrogen alone for long enough, it starts to wonder why it's here."

I’m a complete gardening nerd. I live on a piece of property the size of a postage stamp and I’ve literally run out of room for new plants. Yet, for some reason, I continue to visit plant nurseries and come home with new babies. Whooooops.

I have a BA and MA from NYU, but not in photography or literally anything useful to running a business because life is funny like that. Shoutout to Middlesex County College for all my business education. 😂

I draw most of my guidance about living life from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius' book, "Meditations."

I am deeeeeep into the world of neurodivergency. I love when I am among my people, but for any normies reading this, don’t worry, we can have an amazing time together too. :-* 🫶

I started with weddings in 2013. I began by focusing on what’s called “second shooting.” This is when the photographer the clients hired brings a second photographer along for the day. The second photographer is there to help out with wedding day coverage however they can. This may mean getting candid shots while the main photographer is focused on posed shots, getting a wide angle of a shot while the main photographer gets a close up, or simply being a second set of camera and brains during a hectic day.

After a few years of that, I started to work as the main photographer at some smaller weddings. That continued on and the weddings started to get less and less small. Now here we are!

I have a particular way of working when it comes to traditional wedding days. Weddings tend to be stressful for all involved parties and I have a set up that helps me relax so that I can focus on the couple.

First, a strong second shooter. I bring someone who has a ton of second shooting experience and who I work with regularly. I know I can depend on them to get clear, solid shots and to do what I need them to do when I ask, and who knows what to do when I don’t have time to ask.

The next key to a low stress shooting day is an amazing assistant. My brain is buzzing all day long during weddings, and my trusted assistant is there to check in with me and make sure I’m getting what I need, whether it is water or a snack, or that I remembered to take a specific photo the client asked about. Sometimes it just helps to have someone say things out loud. They have my shot list (don’t judge me—I print it out and everything, and ask them to physically cross things off with a pen because technology can be a double edged sword) and they check in with me through the day to make sure nothing is missed.

I love weddings so much. It is a day that combines some of my favorite types of photography. Shooting details to set the scene, candid moments and interactions, the emotion that happens during a First Look, crafting portraits with the couple that both show them off and create genuine moments for them to remember, the gravity of the ceremony itself, the tender first dances and sincere toasts from loved ones, and then the release of the reception—everyone letting loose and having a time. It’s all so rich with life and it’s a joy and honor to capture it.

I once asked a client how she found me. I loved her answer. She began her search for a documentary-style family photographer because she wanted portraits like what the New York Times would use for an article about high gas prices. I immediately understood the vibe she was going for and had a good chuckle about it.

Traditional family photography captures what your family looks like. My style of family photography captures what your family feels like. 

The shoots I do are very relaxed. We'll take a couple of quick posed shots of everyone, and then we will switch gears to documentary-style photography. During one of my favorite sessions, the dad made dinner while mom held the new baby, who snoozed on her shoulder. It was quiet and intimate and perfect. I want you to be able to vividly remember everything when you look back on these photos years down the road.

You may notice I show a lot of black and white photos. I think carefully before deciding whether to offer a photo in color or not. For me, if color clearly adds to the story I’m trying to tell in the photo, then it stays in color. However, if I really want the viewer to see the human emotion and expression in a shot, then black and white is a far more compelling choice. It gives the brain less to digest and makes it easier to see what I want it to see.

For me, the “imperfections” of life are what make a photo rich. While I fully understand the importance of that “one good shot” with everyone looking at the camera, eyes open, and smiling, I also know the importance of the in-between moments when everyone is looking at each other and having a laugh.

You’ll see I offer more than just the standard one hour photo session on my Packages page. A five or eight hour session might sound like way more time than you need, but these types of extended sessions allow for the most beautiful moments to be captured. Here’s a post from an amazing extended session where we got to play indoors, have a snack, play outside, then settle in for a nap. Day in the Life Family Photography Blog Post

Lauren, the person behind Sunbeam and Stone Photography, is an experienced and dedicated professional photographer specializing in capturing life's precious moments. With a career spanning since 2013, she possesses the artistic vision and technical expertise to create timeless and meaningful images.

Offering a diverse range of services, Lauren excels in documentary-style family sessions at home, formal family portraits in outdoor settings, commercial projects, weddings, and various life event celebrations. Renowned for her distinctive photojournalistic approach, she has a knack for storytelling through captivating black-and-white photography.

Beyond her creative prowess, Lauren brings a unique perspective to her work as a nonbinary individual and a loving parent to two neurodivergent children. This personal experience fuels her passion for capturing genuine moments of joy, connection, and authenticity. By freezing these fleeting instances in time, Lauren aims to transport her clients back to the heartwarming moments when their children were young.

With photography as her full-time profession, Lauren is wholly dedicated to her craft. She understands the significance of her clients' memories and strives to create a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish. Through her lens, she aims to document the beauty in everyday life and the profound emotions that accompany special occasions.

Lauren holds a deep appreciation for the importance of preserving family bonds and heritage. She understands that tomorrow is never promised and, as such, prioritizes capturing the essence of family members from multiple generations, not just the youngest of the group. By doing so, she creates invaluable heirlooms that will be cherished for generations to come.

When you choose Lauren as your photographer, you can expect professionalism, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results. Her dedication to her craft, combined with her compassionate approach, ensures that your memories will be immortalized in stunning photographs that evoke powerful emotions and stand the test of time.

Contact Lauren at Sunbeam and Stone Photography today to discuss your photography needs and embark on a journey of capturing cherished moments that will be treasured for a lifetime.