Such a SPECIAL photo shoot this was!

When Halie and her mom. Holly, came into the studio to plan and design her high school senior photo session, I knew how very amazing this young woman would be to photograph. You see, she is a CANCER SURVIVOR. Yes, at 17 she knows the pain, the struggle, the fear and then the triumph of defeating that scary and ugly word we all hate: Leukemia. I’ve included some of her own words in this post, taken from her Spokesmodel application submitted to us earlier this year (she is one of our 2014 Spokesmodels).

When we talked about her senior photo shoot, both Halie and her mom wanted to somehow capture a few images that portrayed her “celebration of life”; images that would be joyful and special and clearly “triumphant”.  We had a vision and she wanted to include her special cancer bear “Julie” that had been through it all with her as a child. We also planned on incorporating the glorious light from the late afternoon/early evening sun to represent the light of God’s love that pulled her and her family through such a difficult time.

Today Halie is a vibrant, happy, loving and strong young woman—and she’ s a 2014 senior who looks forward to a future full of hopes and dreams. These are some of our favorite images from her session and we’ve included her own words to go along with them.

Notice the amazing chalkboard sign? Holly made this specifically for Halie’s senior session (she’s a very talented and crafty mom, wouldn’t you say?). It’s pinterest-inspired but she took it up several notches and it’s such and amazing and fabulous prop. I also loved that they included Halie’s long-board and bunny Juliette for a few images!

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“I am a cancer survivor who spent 3 1/2 years of my childhood undergoing chemo. I found peace at an amazing summer camp for kids with cancer called Camp Okizu. I have gone back every year since my remission to be with other children going through what I went through. I get to work along side the very same doctors and nurses who saved my life! It’s like my extended home and extended family.

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I also volunteer with my church (Bayside) and worked in Mexico this past summer serving the people near Mexicali. I love working with kids during Bayside’s summer camps. I also love participating in any sport. I would say my passion is long boarding. Each year I am part of a 30+ mile longboard run around Lake Tahoe to raise money for Breast Cancer. My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor so it makes me happy to race in her honor.

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I love life. Above all else, I love God. He has given me my life and I feel like it’s my duty to pay it forward. I have been given a gift of wisdom…to know that life is so much more than we can ever imagine. We are all on this earth for a unique purpose and it is my wish to leave an amazing legacy of love. When others may put an emphasis on their worldly accomplishments, I hope to be know for my heart.

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 My dream is to become a child oncologist and travel the world helping those that don’t have the same luxuries that we have in the United States. I want my life to mean something. I love giving gifts. I love being goofy. I don’t take myself too seriously. I love my parents I adore my two younger brothers. I am happy-go-lucky!” She is Halie. A beautiful young woman who lives and breathes every day as if it were a gift. Because it is. For all of us.

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