Without A Doubt: Daniel + Anna

This couple made me smile the moment I met them. They had the spark, the energy and most of all, the interaction of two lovebirds who are meant to be.

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These are the couples who make my time behind the camera so memorable, so enjoyable and without a doubt, they are the type of couple who allow me to live the dream.

Because of you, Daniel and Anna, I get to fall in love with my job over and over again.

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Thank you!

Watching & Waiting: A Stanchfield Moment Captured In Time.

I always enjoy watching and capturing a family who allows their family-time to happen as if I wasn’t watching.

Themes of sessions sometimes seem to reveal themselves without provocation. For this family, that was certainly the case. The theme? Watching & waiting.

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The four of them watched one another at various times and waited for reactions. Together, they allowed their laughter to fill the air around us.

Walking, relaxing, parenting and playing; now that is a good combination. Mix that with this evening sky at one of the clearest teal water beaches I have ever seen, that is THE combination.

You never would have known that just moments before the session began and as we were leaving the parking lot, rain clouds filled the evening sky. I stuck to my gut knowing they’d clear and an impressive sunset revealed itself.

I am still coping with the idea that I may never again be able to capture this stunning family, due to distance and military duty stations, but I feel blessed beyond belief to have had the chance when I did.

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Across The Pond: With Sophie & Sam

This year has been one of Lifesong’s most diverse years yet! From the monuments of Washington D.C to the quaint roads and villages of Europe, I am astonished with what I have been blessed to capture in the first couple of months of 2018!

Travel has always been a part of my hobbies and certainly a big part in making me into the photographer I am today. However, if you would have told me I was traveling world-wide for sessions and to seek out photography opportunities, I never would have believed you!

I have known Sophie for well over a decade and had the opportunity to meet her wonderful boyfriend, Sam, when I traveled to England last month!

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Amongst the castles, the farmsteads and the unique towns, we walked the woods and enjoyed the architecture of a bridge centuries old.

Because of people like Sophie and Sam, the time in Europe was incredibly relaxing and meaningful.

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I cannot wait for the next Europe trip.

I can only imagine what it will be – third time is a charm, right?

Livin’ The Dream: A Hike With Destiny

When someone hires me to do a lifestyle session, I literally do a happy dance. When Destiny suggested that her lifestyle session be at the beach followed by a hike to the Lanikai Pillboxes, my excitement went through the roof. An afternoon starting at the beach and ending at sunset overlooking the Pacific, and I get to call it my job?

I am SURELY livin’ the dream.

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Destiny is a fit and fierce woman who can take on anything.

I urged her to hike the hardest portions of the hike for “that shot”…

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…and she certainly took that challenge head on.

Enjoy the little video below of our adventure to the second Lanikai Pillbox at sunset.

Enjoy your ALO][A Friday and thank you for stopping by! Be sure to “share” and comment if you like what you see!

Email me at Chelsea@Lifesongdesigns.com for your Lifestyle session!

Corey + Alyssa: Capturing JOY

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THIS is a couple which exudes happiness and love for the life that they share.

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Corey & Alyssa’s smiles are never forced or fake. The hands never had to be told to be held. The lips never had to be begged to be kissed.

 

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They are the real deal.

 

“Joyous” is the best way I can describe their session. They are a couple which everyone would love to have as a leading example in their own lives.

 

I wish this couple the best as their journey continues. I pray our paths will one day cross again!

 

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Picture Perfect: The Parker’s

Some might say that there is no such thing as “picture perfect”.

I disagree. There certainly is.

Any family, couple or individual who is willing to step forward and be themselves without hesitation IS “picture perfect”.

The Parker family is just that.

It was a very cold morning, but even through the brisk air, I could feel the warmth of their smiles as I looked through my lens. Their hearts were open and ready to share the joy with one another. I was able to give very little direction and in what I consider the best shots, I felt like I was witnessing something so very rare; true love.

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This family had love for one another, love of being together and love of experiencing life…no matter where that journey took them.

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Don’t get wrapped up in “your best side” or what you might think is your biggest flaw. Those issues will fade into the background, per say, and the interactions will shine through.

Next time you are worried about being “picture perfect” remember, very little has to do with what you are wearing or even where you are. The energy, the soul and the perfection of those images are found at their core —  the raw emotion which lingers through the session.

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Thank you, Parker family, for giving me this time with you. It was my honor!!

20 Minutes & Lasting A Lifetime

If there was ever a blog I would beg you to read of mine, it would be this one.

14 years ago (this May) my dad underwent experimental treatment for his cancer in Germany.

The treatment did not save his life but gave him a chance to center himself.

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At 4:45 am, the day after returning home from Germany, my father died in his home in Michigan. I can remember what I was wearing, where I was standing and the look on my mother’s face when she gave me the news.

Later that month, as things were being sorted out, this piece of paper with my dad’s handwriting on it was found amongst some German stamps and a bracelet he had brought back for me. On this piece of paper, under another quote he had written down, there lied “Adversity introduces us to ourselves.”. I do not know where he derived the sentence from since it can be found in many places and has an unknown original author.

Since I can remember, I have lived my life with this writing forever engraved on my heart. On occasion, after my good friend Matt began tattooing I spoke with him about having this profound statement tattooed but I needed all the dots to line up. I wanted to have the tattoo completed in the Spring, more specifically, in May since that is when he passed away. It just never worked to be in Michigan at the same time as Matt and during May. I started to think I should just ignore the urge to do this seemingly out-of-character act, especially since my fear of needles is so high.

