One of the greatest honors for us is when fellow photographers ask us to photograph them –– especially when it’s someone as seasoned and talented as Alex. Alex has been a photographer for fifteen years. He is brilliant behind the lens. His perspective and point of view are beautiful. (Not to mention the fact that his personal style is FAB. If Jordan could hire him as his personal fashion consultant, he absolutely would!) So, when Alex reached out to inquire about an anniversary session with his stunning wife, Alacia, to say we were excited would be a dramatic understatement. We were a little nervous, too, if we’re being honest. We always are when we get hired to photograph other talented photographers!
From our email correspondence in the weeks leading up to the session, we suspected that Alex and Alacia were two very special people. Within seconds of meeting them, all of our suspicions were confirmed… and then some. They both have kind eyes and a gentle warmth about their souls that makes you instantly feel at rest and at ease in their presence. They have infectious laughs and contagious smiles. Our cameras couldn’t get enough! But the outward peace and joyfulness is just a physical manifestation of what’s in their hearts.
Alex and Alacia are counter-cultural. In a world where the media, entertainment and advertising tells us to put ourselves first… they put others first. They live a selfless life that’s a lot less about their own self-interest, and is, instead, a lot more about getting lost in the service of others. Whether it’s caring for family members who’ve fallen on hard times during the pandemic, or teaching the Bible to deaf children, over the past year, they’ve risen to the occasion. They’ve stepped up to the plate. They’ve been the first ones to put their goals and dreams on hold, so they could hold on to others, and hold them together when it felt like their world was falling apart. In a year when the national news stories have been so negative, discouraging, depressing, and disheartening, some of the everyday headlines, like Alex and Alacia’s, provide so much hope.
Whether big or small, we try to learn something from everyone we meet. From Alex and Alacia, we were reminded of something our pastor reiterated in church this weekend, something we suspect we’ll all need to be reminded of (continually) throughout our lives, but something that’s so powerful and important and timeless and true, that is bears repeating so it’s always practiced and never forgotten: “Until you live a life for something bigger than yourself, you’ll always live a life smaller than you want.” By that measure, Alex and Alacia are living large.
Alex and Alacia, thank you, from the bottom of our heart, for trusting us with the responsibility of freezing this moment in time for you. It was truly and honor and a privilege to meet you. We are so touched by your story. Happy eight years of marriage. May you have many more, and may these photos always be a reminder to you of what you were, in 2020, one of the hardest years ever, when the heat was turned up, when the pressure was on, when it really counted; like a sponge, you were squeezed like you’ve never be squeezed before, and goodness flowed out. We hope that when we’re squeezed in like fashion, we can say the same. You two have so much to be proud of. Keep loving, keep giving, keep serving, keep shining. You, friends, are exactly the type of medicine our sick world needs more of right now.
