diff --git a/GETTING_STARTED.md b/GETTING_STARTED.md
index c928ed8..3396eab 100644
--- a/GETTING_STARTED.md
+++ b/GETTING_STARTED.md
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ factory :user do
   name  { "John Doe#{" - Rockstar" if rockstar}" }
   email { "#{name.downcase}@example.com" }
 
-  after_create do |user, evaluator|
+  after(:create) do |user, evaluator|
     user.name.upcase! if evaluator.upcased
   end
 end
@@ -299,11 +299,11 @@ FactoryGirl.define do
         posts_count 5
       end
 
-      # the after_create yields two values; the user instance itself and the
+      # the after(:create) yields two values; the user instance itself and the
       # evaluator, which stores all values from the factory, including ignored
       # attributes; `create_list`'s second argument is the number of records
       # to create and we make sure the user is associated properly to the post
-      after_create do |user, evaluator|
+      after(:create) do |user, evaluator|
         FactoryGirl.create_list(:post, evaluator.posts_count, user: user)
       end
     end
@@ -589,18 +589,19 @@ FactoryGirl.create_list(:user, 3, :admin, :male, name: "Jon Snow")
 Callbacks
 ---------
 
-factory\_girl makes available three callbacks for injecting some code:
+factory\_girl makes available four callbacks for injecting some code:
 
-* after_build  - called after a factory is built   (via FactoryGirl.build)
-* after_create - called after a factory is saved   (via FactoryGirl.create)
-* after_stub   - called after a factory is stubbed (via FactoryGirl.build_stubbed)
+* after(:build)   - called after a factory is built   (via `FactoryGirl.build`, `FactoryGirl.create`)
+* before(:create) - called before a factory is saved  (via `FactoryGirl.create`)
+* after(:create)  - called after a factory is saved   (via `FactoryGirl.create`)
+* after(:stub)    - called after a factory is stubbed (via `FactoryGirl.build_stubbed`)
 
 Examples:
 
 ```ruby
 # Define a factory that calls the generate_hashed_password method after it is built
 factory :user do
-  after_build { |user| generate_hashed_password(user) }
+  after(:build) { |user| generate_hashed_password(user) }
 end
 ```
 
@@ -610,8 +611,8 @@ You can also define multiple types of callbacks on the same factory:
 
 ```ruby
 factory :user do
-  after_build  { |user| do_something_to(user) }
-  after_create { |user| do_something_else_to(user) }
+  after(:build)  { |user| do_something_to(user) }
+  after(:create) { |user| do_something_else_to(user) }
 end
 ```
 
@@ -619,12 +620,12 @@ Factories can also define any number of the same kind of callback.  These callba
 
 ```ruby
 factory :user do
-  after_create { this_runs_first }
-  after_create { then_this }
+  after(:create) { this_runs_first }
+  after(:create) { then_this }
 end
 ```
 
-Calling FactoryGirl.create will invoke both after\_build and after\_create callbacks.
+Calling FactoryGirl.create will invoke both `after_build` and `after_create` callbacks.
 
 Also, like standard attributes, child factories will inherit (and can also define) callbacks from their parent factory.
 
@@ -677,7 +678,7 @@ When modifying a factory, you can change any of the attributes you want (aside f
 `FactoryGirl.modify` must be called outside of a `FactoryGirl.define` block as it operates on factories differently.
 
 A caveat: you can only modify factories (not sequences or traits) and callbacks *still compound as they normally would*. So, if
-the factory you're modifying defines an `after_create` callback, you defining an `after_create` won't override it, it'll just get run after the first callback.
+the factory you're modifying defines an `after(:create)` callback, you defining an `after(:create)` won't override it, it'll just get run after the first callback.
 
 Building or Creating Multiple Records
 -------------------------------------
@@ -810,6 +811,41 @@ FactoryGirl.json(:user)
 Finally, you can override factory\_girl's own strategies if you'd like by
 registering a new object in place of the strategies.
 
