Sally Carpenter, Woodstock, Vermont photographer

 

  • sony professional
  • occasionally has ice cream for dinner
  • equestrian, animal loving country girl
  • jumped out of a plane......once
  • set a smoke grenade off in the basement......once
  • easy going very friendly and loves to laugh
  • believes in magical places
  • road trip? bags already packed
  • I love my work, absolutely love it!

A Little More History

Lottie Daniels, grandmother of Sally Carpenter

 

With a deep love for storytelling and roots in fashion photography, my work lives in the space where documentary truth meets editorial grace—where fleeting moments become timeless heirlooms, and every image breathes with emotion. Each wedding or elopement is approached with open eyes and an open heart, guided by intuition and the energy of the day. The result is imagery that doesn’t just record what happened, but reveals the soul of it all—honest, artful, and alive.

I was educated as both an artist and photographer at the renowned Brooks Institute, and had the rare gift of studying under legends like Ansel Adams and Clifford West. That early foundation in vision and craft was later shaped and refined through immersive workshops with masters such as Jerry Ghionis, Parker Pfister, Cliff Mautner, Brooke Shaden, and Paulina Duczman—each leaving their mark on a deeply personal approach to storytelling.

But my journey began long before that. I was five when my grandmother (pictured left) gave me a Kodak Brownie and led me into her darkroom—a place of magic and light. I remember the smell of developer, the hush of shadows appearing on paper, and the joy of making my first print as a gift for my mother. From that moment, I was enchanted. Photography became my way of seeing, feeling, remembering.

Since then, I’ve photographed more than 250 weddings—each one unforgettable. From a mischievous St. Bernard barreling through the aisle, to the quiet ache of a father seeing his daughter in her gown for the first time, it’s these unscripted, heartfelt moments I treasure most. They are the poetry behind the posed, the heartbeat beneath the beautiful.

My team and I are easy-going, passionate, and truly honored every time we’re invited into these sacred celebrations. Our goal is simple: to create images that feel as magical, honest, and alive as the love they hold.

I suppose I am a real country girl at heart, growing up with horses and dogs and spending a good part of my life in the English countryside. I moved to Vermont in 1999 and to be able to mix the tranquility and beauty of the Green Mountains and have the lively Boston scene just two hours away is just about the perfect lifestyle as far as I am concerned. The sky diving? Yep that's me... it was a dare while on a tour with the English Cricket team in New Zealand...and I can safely say it will never happen again..well that is unless I happen to have a couple who want photographs of the same thing and that is what I would have to do to get them.

Vermont Wedding Photographer

Experience Matters — Trust Your Wedding Day to a Seasoned Professional

Experience, experience, experience!

The day you’ve spent months—or even years—planning, dreaming about, and investing in will feel like one of the quickest days of your life. I promise you that. And while you hope everything goes perfectly, it’s natural that some moments might not go exactly as planned. That’s when you’ll be grateful to have chosen one of Vermont’s top wedding photographers, with nearly 20 years of experience managing every kind of wedding scenario with ease and confidence.

With a strong background in fashion photography and a keen eye for “decisive moments,” my style blends editorial sophistication with documentary authenticity. My images capture the elegance of posed shots alongside the genuine emotion of candid moments. Storytelling is at the heart of my approach—creating a visual narrative that truly reflects your day.

I’m also very friendly and easygoing, genuinely interested in getting to know my couples and their unique love stories. Building a comfortable, trusting connection helps bring out the most authentic moments and emotions during your wedding or portrait session.

Wedding Photographer Nationally and Internationally

I have photographed weddings all over the United States, Canada and the UK. Some of the more memorable venues I've had the honor of photographing weddings and elopements at are The Omni Royal in New Orleans, The Five Arrows Hotel, Waddesdon, UK,  The Savoy, London,  The Miramonte in Rancho Mirage, CA , La Quinta Resort, La Quinta, CA, Mt.Palomar Winery, Temecula, CA, The Balboa Bay Club, Newport Beach, CA, and The Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA. Just let me know where your dream wedding destination is and I will be there!

However, I have also photographed weddings at over 100 venues here in New England and some of my favorites include Hildene,The Lincoln Family Home, Manchester, VT, The Woodstock Inn and Resort, Woodstock, VT, Twin Farms, Barnard, VT, The Beauport Hotel, Gloucester, MA, Cruiseport Gloucester, Gloucester, MA, Saratoga Golf and Polo Club, Saratoga Springs, NY, The Queensbury Hotel, Glens Falls, NY, Searles Castle, Windham, NY and The State Room,Albany, NY

 

Member of The Professional Photographers of America, Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals and Fearless Photographers.

View My Portfolio- Boston   NYC   Woodstock, VT   Wedding Photographer

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