Self Portrait

A self portrait is something that I believe every person should have done at some point in their life. It captures who you really are and allows others to experience that with you. This is the idea behind what Go{4}Pro is doing with this contest. It is an amazing thing when you see your self portrait photos and all of a sudden a million memories come flooding back. The look in your eye reminds you of a time when life was simple. The small smile you give tells a story of mystery and excitement. This is my story and a little of how I got into photography. Hope you enjoy it!

Self Portrait photo by a great friend and fellow photographer Kristine Neeley

It's 4th of July weekend 2008 and the entire city of Chicago is getting ready for the big fireworks show. The sun slowly goes down as the anticipation rises in the crowds. Friends and family surround us and we couldn't be happier, because two days later, we were getting married. Our journey together was just beginning and being young and passionate, we were ready to take on the world.

Going back a few years, my love for photography started my junior year of high school in a beginners photography course. We had our own darkroom and rolled our film in the black bags. Our teacher always knew when we cheated and bought film then developed it because it gave off a yellow tint on the pictures. This was before digital was a big deal. When I got my first point and shoot digital camera, I went crazy and became what I like to call a "photoholic." That's right...they need a meeting place for people like me. To this day I have boxes full of photos that I took, no matter how random, I keep them because they gave me my start.

Between then and now, it's all history.

An International Love || Chattanooga, TN Couples Photography

Johnson is from Nigeria. Jennifer is from Canada. They met and fell in love in Tennessee. Simple!

Some of you may recognize Johnson from previous posts, but the beautiful woman beside him now is his lovely girlfriend of the last year and a half. I met Johnson when he was working with my husband at our college here in Cleveland, Tennessee. Johnson is the person that everyone loves and makes everyone feel welcome. He'll come give you a hug or handshake and will always say thank you.

A few months after meeting Johnson, I had the privilege of meeting his wonderful girlfriend, Jennifer.We all went on a double date together and I quickly learned that Jennifer was a passionate person full of life and a love of photography. I recently got to do a shoot with her, where I was the model. She is such a fun and encouraging person to be around. Making her and Johnson the perfect pair.

 Johnson & Jennifer, you guys truly are a special couple and I am so happy you let me into your lives for a day!

One Child Campaign Social Justice/Documentary Trip

This holiday season, Wes and I are going to help give the hopeless and voiceless exactly what they need. Hope. A Voice. Awareness.
We will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia documenting the orphan crisis that is going on over there. This trip is to raise awareness in the States of the desperation that is overwhelming the cities of Ethiopia.

Here is a brief run down of what we will be involved with while there:
Media/Documentary Team: Comprised of photographers, writers, videographers, bloggers and individuals to record and tell the untold stories of street kids and orphans.
Social Justice/Work Team: Comprised of individuals, university students, social workers and groups that want to delve deeper into the lives of orphans and street kids. This will be a diverse team that will explore the social ramifications of the vulnerable and traumatized. This will be accomplished through working with orphanages, orphan directors, street kids, doing work projects, etc.

The cost of the trip is $1590.00 per person. This includes includes lodging, meals,water, transportation, fuel, translators, team shirt, tips, etc. But we are responsible for our international airfare as well. So the total cost of the trip with airfare will be about $6000.

If you would like to be a part of this amazing opportunity, please feel free to message me on Facebook or email me at lindsi.rian@gmail.com.

Donations are tax-deducible if a check is written out to One Child Campaign, with our names in the memo field, and sent to us. PayPal is also available for accepting donations.

If there is anyone you know that may want to get involved as well, please email me!

Thank you all for your hearts and support in both prayer and finances!!! We'll be doing regular updates of how the fund raising is coming along! Stay tuned!


~Lindsi and Wes Luffman

Christmas Portraits & Card Special

Sick of the same Christmas cards every year? Why not do something different?! 

Book your family Christmas session before November 15th and get the session and 24 personalized Christmas cards for $250. You'll also get a custom Artist Book of your favorite photos to give or keep!

Visit our website for more information about our photography and galleries!

