Great Expectations

December 4, 2021 Michelle Lea

Cabin by Bear Lake was the perfect getaway for my best friend and life partner before our little one arrives this Christmas. Call it a Babymoon. Call it whatever you want, but relaxation was the goal and we achieved just that.

Stories with pictures are still my favorite, and this little cabin was irresistibly photo-worthy.

We stopped in Chattanooga, TN on our drive up and everything we discovered was noted as a destination to revisit with our growing little family. There’s nothing quite like Tennessee in the fall. So thankful!

- Cheers! (alcohol removed in mine this time)

Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica w/ Fr. David Carter

Walking tools for the Mr. & Mrs. aka Papa Bear and Mama Bear

Reasons to Celebrate

April 21, 2020 Michelle Lea

This COVID thing has been disruptive, to say the least. I haven’t found myself with massive amounts of extra time, working on overdue project lists around the house or chilling in front of the TV.

My whole transition to Lafayette has been a bit of a routine roadblock, meaning I haven’t really found my normal, yet. And that’s okay. My family is healthy. My home is cozy. My “day job” is secure and my creativity has plenty of shelf life.

Do you know what inspired me most last year? The selfless and genuine kindness shown to us in Lafayette General’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. From the moment my daughter arrived in premature labor all alone, to the first time we got to meet Isaac, we listened. Having never chartered the waters we were navigating, we listened to both the sobering and comforting words from the doctors and nurses about what possibly lie ahead. Their wisdom, expertise, comfort and care continued until the day Isaac was released. On the other side of this, I believe being employed in neonatal ICU is more than a job, it is a calling and a life purpose and I’m so grateful. I feel like everyone there gave their best, everyday with compassion and purpose. Each staff member was exceptional and genuine; many shared their own stories along the way, encouraging us as we witnessed Isaac’s strong will to fight and live and breathe.

The days turned into months for us (four and a half of them to be exact). I remain so thankful for the way the NICU staff explained every new change to my daughter in clear, candid and calm communication.

To date, I still haven’t found a normal routine - thanks, Corona, but I’ve found gratitude. Our greatest human fear is that of the unknown. This COVID thing is complex and new. We do not know what the future holds or how it will play out, but we know we are resilient and strong. We know God sends us what we need to be vigilant, or to rest, or navigate new and sometimes hard things. Isaac’s life is a miracle testament to that.

If I can encourage you, take whatever fortitude you need today; tomorrow will work itself out too and all the tomorrow’s after that. May we look back on however many months we are in this phase with gratitude for all the things we learned that we didn’t know before, for the wisdom we’re gaining now, for the compassion we can show this week in our own homes that is making a difference to help our families feel safe.

Isaac celebrated his one year birthday last month and I’ve been too busy to tell you about it until now. Stories are told best in pictures. These are mostly for you, NICU!

Stay well.

My thumbs up - Goose & Maverick kind of baby from the beginning.

When quarantine creations turn a recycled frozen pizza box into a birthday hat…

Isaac Lucien, you have Hunny’s heart forever!

Thank you, Alexandra Rodriguez of Alexandra’s Cakes & Cupcakes in Youngsville for helping me do something special!

Intricacies & Such

August 19, 2019 Michelle Lea

There is a knowing that comes before you need to know sometimes. It is a gift from God Himself, a gentle reminder that He truly cares about all the tiny details. His logistics are always on point, even when packages arrive differently than our schedules may have called for. He said it best to me through a poetic phrase written by King David in Psalm 139 using words like…

Delicate. Intricate. Mysteriously complex. Marvelously breathtaking and... “You formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully, shaping me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book”. TPT (paraphrased)

And this has been our reality and the story is more beautiful than words or pictures can express. I had just made him a little Easter cake days before that call came. I can’t imagine what was going through my daughter’s mind when it was evident at 28 weeks that this baby was coming three months early. There were so many unknowns, but the “God of Peace” was with us. My beautiful Meah was a total rock-star through the whole process. She was in the NICU with her baby as often as she could be, asking questions, learning about the hard things; a valiant watch guard and a really good mother. I am incredibly proud of my Meah for being so strong! AND the staff at Lafayette General - I cannot give them enough of the “thank you’s” they so well-deserve!

Unless you’ve ever had an experience like this, it’s difficult to understand what a one pound baby looks like or how he even survived or what size those footprints actually are with a tiny thumbtack as a reference guide. All I know is God is with Isaac and that he is nothing less than an absolute miracle.

And Isaac is home now and we can’t hold him enough or kiss him enough or love him enough or be grateful enough. Meah & Blaine, all the wisdom you need is yours for the asking and taking. I wish nothing but the best for you on this adventure.

Isaac Lucien, your Hunny loves you. There will be Laughter; there will be Light. You bring a song to my heart, boy and that song has been a long time coming…

The House That Built Me

April 12, 2019 Michelle Lea

See this house?

The family that claimed me (check out the camera in my left hand).

The brothers that shaped me and made me tough.

My creative mother depicted here. The one you don’t see is my father behind the camera who artfully took this image picturing life and vibrancy in a well-loved home in the 80’s.

