Lynsey’s 25th Birthday Celebration: Guilford Portrait Session

Where do I even begin with Lynsey?

This amazing young woman contacted me about doing a very special 25th birthday photo shoot, and in the course of our conversations, I came to learn about her story—and why this particular milestone was so significant.

Turning 25 was not a given for Lynsey. In fact, she has been told multiple times, by multiple doctors, that it was unlikely she would reach this age.

Lynsey’s been battling various forms of cancer since before she could legally drink. To say it’s been a battle would be an understatement—fighting for her life has, in many ways, been the center of her existence for the past five years.

And yet, she hasn’t let cancer define her. She is passionate about so many other things. She has hobbies and skills and throws a mean curveball. She is wonderfully complex and talented and full of life and sass.

And throughout the entire ordeal, she’s had her loyal, wonderful boyfriend Joey by her side.

Lynsey wanted photographs of this major birthday milestone not only to celebrate, but also to provide others battling cancer a visual sense of hope. She’s in the process of developing a book project that charts her journey and helps other chronically ill patients find a way to look forward. I feel so lucky to have met this incredible human—what an honor it was, capturing these joyful images for her birthday.