GALAXIE ANDREWS >> meaningful life documentation | arizona & worldwide

shelley & ed.

Galaxie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:17:07 +0000

i call it ‘meaningful life documentation’.
storytelling images of you and your loved one, having stepped away from your daily routine to experience something honest and personal, where you get to take part in the things that tug at your heartstrings, and to interact with one another in meaningful ways. you then return to your daily life with a big smile on your face, and images that remind you of your fierce connection.

‘meaningful life documentation’ is also the book of love letters ed made for shelley. a collection of notes they’d exchanged while apart in the beginning of their relationship. a meaningful, personal keepsake they can always go back to and remember the beauty of their story.

we braved the sun one afternoon outside of tucson, exploring southwestern desert trails, canyons, rivers and flora. i lost my footing a few times in the presence of shelley and ed because of the wild and quietly moving moments unfolding before me. after watching the sun fall in the horizon, we continued this sensory-rich experience sharing laughs, drinks and stories around a scrumptious meal in town.

this is the meaningful life documentation of shelley and ed. hold on to your chairs.

if you see yourself enjoying a meaningful portrait experience like this one, say it here.

kirsta & alec.

Galaxie — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:59:53 +0000

a mini end-of-season adventure with kirsta and alec took us on the road, exploring the quiet desert rivers, sandstone boulders and a placid mountain reservoir. we paused to enjoy wine, cheese, prosciutto and fruit, while great blue herons hovered above, and everything around was quietly breathtaking.

looking through all these frames today, it seems we hopped into several canvases of different color schemes.
looking through all these frames today also has me smiling and feeling lucky for the beautiful day i spent with my muses, alec, kirsta and her spirit animal, molly.

bahar & brent. valentine oranges.

Galaxie — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:40:03 +0000

and then there’s trust. that rare powerful thing that allows me to freely and creatively explore, to give and take, to be witness to moments that wouldn’t take place without it. it’s like a permission slip, a hall-pass, a crack in the door. i humbly take it and run.
it’s a precious exchange that involves mixing equal parts of vulnerability and courage, and a heavy dose of authentic words and gestures, all coming from a place of truly wanting to say and give them. but if you mess up, it’s spoiled.
bahar and brent let me into these beautiful parts of them. i’m forever grateful for this exchange and for the images that were made from it.
—
‘valentine’s day’ the simple way is an afternoon spent under an orange tree writing heartfelt notes to loved ones, tied to freshly harvested, juicy oranges. to give to grandma, the next door neighbor, or your favorite local shop owner down the road.

fashion & styling: lulu trésors
models: bahar & brent
photographer: galaxie andrews

a few more here.

kirsta & alec.

Galaxie — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:33:48 +0000

kirsta and alec had me at ‘we’re not wedding people’. we sat together and shared stories over a bottle of red blend. we talked travel, family, art, the things that make us happy, and we cheered to the unconventional, and the shedding of things that aren’t meaningful and true to us. we were a perfect match. kirsta & alec’s wedding was a laid-back, colorful, quirky party with decorations made by friends, a live acoustic band, and the most beautiful moody skies.
we were granted a different shade each step of the way: a blue/gray sky while we frolicked among the citrus trees, a golden/pink sky over the confetti throwing, a rich orange sky at dinner, a striped blue & purple sky for the smoke breaks and cheers with friends, and a dark deep blue sky for the dancing, cake-eating and rest of the night.

venue: shemer art center
dress: lovejune
shoes: senso diffusion
flowers: white poppy
cake: barb’s bakery
band: kashlee clausen
caterer: richardson’s
photographer: galaxie andrews
2nd shooter: annie gerber

jesse & whitney.

Galaxie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:24:00 +0000

my voice shook a bit as i invited them into this brief moment of connection and playfulness.
the experience of shooting top photographers like jesse & whitney was nothing short of wonderful. but there was nothing pretentious or grandiose about them. instead a brilliant vulnerability, open-ness, and they seemed just as shy and nervous as i was.

this is jesse & whitney of olol at the beloved collective in LA – 3 days of generous soul-sharing, note-taking, friend & plan-making.

intimate cozy cabin wedding.

