Meet Haley: a soon-to-be Eating Psychology Health Coach and entrepreneur!

She is the coolest, sweetest, most bubbly person. I’m privileged to have her as one of my best friends! Haley exudes health, authenticity, and vibrant, holistic well-being. We became friends because of food in my Fruitandchia days (anyone else remember those!?), but now our friendship is built on so much more; it’s built on faith. She has been a crucial person in my life as I’ve stepped into new chapters and as I’ve navigated challenging seasons. She’s been there without fail offering love, encouragement, and support. My heart is LEAPING knowing how many hearts and lives she is going to transform through her business!

While Hales is probably the healthiest person I know now, well-being hasn’t always been at the center of Haley’s life. For years, she struggled with a crippling eating disorder. Her relationship with food, exercise, and body image were sources of major struggle and unrest in her life. But these struggles have now revealed to her the redeeming power of God as she has undergone physical, spiritual, and emotional healing in regards to the disordered eating she suffered from. “I’m not proud of my past, but it’s so beautiful to see how God can use even the worst parts of our life for His Glory!” She mentions Romans 8:28 as a source of truth that’s guided her and given her hope through her hope process. Now, she seeks to help others unlock healing and freedom from fragmented relationships with food.

I find it exhilarating how the healing process of the darkest, toughest struggle in someone’s life can unlock vision and direction for their future. In the overcoming, destiny can be found. The very struggle that was vying for Haley’s livelihood is now the core of her business. It’s beautiful that the victory that she has found in regards to her eating disorder is going to be multiplied through her business. Through faith and her own experience, she is going to help many others find freedom from fragmented relationships with food.

It was an honor to do a brand session with Haley. To capture the essence of her brand, I photographed her preparing some of her favorite recipes. Leave a comment if you are interested in the recipes for either the smoothie bowl or juice that she made!

Enjoy :) Also, get to know Haley. I guarantee your life will be much brighter and sweeter (and healthier) with her in it! Follow her on instagram at @holisticallyhaley for recipes, health tips, and workouts!

Haley, I love you, I’m proud of you, and I’m forever cheering for you. I can’t wait for the future of your business!

T H E S E A S O N F O R B L O O M I N G

An Excerpt from My Heart

&

The Meaning Behind My Brand

Last summer, I purchased a print from one of my favorite local boutiques. The print, by the ever-talented Anna Lisabeth, says “You will be capable of blooming flowers again come spring”.

Initially, I was drawn in by the perfectly whimsical floral line drawing, but then I became captivated by the sentiment of the simple-yet-beautiful statement. And little did I know, that print would become much more than a pretty print to display on my bedroom wall. It would become a source of hope and a necessary reminder that, just like the weather, I, too, go through seasons in my life. Abundant seasons of fruit and exuberant blooming are often preceded by dry and desolate seasons.

Back to the topic of blooming — there’s something else that captivates me about flowers. In many ways they are an important symbol in my life. They begin as a humble, small seed. But then, when graced with patience and care, they miraculously grow into a beautiful, abundant, life form - one that offers hope and delight.

Something small can

grow into something

with remarkable,

ethereal, indescribable

beauty.

It’s that. The simple truth behind flowers applies to us too.

Hopes and dreams in our hearts may begin as a small seed. But when blessed with patience and gentleness they can manifest into something of great depth and magnitude, something that redefines beauty and surpasses expectations.

That in itself is the meaning behind my branding, and the reason for the flower in my logo. And I don’t mean any of this in the sense that I want this little business of mine to grow into something big. That’s not my goal here.

I want my photography to plant little seeds of hope within the hearts of those I work with and those who experience my photos. I want people to look at photos of themselves and be reconnected to their own sense of beauty. For people to see themselves as God sees them — to see themselves in a way they never before have — that’s my biggest goal. And it has to do with so much more than just the way my photos look. What’s more important to me is how my photos make someone FEEL. Through my photography, whether it’s with working with me as my client or simply viewing my photos, I hope my photos instill hope, dreams, and that each person can encounter Kingdom-grade beauty. After all, and despite all the lies that society instills in us, we are all a reflection of divine beauty, designed in His image.

None of this can be done through my own strength. On my own I don’t have what it takes. At the end of the day, God deserves all the glory, all the credit, because it’s all because of Him and for Him.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants”

— Matthew 13:31-21

A special shoutout Allie Laing for being the mastermind behind my branding & logo design! Allie, you made all my logo dreams come true. I am astounded by your talent!

Holistically Haley

The Season for Blooming: An Honest Excerpt from My Heart