Sarah Der Photography | Chapel Hill Wedding + Portrait Photographer bio picture
  • Hi, I’m Sarah.

    I'm a graduate of the University of Richmond, where I studied Studio Art and English. I am married to a scientist, have a pesky and clever French kitten named Toulouse, and just made my big move from snowy Ohio to a quaint, warm and peaceful apartment in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

    I quite enjoy taking lovely pictures, but my favorite part of being a photographer is telling stories--of love, of laughter, of commitment, joy and honesty. When I'm not behind the lens, you can always find me reading a very good book, trying my best to cook Indian food, trucking my way through a season of LOST, or traveling to visit friends and family (who can't seem to stay in one place). I think it would be wonderful to meet you for some good coffee. We can get to know one another. So when you're ready, send me a message to say hi, and we'll start from there.

Matt + Casey (+ Wilco!) around downtown Durham

durham photographyphotographer durhamchapel hill wedding photographerCASEY AND MATT ELIAartistic wedding photossarah der photographyindustrial engagement sessionpet photography ncpet photographynorth carolina photographerengagement photoscreative photographyHipster photographerdurham photographerweimerreiner dog photographypet photographerschapel hill wedding photographyMatt and Casey are wonderful people and talented photographers. They woke up early to show me around Durham, to let me snuggle with their (ridiculous/awesome/supercute/outrageous) dog (am I right?!), to share with me the city they love and the life they love…and then they bought me breakfast AND coffee. For obvious reasons, I am smitten.

Stacey + Stephen | Richmond, VA

I’m finding it harder and harder to write these beginning excerpts (to wedding posts, especially!). I often have the urge to shout “See?! Look at these photos! Do you see what I mean!? ARE THEY NOT RIDICULOUSLY CUTE AND AWESOME!?” In S+S’s case, I could tell you how their wedding was really beautiful, their reception a big giant party, for friends and family to eat delicious food, dance (seriously), and spend the night celebrating these two. I could tell you how invested S+S are in their community of Church Hill, and how invested their community is in them, how everyone showed up to see them become husband and wife. I could tell you about how they met (Stephen asked Stacey to go on a “romantic” 9-mile run) or even enumerate their stated Wedding Day Rules (1. Must have fun, for example). I think i’ll just show you a little snippet of their wedding day story, if that’s okay. :)leigh street baptist churchtommy's garden floral arrangementbaptist wedding ceremonystacey and stephen married in decemberbaptist weddingChurch hill activities and tutoring studentwedding photographer richmond groom gets readyRichmond wedding with bow tiessouthern wedding in richmond virginiateal bow ties at the weddingrichmond wedding ceremony at a baptist churchstephen and stacey weddingRichmond virginia churchchurch in richmond virginiaphotography richmondchapel hill wedding photographergiant bridal party in downtown richmondteal and purple and champagne colors for weddingteal bow ties for a weddingkent weir wedding dayCHAT kids at a weddingRichmond photochurch hill baptist weddingprayer before ceremony beginsleigh street baptist church ceremonymother daughter wedding momentwedding in church hill richmondhistoric church site in richmond vastacey and stephen are married!downtown richmond skyline from libby parkplant zero wedding receptionreception site in richmond virginiawedding sitereception site that is modernwedding reception in downtown richmondreception site old galleryweir weddingrichmond special event photographyawesome dancing space for receptionpaper lanterns hung on the ceilingreception space for church hillplant zero 00 e 3rd streetchurch hill wedding receptionsarah der photographychapel hill photographerAnd I’m so, so thankful to have had DC photographer Sam Hurd along for the day! Sam spent time with the boys before the ceremony, and is also to thank for the RIDICULOUS dancing photos in this post. If you’re not familiar with his work, head over to his blog and check it out!
Leigh Street Baptist Church | Plant Zero | Tommy’s Garden | White House Catering

Looking back on the year (with a few frames of which I am quite fond) | 2011

I think I could spend weeks trying to come up with the perfect things to say about the past 12 months. My heart is completely full of joy and thankfulness and humility as I look back on my first year as a photographer–2011 has been one big, messy, exciting, busy time, but a time for connecting with some of the kindest and most generous people I’ve met and for challenging myself more than I ever have before. Thank you to my clients, for trusting me with your wonderful stories and for being so, so groovy. Thank you very much to patient friends and family who’ve supported me and encouraged me to grow through the start of this. And thank you so much to my very hunky husband–thank you for loving me completely. Here’s to a ridiculous first year, to images that move me and that make my heart feel light. (Also choosing these was really tough). I just cannot wait to see what’s in store for 2012!gretna virginiacatholic wedding ceremony at st thomasbride receives gifts on wedding daychapel hill engagement session on campuschapel Hill family photographyduke gardens engagement sessionbride puts on deodorant and laughscarrboro family photographychapel hill wedding photographychapel hill weddinglake o the woods wedding in warrantor nccatholic wedding ceremonylove letter on your wedding day!carrboro engagement sessionchapel hill maternity photographyhillsborough library parking garageUNC arboretum mother child black and whiteUNC senior photography sessionRichmond virginia monumnet avenueUNC campus in the springdowntown raleigh bride and groomsarah der photographyvirginia beach engagement sessionkatie and brian manchesterbride puts her dress on in chapel hillwake forest wedding in the fallfamily session with a hammockfarm wedding in richmond virginiareception at la rez on franklin streetchapel hill photographer sarah derbride and groom on virginia beach at sunsetfilm shot of couple kissingRichmond on a rainy day at VCUwarrenton farm weddingfamily photography and kids are so cutesnipes farm retreat chapel hill ncchapel hill photographerblack and white engagement photoscrabtree lake county park engagement session21st street farmers marketchapel hill in the fallnorth carolina life and science museumplant zero weddingroyal blue wedding shoes with rufflesbelle isle pretty in the falljason and heather kneislerfarm wedding in north carolinacoffee shop baby its cold outsideashland berry farm wedding partyfarm wedding in north carolinasarah der photography

Also, just a little note that I’ll be out of office–celebrating the holiday with the fam!–for 10 days. I’ll see you friends next year! Happy days!

Emily + Logan | raleigh engagement

baby its cold outside!chapel hill photographercafe engagement sessioncaribou coffee brier creekemily and logan portrait sessionlake crabtree county parksarah der photographychapel hill engagement photographerraleigh portrait session emily and logan are engaged!lake crabtree county park portrait sessionengagement photography chapel hillRaleigh portrait session airportRaleigh airport engagement sessionRDU photo session
I really, really adore these two and could not be more thankful to have met them, to get to know them over the coming months, and to see them married next year. Here are just a few favorites from our time together and stay tuned for a look back at 2011! Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone! :)