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.
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.
Thank you!
Lifesong Photography & Designs had the pleasure of traveling to Alaska last summer.
Although some time has passed, I have finally found the time to share with you some of the images which were captured in an effort to always remember what I saw and how my breath was taken away.
Ending the long days with stunning moments such as the one below …
and starting the days with equally lovely colors will never fade from my memory.
While I traveled, my eyes were opened. The snow-capped mountains in the distance paired with the wildflowers blooming amongst me made such an impact. The idea of something having fertile enough ground to blossom while in a climate like the one Alaska is known for took me by surprise.
Such a perfect opposite of the mountains in Hawaii, we enjoyed wearing some layers and doing a cooler-climate hike to Exit Glacier.
Congratulations to Kylie, the senior I photographed there! She has recently graduated and is one her way to making her place in this world.
I feel so blessed to be a part of these cherished moments. Thank you, Brock family!
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.
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.
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!
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.
I cannot wait for the next Europe trip.
I can only imagine what it will be – third time is a charm, right?
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.
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”…
…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!
THIS is a couple which exudes happiness and love for the life that they share.
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.
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!
Senior sessions are notorious for being ‘over-thought’ and ‘over-worked’. I aim to grab those stunning shots for everyone to hang on to: grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, the boyfriend and the best friend. In doing so, I also focus on not letting too much get in the way.
How to get the best session? Only focus on the parts that are vital. This allows a little extra time to play and nab the unconventional shots because you aren’t worried too much about the additional things which can create stress and unnecessary work.
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.
This family had love for one another, love of being together and love of experiencing life…no matter where that journey took them.
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.
Thank you, Parker family, for giving me this time with you. It was my honor!!
The treatment did not save his life but gave him a chance to center himself.
Now, just to make the arrangements for it to happen.
If there is one thing I love most about photography, it is its ability to transform YOU as a photographer. God seems to use the subjects you see through your lens and the experiences you encounter to prepare you for circumstances you never knew you’d be a part of. These past two years I have thoroughly enjoyed traveling and photographing while “mom-ing”.
Traveling from Hawaii to Japan (and then onward to Alaska–but I will save that fun for another blog), makes the Pacific seem a little smaller now. It was a really incredible experience and I am beyond thrilled I was able to have those memories with and of my, then two year old, daughter.
I was able to teach her things that only adventuring provides the opportunity for.
Not to mention, only touring on our two feet allows for the kind of chats we had. The depth, the emotion, the understanding of one another’s minds; indescribable.
Living amongst history at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, I always found the stories intriguing. The longer I am somewhere, the more I want to peel back the cultural layers. Japan was the same way. We were able to talk about the way God molds us to be different and share those differences with one another to become a unit, His hands and feet.
We traveled the island a lot by foot, averaging about 4.5 miles a day, with one day over 7 miles round trip. We met a lot of people on our travels, some who spoke minimal English, which Haisley found very amusing.
We also used a local service to take us longer distances as well as some wonderful friends when they had the time.
There was one aspect of Okinawa I found most surprising, the lack of flags I found. When I travel I have a few “bucket list” shots I always want to snap. One of those for Japan was a Japanese flag being flown. I felt that it would bring the stories of the attack of Pearl Harbor full circle for me. I was astonished when by day three on Okinawa I still had yet to find a flag, at all…anywhere. It wasn’t until the nineth day (after purposeful looking) I saw my first Japanese flag. I am sure there had to be more which I didn’t ever see, however this took me by surprise so much that I did a little research.
According to one source from 2015, The Stars and Stripes Newspaper in Okinawa, “In Japan, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, concerned about the national flag’s lack of prominence, this year issued a directive strongly encouraging the country’s universities to fly it. But the flag’s long-ago association with the country’s wartime imperialism leaves some uncomfortable.” After seeing this written in different ways by different credible sources across the internet it was made clear. America, especially myself, has a unique stance on the flag and often is viewed as overly flag-happy.
I still do and will always hold our American flag in the highest regard. However, as we travel to other countries, I have really come to understand that we cannot assume those same symbolic meanings are true for all. On the surface, I feel like we all know this but it took me to experience this one situation to really let it sink in. Okinawan’s are proud of their island, but their Japanese flag is not how they show that.
Moments of realization like this is why I travel. It grounds me and gives me the right tools to teach my daughter. It humbles me and allows me to see the full picture as I go about life.
Most of all, the worldly knowledge and friendships I gain make me a better ME.
Never. Stop. Exploring.
StoryTeller. 