See this house?

This house rebuilt me. This house has been my peaceful place, full of serenity and healing from the inside out. I signed papers on this house, yesterday to list it for sale and it is bittersweet. I am moving back home to Lafayette, nearer to my brothers, my daughters and family. There are so many unknowns at this writing, but I hope to find a new place in Lafayette that is as warm and open as this one, that breathes life and serenity, and backyard fires! I will always cherish my seasons here in Prairieville, the friendships I’ve made, the jobs that energized me and gave me my confidence back and the relationships built. It’s always my goal to leave a place better than I found it and I pray the people who buy my house enjoy it and are inspired by it everyday they wake up.

Cheers to new adventures! -Michelle Lea

Lindsey & Clay's Holiday Engagement

January 2, 2019 Michelle Lea

What a beautiful season it has been for our family, with celebrations and sweet memories made over the holidays. A big engagement congratulations goes to Clay & Lindsey - you guys are so perfect for each other! And that adorable dress…

Cheers! -Michelle Lea

Vanessa & Devon

October 13, 2018 Michelle Lea

What I admire most about this couple is their genuine friendship that was spoken in a language of the heart before Portugese and English could be put into words between them… It’s a chemistry you can see and feel and I’ve enjoyed every minute of detailing this wedding.

Raven & Jeremy

October 7, 2018 Michelle Lea

The weather gifted us with such beauty after an afternoon rain on the day Raven & Jeremy said, “I do”. And just like the leaves in October, I wish this cute couple the brightest and most colorful days in growing old together.

Cheers! - Michelle Lea

Venue//The Cabin Restaurant

2nd Shooters//Nicole Cromer & Stevie Ruiz

Lauren & Andre'

August 9, 2018 Michelle Lea

I’ve teared up a few times while editing these images. I was so happy to have been a part of such a sweet day in Springfield, IL. This couple is very dear to my heart and they are equally blessed to have wonderful, adoring families to enjoy life with. I digress; the photos tell the story better than words. I hope you not only see, but feel the day as I celebrate this wedding with them.

Cheers! -Michelle Lea

This is Why...

July 25, 2018 Michelle Lea

We all have a reason and a purpose that drives our passion. The heart of photography for me didn't come fully alive until my first girl was born. I was so fascinated by every little phase that I didn't want to miss a thing. My Dad was (still is) an oilfield sales guy with a strong interest in photography. He pursued wedding photography as a means to put my siblings and I through private school during the ups and downs of the oil industry. He constantly documented our lives growing up. I had never known blurry or underexposed images until I found myself trying to capture the sweet milestones of my own little one, living too many miles from home and having no budget for regular professional photos.

“The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.” - Andy Warhol

I started with a "point and shoot" and the resulting good pictures were about as random as throwing dice. By the time Meah was three, I asked my Dad to teach me everything he knew about film and lighting. He loaned me a Pentax K1000 35mm SLR and a SunPak flash (the old potato smasher) and I fell in love. I took pictures of anything and everything I saw. To this day, I still enjoy the romance between me and that lens. The camera is my favorite traveling buddy and I love that I have so many pictures of my daughters, our travels, our friends and family at so many stages of life.

When it comes to my own images or images taken for someone else, the end result is always about connectivity. I find myself a quiet observer into the relationships between people and the things or people they love. To mirror that back, to freeze and frame that moment in time is an adventure for me. To connect one generation to the next through photographs brings long-term purpose to my passion. When I hold that camera, it rarely feels like work. I don't want to just see a picture, I want to feel it too.

If there were no bills to pay, photography is still what I would choose to do with the gifts God has granted. Life moves fast. It's hard to believe my girls are grown now. I love seeing the joy that comes over them when we go through old pictures. Life is so full of priceless and vaporous moments that are here today and gone tomorrow. In this digital age, I have learned that pictures in print really help the memories come alive.

Enough with all the words - I'd rather tell you why with some photographic history.

Cheers! - Michelle Lea

Point and shoot love... Biloxi Beach, MS - 1996

The last of the point and shoot phase, but still one of my favorites. -1999

I've always had an affinity for black & white... The 35mm phase -1999-2000

Tools of the trade and humble beginnings... So grateful I learned photography before the digital world took over, There is something so classic about film.

The old potato smasher flash - I was so timid when I first started shooting weddings and I loved to hide behind that thing. Photo credits - Nicole Cromer -2007

Seaside, FL 2004 - Photo credits - Bryan Jackson

My favorite photos are the ones that show some form of personal connection. Hannah was four here and we were visiting on a porch in Lafayette, LA. Photo credits to my sister-in-law, Sharon Jackson.

An old 1975 Mamiya 645. I purchased this camera "used" from a photographic consignment shop in 2002 and began to read books and play as much as possible to learn medium format photography. Photo credits - Victoria Jackson

2004 - Nikon D70 - Photo credits Andre' Messina

I'll never forget this day. This brilliant angel beat me at Crazy 8's and I was awestruck at her tender sweetness as she counted her card bounty.

This is why, because life moves so fast and you never really know where the day might take you or what you might see. Washington, D.C. - 2009 - Always appreciate a sun-flare and the red, white, & blue.

