Where Are They Now?
Stephanie Lancaster has always enjoyed the way photography can preserve a special moment or feeling. “I still go through my old yearbooks,” she said. “I like that you can go back and look at those memories and say, ‘Hey, I remember this time, the fun we had.’” Now, Lancaster works as a professional photographer, capturing family portraits, weddings and more. “I like helping people create those memories that will last them for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Lancaster graduated from Dublin High School in 2005. Right after graduation, she married Shelby Lancaster, a family friend she had known for years. He was in the Air Force at the time, so the newlyweds moved to Phoenix, and then to Houston.
In Houston, she began working in childcare, and also started an online photography program at the New York Institute of Photography.
When she finished her coursework, she and her husband moved to Abilene, where Lancaster started working towards her own business. “My family let me practice on them,” she said. “And then I would let them tell their friends and show them the pictures that I took.”
At first she mostly got clients through word of mouth. When she started advertising her business on Facebook, clients found her through there. Lancaster’s business is called Lovely Moments Photography.
While she’s open to photographing many different occasions, her favorite is family portrait sessions. “I like the families, especially the ones with the small kids,” she said. “The kids make the time go by faster and it’s fun capturing their expressions and their excitement.”
When she’s not out on a shoot, Lancaster spends the majority of her time editing the photos. Her favorite part of her work is delivering photos that people will treasure.
Lancaster’s future plan is to continue her photography work; she is also considering going back to school to study early childhood education.
When she’s not working, Lancaster enjoys painting. “I’ve done Halloween pictures and flower pictures,” she said. “I mainly paint whatever pops into my head.”
She also enjoys spending time with her husband of 18 years, and her family. She is the oldest of seven children, and has five nieces and nephews. Her mother, Donna Maltby Peacock, lives in Desdemona, and her father, Gary Wayne Roberts, lives in Gustine.”
Her family has been Lancaster’s greatest source of inspiration throughout her life. “My family is always supporting me,” she said. “When I felt I couldn’t do it, they were so encouraging.”
Lancaster’s advice to Dublin graduates is to get out into the world. “Whether it’s for college, or a career or whatever, leave Dublin, even if it’s just for a while,” she said. “Discover who you are. You can always come back home. No matter where life takes you, never forget where you came from. Just go out there and learn about yourself away from where you’ve always lived.”
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.