+Custom Callbacks
+----------------
+
+Custom callbacks can be defined if you're using custom strategies:
+
+```ruby
+class JsonStrategy
+  def initialize
+    @strategy = FactoryGirl.strategy_by_name(:create).new
+  end
+
+  delegate :association, to: :@strategy
+
+  def result(evaluation)
+    result = @strategy.result(evaluation)
+    evaluation.notify(:before_json, result)
+
+    result.to_json.tap do |json|
+      evaluation.notify(:after_json, json)
+      evaluation.notify(:make_json_awesome, json)
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+FactoryGirl.register_strategy(:json, JsonStrategy)
+
+FactoryGirl.define do
+  factory :user do
+    before(:json)                {|user| do_something_to(user) }
+    after(:json)                 {|user_json| do_something_to(user_json) }
+    callback(:make_json_awesome) {|user_json| do_something_to(user_json) }
+  end
+end
+```
+
 Custom Methods to Persist Objects
 ---------------------------------
 
diff --git a/lib/factory_girl.rb b/lib/factory_girl.rb
index de3570a..7807c83 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+require "set"
 require "active_support/core_ext/module/delegation"
 require "active_support/notifications"
 
@@ -103,9 +104,26 @@ module FactoryGirl
     FactoryGirl.register_strategy(:null,           FactoryGirl::Strategy::Null)
   end
 
+  def self.callbacks
+    @callbacks ||= Set.new
+  end
+
+  def self.register_default_callbacks
+    register_callback(:after_build)
+    register_callback(:after_create)
+    register_callback(:after_stub)
+    register_callback(:before_create)
+  end
+
   def self.callback_names
-    [:after_build, :after_create, :after_stub, :before_create].freeze
+    callbacks
+  end
+
+  def self.register_callback(name)
+    name = name.to_sym
+    callbacks << name
   end
 end
 
 FactoryGirl.register_default_strategies
+FactoryGirl.register_default_callbacks
diff --git a/lib/factory_girl/definition_proxy.rb b/lib/factory_girl/definition_proxy.rb
index f8ab78e..73da977 100644
--- a/lib/factory_girl/definition_proxy.rb
+++ b/lib/factory_girl/definition_proxy.rb
@@ -159,5 +159,18 @@ module FactoryGirl
     def initialize_with(&block)
       @definition.define_constructor(&block)
     end
+
+    def before(name, &block)
+      callback("before_#{name}", &block)
+    end
+
+    def after(name, &block)
+      callback("after_#{name}", &block)
+    end
+
+    def callback(name, &block)
+      FactoryGirl.register_callback(name)
+      @definition.add_callback(Callback.new(name, block))
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/activesupport_instrumentation_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/activesupport_instrumentation_spec.rb
index 1999f31..64b2f31 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/activesupport_instrumentation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/activesupport_instrumentation_spec.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ describe "using ActiveSupport::Instrumentation to track factory interaction" do
         email "john@example.com"
 
         factory :slow_user do
-          after_build { Kernel.sleep(0.1) }
+          after(:build) { Kernel.sleep(0.1) }
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/callbacks_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/callbacks_spec.rb
index d0f1d4a..e790217 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/callbacks_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/callbacks_spec.rb
@@ -6,35 +6,35 @@ describe "callbacks" do
 
     FactoryGirl.define do
       factory :user_with_callbacks, class: :user do
-        after_stub   { |user| user.first_name = 'Stubby' }
-        after_build  { |user| user.first_name = 'Buildy' }
-        after_create { |user| user.last_name  = 'Createy' }
+        after(:stub)   { |user| user.first_name = 'Stubby' }
+        after(:build)  { |user| user.first_name = 'Buildy' }
+        after(:create) { |user| user.last_name  = 'Createy' }
       end
 
       factory :user_with_inherited_callbacks, parent: :user_with_callbacks do
-        after_stub  { |user| user.last_name  = 'Double-Stubby' }
-        after_build { |user| user.first_name = 'Child-Buildy' }
+        after(:stub)  { |user| user.last_name  = 'Double-Stubby' }
+        after(:build) { |user| user.first_name = 'Child-Buildy' }
       end
     end
   end
 
