• Welcome!

    Luster Studios is my personal portfolio where I share weddings, special events, engagement sessions and portraits. My origins stem from a fine arts degree in photography and computer graphics. My "style" is a perfect blend of creative ideas driven by a relaxed attitude and a fun yet thoughtful personality.

    Through a combination of posing and photojournalism I strive to capture planned and spontaneous moments that will later help you relive how you were feeling at that exact moment. I'm based in North Carolina and often travel to destination locations. I look forward to getting to know what inspires you both creatively and personally.

    - Craig Carpenter

NC State Fair / Engagement Photography (Bridget + Thomas)

When we were trying to decide the best place to shoot Bridget and Thomas’s engagement photography I remembered that this week was the North Carolina State Fair. If you have not been to it yet, make your way out there now before it’s over! For those of you that are out of town there are a number of things that I think make this fair fun and unique. There are GIANT turkey legs, pig races, the Farm Animal Frenzy and fresh corn on the cob just to name a few!

I suggested that we begin our session at sunset so that we could take advantage of both the fading light as well as all of the amazing bulbs that illuminate the fair midway. I love the colors in the sky this time of year and this fun couple was up for anything I threw at them.

One of my favorite shots was of Bridget with her head resting on Thomas’s chest. Even amidst all of the craziness that surrounded them she looks very calm and happy. I can’t wait to shoot their wedding because I will get to see a lot of their friends and family again that were at Ayanna and Adib’s wedding earlier this month.


engagement pose
fair swings
fairgrounds

couple ferrswheel


north carolin fair



couple silhouette

11 comments

Correen Frappaolo - November 9, 2008 - 8:43 am

These pictures show your beautiful relationship and how much you truly care for each other. <3

Jennifer Cox - October 30, 2008 - 2:46 pm

Craig,
These shots at the Fair are AWESOME. Some of the best you’ve done, I think. LOVE THEM!

Just went to the site on a whim and I really like the new site format. Nice job. Would love to see pictures of YOUR wedding…unless there are some up here already and I’m just not there yet.

Anyway, hope you’re great!
~Jennifer

Tabitha @ Elite Bridal Concierge - October 26, 2008 - 8:44 am

What a wonderful idea to shoot their engagement photo session at the State Fair! Talk about fun and memorable…it looks like they had a blast. Beautiful couple!!

Darla - October 23, 2008 - 6:23 pm

Thomas and Bridgett,

Your photographer has done a beautiful job! It’s not hard though when he has a beautiful and loving subject to capture!

CONGRATS!!!!!!
Darla
P.S. My favorite is the black and whites.

Melissa - October 23, 2008 - 12:43 pm

Bridget these are amazing!!!! I’m so jealous…my epics were uber boring compared to these….you are so lucky. ;) You guys look so in love <3

I can’t wait to see the rest of them.

Katrina - October 23, 2008 - 12:11 pm

Gidge! What a great idea, these pictures have so much pizzaz! I love it they are fantastic. Really exciting, I love them all. One of my favorites is the one with you two walking with the state fair gate in the background. I like it because there is so much going on around you, with the bits of paper on the ground, so many different people in the background; but the focus is clearly the two of you, in love and focused on each other amidst the natural discord of life. What a great set of photos. Good choice in photographers :)

Ayanna - October 22, 2008 - 5:37 pm

I’ve been looking at this website for the last week, and I love it! Thomas and Bridget look amazing, and the photos are beautiful. Very much looking forward to seeing the rest of them, and the wedding photos!! Another wonderful job, Craig :-)

Kim - October 22, 2008 - 4:32 pm

LOVE THEM! These are great shots of you guys! Craig, whoever you are, you rock! It’s like a movie…

Uncle Steve - October 22, 2008 - 7:19 am

Bridget and Thomas, this is a great series of shots. It adds color, movement, interest, and depth. Bravo Craig. They both look great and their love for eachother is captured beautifully.

Courtney - October 22, 2008 - 6:26 am

Bridget, these photos are beautiful!! Your photographer did an excellent job–you two look so in love. Aww! :o) Can’t wait to see the rest!!!

Bridget C. - October 21, 2008 - 9:01 pm

Craig! I absolutely love these pictures! They’re so fun and colorful. Thank you for a great time and beautiful images. We can’t wait to see the rest of them; you are so talented.

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