When I officially started my photography business in 2011, I knew exactly what kind of photographer I wanted to be: a newborn baby photographer who used bean bags and props and and backdrops as I flexed sweet little newborns into the most adorable poses of all time. I mean, I love babies! I love photographs! What could be better than combining the two?
And theeeeen I shot my first posed newborn session.
Turns out, I am not a posed newborn photographer. I’m also not a posed family photographer. But! I am a photographer who loves really ridiculous, really fun, and really laid back family photographs. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom or maybe it’s because I just really love people but I absolutely love to see how different families interact and play and love and, this past year, I made a concentrated effort to really bring a fun kind of chaos into all my family sessions. Life is so rad and I feel like all kinds of love – maternal, romantic, familial, friendship, and everything under the sun! – should be celebrated as often as possible. Who doesn’t want photographs that make them break out into a huge, cheesy grin that makes their cheeks hurt?
Enter Lauren and her family full of awesome boys!
This is old news but I absolutely love Lauren. This girl was a senior portrait and posed newborn photographer when we first met (and she was amaaaaazing! She did Henry’s baby photos and they are the freaking cutest!!) and she is so full of sass and opinions and fun and she’s the kind of friend that’s always got your back and doesn’t even blink when you show up to her house with wet hair and yoga pants and smudged mascara that didn’t totally wash off the night before. Love her, love her fam, and love these photographs!!
Have y’all been to Pure Joy Ice Cream in Siloam?! It is the CUTEST!
Lauren and I have been talking about taking family photographs at Pure Joy ever since we first saw it announced and it did not even disappointed. Just down the street from The Brick Ballroom, Pure Joy is the happiest little ice cream shop I’ve ever seen (love it!) and I had so much fun photographing Lauren and her family there! Lauren and I have been working tirelessly on a new business venture the past few months – we are starting a styled shoot rental shop! – and, basically, she’s my fave. Loved photographing this sweet family in May and can’t believe summer is officially over! It went so fast!!
P.S. Keep your eyes peeled for more about our new shop Opal and June! Details are coming SOON!
Weddings | Engagements | Seniors | Families | Personal
Inquire About Your Wedding Date + Book A Session With Lissa Chandler Here
Lissa Chandler is an Arkansas wedding photographer based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Lissa has two crazy pups who want to snuggle all day long and party all night, an eight year old who’s super into Harry Potter, a five year old who can tell you everything about lobsters, and a husband who always picks the best strawberries at the grocery store. Lissa is the owner and lead photographer of Lissa Chandler Photography and, along with associates Kristen, Jamie, and Michaela, photographs happy weddings all over Arkansas and the United States. Along with Lauren (pictured above!), Lissa is the co-founder and owner of Opal and June, a styled shoot rental shop for photographers.
Since opening her business in 2011, Lissa has mentored countless photographers, taught at nationwide conferences, and has been featured – and interviewed! – in lots of blogs, photography workshops, and photo-related publications. Additionally, Lissa has had work published in both local and nationwide magazines including Click, Arkansas Bride, and People. Don’t be afraid to go for it, y’all!