-  it "runs the after_stub callback when stubbing" do
+  it "runs the after(:stub) callback when stubbing" do
     user = FactoryGirl.build_stubbed(:user_with_callbacks)
     user.first_name.should == 'Stubby'
   end
 
-  it "runs the after_build callback when building" do
+  it "runs the after(:build) callback when building" do
     user = FactoryGirl.build(:user_with_callbacks)
     user.first_name.should == 'Buildy'
   end
 
-  it "runs both the after_build and after_create callbacks when creating" do
+  it "runs both the after(:build) and after(:create) callbacks when creating" do
     user = FactoryGirl.create(:user_with_callbacks)
     user.first_name.should == 'Buildy'
     user.last_name.should == 'Createy'
   end
 
-  it "runs both the after_stub callback on the factory and the inherited after_stub callback" do
+  it "runs both the after(:stub) callback on the factory and the inherited after(:stub) callback" do
     user = FactoryGirl.build_stubbed(:user_with_inherited_callbacks)
     user.first_name.should == 'Stubby'
     user.last_name.should == 'Double-Stubby'
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@ describe "callbacks using syntax methods without referencing FactoryGirl explici
       sequence(:sequence_3)
 
       factory :user do
-        after_stub   { generate(:sequence_3) }
-        after_build  {|user| user.first_name = generate(:sequence_1) }
-        after_create {|user, evaluator| user.last_name = generate(:sequence_2) }
+        after(:stub)   { generate(:sequence_3) }
+        after(:build)  {|user| user.first_name = generate(:sequence_1) }
+        after(:create) {|user, evaluator| user.last_name = generate(:sequence_2) }
       end
     end
   end
@@ -76,3 +76,76 @@ describe "callbacks using syntax methods without referencing FactoryGirl explici
     FactoryGirl.create(:user).last_name.should == 1
   end
 end
+
+describe "custom callbacks" do
+  let(:custom_before) do
+    Class.new do
+      def result(evaluation)
+        evaluation.object.tap do |instance|
+          evaluation.notify(:before_custom, instance)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  let(:custom_after) do
+    Class.new do
+      def result(evaluation)
+        evaluation.object.tap do |instance|
+          evaluation.notify(:after_custom, instance)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  let(:totally_custom) do
+    Class.new do
+      def result(evaluation)
+        evaluation.object.tap do |instance|
+          evaluation.notify(:totally_custom, instance)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  before do
+    define_model("User", first_name: :string, last_name: :string) do
+      def name
+        [first_name, last_name].join(" ")
+      end
+    end
+
+    FactoryGirl.register_strategy(:custom_before, custom_before)
+    FactoryGirl.register_strategy(:custom_after, custom_after)
+    FactoryGirl.register_strategy(:totally_custom, totally_custom)
+
+    FactoryGirl.define do
+      factory :user do
+        first_name "John"
+        last_name  "Doe"
+
+        before(:custom) {|instance| instance.first_name = "Overridden First" }
+        after(:custom)  {|instance| instance.last_name  = "Overridden Last" }
+        callback(:totally_custom) do |instance|
+          instance.first_name = "Totally"
+          instance.last_name  = "Custom"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  it "runs a custom before callback when the proper strategy executes" do
+    FactoryGirl.build(:user).name.should == "John Doe"
+    FactoryGirl.custom_before(:user).name.should == "Overridden First Doe"
+  end
+
+  it "runs a custom after callback when the proper strategy executes" do
+    FactoryGirl.build(:user).name.should == "John Doe"
+    FactoryGirl.custom_after(:user).name.should == "John Overridden Last"
+  end
+
+  it "runs a custom callback without prepending before or after when the proper strategy executes" do
+    FactoryGirl.build(:user).name.should == "John Doe"
+    FactoryGirl.totally_custom(:user).name.should == "Totally Custom"
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/create_list_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/create_list_spec.rb
index 5686ae5..ea57fdd 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/create_list_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/create_list_spec.rb
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ describe "multiple creates and ignored attributes to dynamically build attribute
             posts_count 5
           end
 