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A year and a half ago, when I was working through the Bible I came across Proverbs 24:10. This verse which stated, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” immediately struck me and I began and cry. I felt my own dad’s words and love surround me as if he was giving me this fatherly advice for the first time. I KNEW I must have the tattoo I had always dreamt of.

Now, just to make the arrangements for it to happen.

Then came a hiccup. Matt moved 3500+ miles from Michigan to Germany. At the time I did not see the parallel between his move and where dad WROTE those words. It wasn’t until this past January, when I was planning the Euro trip and realizing I could visit this good friend at his new home, that I connected those dots. I was headed to Germany and there was no question what the biggest bucket list item was, the tattoo of a lifetime from a friend who I’d known and trusted for over a decade in a country where it all started.

As I began to contemplate where I wanted it, again I felt it must be symbolic.

These words of wisdom seemed to ground me in difficult moments, they seemed to be a firm foundation for my soul, there was no question it was a place I could set my faith in and rest my aching mind. In addition to all of these reasons, the fact that I was standing when I was told the news of dad’s passing lead me to choose my foot.

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The morning of the tattoo, I ran my 100th day of running (where I ran at least a mile or more each day for 100 days). It was completed just outside Cologne (Köln), Germany and tattoo-less. After getting cleaned up and putting on my dad’s high school class ring, we headed to the tattoo shop where we spent only 20 minutes doing something which will last a lifetime.

I know this is much more thought than any one person ever puts into a tattoo, but here I am writing this, choking back tears of happiness and pride.

I am so thankful to Matt for his friendship and to Zach for dealing with my sappiness. This was an experience which I will never forget. If you made it through this lengthy post, I commend you as well. 😉

**If you ever find yourself in Germany, look up Matt Roscoe’s Tattoo & Piercing Shop in Brühl, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany called “Art of the Needle”. You will NOT regret it.**

Love to all. May you each allow adversity to shape you.

Hernandez Family: A Peek Into A Family’s First Session

I am always so thankful when a family chooses Lifesong to capture their moments in time. However, when a family makes that leap to have their family portraits and lifestyle moments frozen through MY lens for the FIRST time ever, it is something very humbling.

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I look around and am aware that I am surrounded by some of the most incredibly gifted photographers. Having that knowledge can be intimidating but the support I have consistently given is really a breath of fresh air.

Thank you to the Hernandez family for your willingness to “take a chance” with me.

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THANK YOU FRIENDS!!

HELLO 2018! Happy New Year to all!

Thank you all for allowing me to be your storyteller. Whether you allowed me into your most exciting, most emotional, most vulnerable or even most private of moments I thank you! 2017 was really a wonderful year from start to finish.

In 2018 I have a plethora of new things added to my bucket lists…personal AND professional. All of them will be much more fun with some smiling faces!

I plan to travel to surrounding areas and states to fulfill some of these exciting challenges! Keep in touch on Facebook, Instagram or email me about some of the dates where I might be in YOUR area!

Do you have a session you’d like to book, but fear I am too far away? I NOW DO BLOCK BOOKING! One of the best parts about living in this area, the light stays perfect longer! Contact me at Chelsea@LifesongDesigns.com to ask about the perks of booking your session, your friend’s session, your neighbors session or your co workers session within the same day! Rates are discounted and travel fees are (often) waived!

Enjoy this short video in thanks to all who asked me to be a part of their Lifesong in 2017. (I apologize for it being a tad small and will work on that in the coming videos! View on a computer, in HD with sound for best enjoyment!)

The Stanchfield Homecoming: A Show Of Strength

While looking over this past year of homecomings and military sessions, one stands out to me. Partly because of the story of how often this particular sailor is away from his family but also because of the family strength which is shown by his wife, Sarah. Sarah is one of the strongest mamas I know. Watching her story as a Navy wife unfold into mama of two was incredible. I knew I was blessed to capture her story because of the way she handles anything thrown at her.

She is someone who rarely takes a breath for herself, but rather puts all her energy into making sure those around her, even strangers, get to be a part of the things that matter in life. From a leader in a women’s prayer group, to super mom, to a runner (now marathoner) and beyond, Sarah considers everyone she comes across “Ohana” and treats them as such. Handling a hectic schedule can be rough on some, for this woman, it is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Rain was in the forecast. An anxious toddler was asking a multitude of questions. The 72-day old baby needed to be fed and fed again. Then add in just walking to the pier; there was a stroller to be pushed, signs to be carried, the cake for the homecoming party also in hand. Cherry on top? Inclement weather rolled in. Homecoming day was here.

It had been 180 days without her sailor at home and the amount of time this mama was required to stand in the rain, with a toddler and a newborn, awaiting his departure from the vessel would be considered overwhelming… for some. Sarah put her excitement in the drivers seat and let the rest of the noise fade away. Her calm and cool character allowed me to capture the best of moments, even in a downpour, with her babies in her loving arms.

No duty went undone or poorly carried out. With a smile on her face and every detail done, Keegan, baby Ryleigh and Sarah were able to watch Ryan step off the ship with great pride.

Thank you for your service, Stanchfield Family! You all are a blessing to this country and also to the men and women who stand with you. May your 2018 bring many blessings.

 
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