Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Cearnel.
Hi Sara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My photography journey started like many other moms in the middle of motherhood. I had a Nikon DSLR camera and my three kids who taught me everything I know about patience and light. What began as a deeply personal hobby soon rippled outward to friends and neighbors, fueled by a desire to document more than just a pose—I wanted to capture the feelings and memories.
And then in 2024, I stepped into the world of Wedding Photography through my first styled shoot. That experience changed everything. My little hobby went into a full-blown creative business, where I was able to quit my weekend medical job and go full time in a photography career.
I’ve had the honor of photographing countless weddings across Northeast Florida and traveling beyond state lines to tell stories that are moody and deeply honest. Looking back at those early days with my three little models, I’m standing in a reality I never could have fathomed—one built on raw emotion and the honest, unscripted stories of the people I’m honored to document.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it’s never easy juggling a job, three kids, and a new business. But if I’m being honest, the hardest struggle wasn’t always the creative side—it was the business side.
For a long time, I treated photography as a hobby rather than a company. Navigating the world of filing an LLC, mastering my taxes, and finding the confidence to price my work for the current market I wanted to serve took time and a lot of grit.
It took me a while to take myself as seriously as I took my art. Moving past that internal hurdle—to realize that Little Eagle was a brand worthy of a solid foundation—was its own journey. I had to learn how to do everything in the quiet hours of the night after my kids were asleep, proving to myself that I could build something lasting and professional while still being the wife, mother, and artist I wanted to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer based here in Northeast Florida who loves to travel, but my mission goes far deeper than just taking photos. I want to redefine how people see themselves—not as a static pose in a frame, but as a living, breathing story of presence.
I believe your story is meant to soar. Too often, photography can feel like an eagle in a birdcage—stiff, static, and flightless. I’m moving away from that ‘caged’ style of traditional posing. I’m looking for the pulse relentless rhythm of my subjects. Whether I’m documenting the quiet chaos of motherhood or the electric connection of a wedding day, I lean into the shadows and the raw emotion to capture the permanent heartbeat of your life.
I envision a world where every mother finally sees the art in her daily ‘middle of motherhood’ life, and every couple remembers exactly how their connection felt, long after the day has passed. My work is natural and moody because life isn’t perfectly lit and posed—it’s honest, and that’s where the beauty lives.
I am most proud of having the courage to open the door of my own ‘birdcage.’ Transitioning from the monotony of a repetitive routine to a soulful, creative life was my own way of taking flight. Now, I get to help my clients do the same—stripping away the pressure to be ‘perfect’ for the camera so we can document the wild, unscripted truth of who they are.
What matters most to you? Why?
I want to capture the way a mother looks at her child in the quiet middle of motherhood when she doesn’t think anyone is watching. I want to document the electric, unscripted tension between a couple on their wedding day. These moments are the ‘permanent trace’ of our lives.
Why?
Because life is relentless. Like the rhythm of the tide, it is constantly moving, shifting, and pulling us toward the next thing. If we don’t stop to document the feeling of where we are, those memories can become static and flightless.
I love doing this work because I believe that being truly ‘seen’ is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. When I deliver a gallery, I’m not just giving a client a set of photos; I’m giving them proof that their connection was real, their story had purpose, and their presence mattered. I want my children—and my clients—to look back and see that we didn’t just exist; we lived, we loved, and we soared.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littleeaglephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleeaglephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleeaglephotography/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/littleeaglephotography
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@Littleeaglephotography