Galaxie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:19:46 +0000

travel to the woods with your closest loved ones, to say your I do’s in the warm piney scent of a fireplace.
fallen feathers collected from your morning walk adorn his vest pocket,
and you pause to take-in the beautiful faces that have come to celebrate you.
laughter and stories are shared around a long table, as mugs of tomato cobbler warm-up the hands and fill the bellies of those you love.

[one, two, three, four, five]

taylor & brandon.

Galaxie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:19:55 +0000

before we could ever point a camera at taylor and brandon we received a tight heartfelt hug from them, which inspired an even greater level of meaning in our images for the rest of the day. these two were up for anything. we frolicked among old pecan trees, walked through organic gardens, visited a plant nursery and a chicken coop, it felt like we’d known one another for years.
taylor & brandon made us part of the celebration. we got pulled into pictures and conversations, dragged onto the dance floor, and sent home with jars of salsa, leftovers and fresh centerpieces. we were the first ones there and last ones to leave. i can’t help but smile and reminisce over their wedding images and can’t wait to share more stories with them around a table of good food and drinks.
there’s something to be said about personal connection and photography – that great images aren’t attained by how good one is with a camera, but rather by the relationship one develops with their subject – and that day, we all shared into this beautiful experience where honest meaningful memories were created for them, for us.

my favorite part of the day was when the night came and everything around us turned pitch black. from afar, their intimate celebration looked like a perfect hazy glow, a magical canopy of golden dots flickering in the night, with screams and laughs emanating from it.

venue: the farm at south mountain / morning glory
floral designer: annie of camelback flowershop
caterer: santa barbara catering
desserts: seasons 52
hair & make-up: park avenue
dress: wtoo
coordinator: nikki de herrera
photographers: galaxie & brandon

carolina & adrian. new year’s.

Galaxie — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:49:01 +0000

a simple fête among close friends to commemorate the end of a year and rejoice the beginning of the next. with comfy knits, balloons, and a little sparkle, funny stories are told and shared memories are reflected upon around a modest, colorful, lingering feast.
hours later, the peeling of a pomegranate for dessert inspires even more stories and laughter.
wishing everyone an adventure-filled and mindful new year!

fashion & styling: lulu trésors
food styling: michele andrews & jim le
models: carolina & adrian
photographer: galaxie andrews

kathy.

Galaxie — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:56:39 +0000

my friend kathy’s presence in front of the camera [here & here] usually signifies the learning of a new technique or trying to figure out new gear. that’s when i’m typically faced with a reality check, a slap in the face, a humbling shoot to say the least, but most importantly, artistic freedom. this time the 5d mark ii and 85mm 1.2 lens which i’d never used in combination before, were along for the ride.

kathy and i took a stroll in her neighborhood one afternoon.

this it what it felt like.

melissa & mark

Galaxie — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:31:45 +0000

i saw melissa and mark not as a vendor would see them, but as their family and best friends saw them. my eyes, hands, laughs, tears, all intertwined with the happenings of the day. my heart pounded alongside theirs during the chaotic and the quiet moment, and i stood close, documenting, observing, loving every second of it. melissa & mark had an intimate ceremony by the creek among vine covered trees, as yellow leaves rained upon them. it was magical. a day of experience, discovery, and pure natural beauty, shared with some of the most important people in their life. we felt at home with them, part of the gang. and we drove home that night with a jar of homemade jam, our own personalized name rock, and our heads full of dreamy, fall inspired images.

ceremony site: west fork trail, sedona
dinner venue: garland’s oak creek lodge
dress: jim hjelm
suit & bride’s shoes: banana republic
flowers: bliss floral
cake: urban cookie
caterer: heartline cafe
guitarist: joel rieck
photographer: galaxie andrews