-          after_create do |user, evaluator|
+          after(:create) do |user, evaluator|
             FactoryGirl.create_list(:post, evaluator.posts_count, user: user)
           end
         end
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/modify_factories_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/modify_factories_spec.rb
index f1c7786..3151aa3 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/modify_factories_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/modify_factories_spec.rb
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe "modifying factories" do
       factory :user do
         email
 
-        after_create do |user|
+        after(:create) do |user|
           user.login = user.name.upcase if user.name
         end
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe "modifying factories" do
       FactoryGirl.modify do
         factory :user do
           name "Great User"
-          after_create do |user|
+          after(:create) do |user|
             user.name = user.name.downcase
             user.login = nil
           end
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/parent_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/parent_spec.rb
index bd05287..9e9de00 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/parent_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/parent_spec.rb
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ describe "nested factories with different parents" do
         end
 
         factory :uppercase_male_user, parent: :male_user do
-          after_build {|user| user.name = user.name.upcase }
+          after(:build) {|user| user.name = user.name.upcase }
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb
index 0e5a473..666168c 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/traits_spec.rb
@@ -187,11 +187,11 @@ describe "traits with callbacks" do
         name "John"
 
         trait :great do
-          after_create {|user| user.name.upcase! }
+          after(:create) {|user| user.name.upcase! }
         end
 
         trait :awesome do
-          after_create {|user| user.name = "awesome" }
+          after(:create) {|user| user.name = "awesome" }
         end
 
         factory :caps_user, traits: [:great]
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ describe "traits added via strategy" do
         end
 
         trait :great do
-          after_create {|user| user.name.upcase! }
+          after(:create) {|user| user.name.upcase! }
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/transient_attributes_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/transient_attributes_spec.rb
index 4f1c24e..4d0bc9f 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/transient_attributes_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/transient_attributes_spec.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ describe "transient attributes" do
         name  { "#{FactoryGirl.generate(:name)}#{" - Rockstar" if rockstar}" }
         email { "#{name.downcase}#{four}@example.com" }
 
-        after_create do |user, evaluator|
+        after(:create) do |user, evaluator|
           user.name.upcase! if evaluator.upcased
         end
       end
diff --git a/spec/factory_girl/definition_proxy_spec.rb b/spec/factory_girl/definition_proxy_spec.rb
index 94c44c9..3be6936 100644
--- a/spec/factory_girl/definition_proxy_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/factory_girl/definition_proxy_spec.rb
@@ -126,18 +126,18 @@ describe FactoryGirl::DefinitionProxy, "adding callbacks" do
   let(:proxy)    { FactoryGirl::DefinitionProxy.new(subject) }
   let(:callback) { -> { "my awesome callback!" } }
 
-  context "#after_build" do
-    before { proxy.after_build(&callback) }
+  context "#after(:build)" do
+    before { proxy.after(:build, &callback) }
     it     { should have_callback(:after_build).with_block(callback) }
   end
 
-  context "#after_create" do
-    before { proxy.after_create(&callback) }
+  context "#after(:create)" do
+    before { proxy.after(:create, &callback) }
     it     { should have_callback(:after_create).with_block(callback) }
   end
 
-  context "#after_stub" do
-    before { proxy.after_stub(&callback) }
+  context "#after(:stub)" do
+    before { proxy.after(:stub, &callback) }
     it     { should have_callback(:after_stub).with_block(callback) }
   end
 end