Photographs help me remember the sweet stuff. Erie, CO 2015

Photographs help me remember the sad stuff - Hurricane Katrina 2005.

Grateful for lazy afternoons with the best pup there ever was.

And I'm thankful to remember the cloudy days when just being together is enough... Perdido Key, FL -2010

Disney 2006 - "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Exhibit - Photo credits - Matt McGee

And this is why; this is a piece of my story - remembering the joy and laughter of my girls on a simple Sunday afternoon.

My Dear 'ole Dad - The jolly soul. My forever hero. Legacy. This is why.

Lauren & Scott

April 6, 2018 Michelle Lea

The depth of Lauren & Scott's love for each other and for our Heavenly Father was the sweetest thing to capture. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:11 with this writing: "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time..."

And so it is with Scott & Lauren's story. When I first met with Lauren to discuss her wedding details, she was glowing (workout clothes and all). She said, "I am so happy. Scott is totally in love with Jesus and he's FINE, too".

These images depict more than I can possibly say.

Lifetime of Cheers! -Michelle Lea

DETAILS: Location// Whitehall Plantation

Hair & Makeup//HoganMakeup//Stephanie Hogan

Lauren's Dress// Stella York purchased at Town & Country Bridal

Flowers// Pike's Peak Beautifully Arranged by Nika

For the Love of Trees

March 13, 2018 Michelle Lea

My cousin loves trees like no one else I know. She finds beauty in them in every season. She often names them. In one of our car chats in her town several years ago, she introduced me to one of her favorites she had rightly named, "Resilience". It is a gnarled up tree, bent by the wind, but at that time, Resilience was a very faithful greeter on her daily commute.

Recently, Laura made a travel bucket list and shared it on Facebook. I glanced at her list and saw first in the U.S. category - Oak Alley. I chimed in - "I wanna go, too. I'll take pictures while you sit under those gorgeous trees." Spring break has freed a company of travelers and the past two days have gifted us the loveliest weather and all the green and lush things are blooming with sweet hello's!

I hope these pictures draw you in. I hope your curiosity is sparked. I hope you visit Oak Alley in Vacherie and Houmas House in Darrow. I hope you're able to take time to notice trees and find rest and shade under your favorites. Maybe you'll plant a tree, or even give one a name. There is nothing quite like the mighty oaks, who for hundreds of years have braved so many hurricanes and floods and truly stood the test of time.

I am so grateful for my Jackson family and love the strong, healthy Jackson girls in my life. Adventuring and spending time together is so pleasant and simple, and I never want our time to end. So, Laura - we might really need a camper!

Cheers to all the beautiful girls who share their strength and empower those around them! Your joy, your love, and your resilience is contagious. And cheers to spring 2018! -Michelle Lea

Lauren & Scott's Sweet Engagement

February 8, 2018 Michelle Lea

When I first learned that Lauren was engaged to Scott, I was elated! Scott & Lauren visited Natchitoches, LA to see the lights at Christmas and while there, Scott proposed. Such a sweet story! I've known Lauren for a couple of decades now. I watched her graduate, go off to college, purchase her first car, her first home and patiently wait for the right man in her life. So proud of this girl and so happy for the life ahead of you both! God answers prayers in beautiful ways, and ..."is able to accomplish far better than we can ask or think..." (paraphrased - Ephesians 3:20). I look forward to all the sequels from here, Lauren & Scott!

Cheers! -Michelle Lea

Schyler & Marissa

February 6, 2018 Michelle Lea

When I think of lifestyle photography, I think of real and authentic life moments and being able to express the beauty of those moments in a candid way. I am so blessed to be a part of the most memorable occasions in so many people's lives. It is a joy to create art out of special memories and connect the past to the future through photographs...

Schyler & Marissa, I adore you both and your growing family! Thank you for your friendship and loyalty - I enjoy flourishing in life alongside you!

Cheers! -Michelle Lea

Gold Trim Glass Box: designaglow.com

Those Bucktown Allstars!

January 21, 2018 Michelle Lea

There are certain things that happen in life that affirm that you should go ahead and take that next step - and maybe it's a step you've been pondering for a year or so. A message from the Bucktown Allstars was one of those moments for me. "Engaged Girls of the South", if you haven't booked these guys for your wedding reception - you're totally missing out. I love the vibe of this band and everything they put into planning something special in each and every event and venue they engage. The Bucktown Allstars are a total blast! They bring so much energy to the stage and their music is crazy good! www.bucktownallstars.com

I love dem Allstars. Cheers! - Michelle Lea

American Made

January 12, 2018 Michelle Lea

As of today, I am officially the proud aunt of two soldiers and one marine. My oldest brother and his sweet wife (my childhood friend) have three beautiful children and all three now serve our great country. I am grateful for a family with strong American roots and ecstatic for the opportunities these young adults will have presented to them. I don't like words like deploy or war and I pray God's safety on our country and our families. I celebrate what they have accomplished and all that they are becoming. This We'll Defend. Semper Fi.

Celebrate with me. Cheers! -Michelle Lea