*After November 15th, price changes to $350 for session and cards. Rush fee included in this price.*

Live & Love: Boyd Family Teaser

Stay tuned for more!!

International Portrait: Nigeria || Meet Golden and Johnson

Africa is always somewhere that I have wanted to visit. But in the mean time, I have had the privilege to become friends with two of the most sincere people you will ever meet. Golden and Johnson are from Nigeria, Africa. They are both students at Lee University here in Tennessee. They are both studying to become servers for their hometowns and here in the States by becoming a doctor and a counselor. I know that they will be an incredible impact in the lives of whoever they come across, so please enjoy the little insight that I can offer through our fun photo shoot!

 

This photo below is dedicated to Johnson's girlfriend, Jen!

(Sending prayers her way for a safe trip back to TN!)

Giggles & Coos: Meet Jamie and Sydney

A few days ago, I had the awesome opportunity to do a mini-maternity shoot with a fellow photographer friend, Jamie P. She is an amazing woman with such a fun personality and talent! Baby Sydney Allyn is due in about 5 weeks, so a newborn shoot will definitely be coming your way once she arrives! 

Until then, enjoy the baby belly goodness!

Above are two of my favorites!

How cute are those booties and headband?!

LOVE this big yellow chair!

Jamie- I'm so glad I had the chance to do a maternity shoot with you! I can't wait to meet baby Sydney in a fe weeks!

Giggles & Coos: Maternity Teaser

Here is yet another teaser!! Get ready for two awesome posts coming at your this week! But to hold you over until then, meet a new friend/photographer Jamie and the up-and-coming Sydney!

Nominate a deserving family! || Giving is Awesome

Lindsi Rian Photography has joined the group "Giving is Awesome!" It's a group of photographers dedicated to serving the deserving families throughout the world. There are photographers in every state and many countries.

Here's how it works: If you know of a deserving family that you think should receive a free full photo shoot and some awesome products, but can't afford it, write me a letter telling me about them! The nomination deadline is October 1st and the winner will be announced October 15th.

Rules: The family you are nominating must be in [or] be willing to travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee. That's it!

This project is all about giving back. So starting brainstorming and sending me those letters!!

{Please email all nominations to lindsi.rian@gmail.com no later than midnight October 1, 2010}

Golden & Johnson:Nigeria Sneak Peek

We beat a storm that was hitting hard on an off all day, but it made for some amazing shots!

More of Golden and Johnson to come!

New Products!

We're excited to announce two new products that we will be offering A La Carte!

The new Accordion series. The Accordion books are great gifts for Christmas or birthdays. They are even small enough to fit in a purse or briefcase to carry along as a brag book!

Business Card Redesign

Welcome our new business cards! MOO Inc. hosted a business card redesign recently and I was one of the people selected! These are what they came up with. I'm so excited about the new branding and I'm so happy to finally be able to share it with all of you!

Have you done any redesigning lately? If so we'd love to hear about it and see your new work!

We've Remodeled!!

Previously known as Cross Focused Photography, Lindsi Rian Photography is a new brand. David Jay has a saying, "There's always time to reinvent yourself." It's so true and it's something I've been working on for the last few months. Our photography has a new logo, website and overall look, but we still have the same fun spirited style in our photos.

Our new vision statement is "Serving life and passion with light." You'll see this reoccurring theme throughout our website, marketing materials and various photography projects. We are involved with various non-profit organizations, including: Photographers for Haiti, Thirst Relief International, Make a Wish Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Donations will be given to these causes through the studio. If you would like to make a donation during your session previews, that will be available. We believe in serving others with the gifts we are given. Photography is my gift, so I want to use it in every way possible to better someone else life. Whether that is doing photo sessions and donating all the costs or going to another country and documenting the cultures there so we may further understand where we can help.

This blog is brand new, so please be patient as we fill it with lots of eye candy, fun videos and DIY photography projects! If you have any suggestions for a post idea please feel free to share it with me, I'd love to hear all your creative ideas.

Thank you for stopping by and continue checking out the new website...let me know what you think!

-Lindsi