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I headed back to Sedona for a 2nd time and it was just as beautiful as ever. Spent the weekend hiking, watching the sun set, trying out new restaurants, and taking in the beautiful desert. Dying to shoot another wedding out here <3 Photos taken on a Canon 5d mark iv, Sigma 24-70 lens, and edited with my presets. Shop my print store here!   
    
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Growing up acne was never a big issue for me. Then I hit 25 and moved to South Carolina (hello humidity) and things took a quick turn. Fast forward 5 years later and I was still dealing with spurts of adult acne which is frustrating. My life is super busy and stress seems to make my skin very upset. Poly LED offered to let me try their new anti-acne device, the only cordless LED device on the market, and I was excited to see what the results would be. The following is a before and after photo after using the light for 1.5 weeks.
Overall I feel like it definitely worked for my skin (the blue light kills the bacteria and the red light helps to heal scars and marks). Moreover, now that my skin has cleared up, I can notice a difference if I don't use it for a couple days as acne starts wanting to emerge again. Luckily this is cordless & lightweight so I can bring it anywhere as a tool in my quest for natural, healthy skin free of harsh chemicals and ingredients that can age you (despite what they advertise). STEP 1 - Blue Light STEP 2 - Red light If you're interested in learning more, check out the devices here: https://www.mypolyled.com/product/poly-go-clear/
So I had to leave my blow dryer and a thousand other things behind when I moved across the country this year. I was okay with it because I really don't like using heat on my hair as it can be damaging. However I really missed being able to dry off that last section when I need to get out the door or start getting ready. I tested out these 2 gorgeous tools from Jose Eber - the blow dryer and the wet/dry hair straightener. Keep reading to hear why I love them, and get a 70% off coupon!  The Direct Air Blow dryer has 3 different heads, 2 of which direct the air in a strict line which makes drying super quick and efficient! Its also surprisingly very lightweight which means I wont feel guilty traveling with it. The Infrared 2" Wet / Dry Hair straightener can be used on wet or dry hair and is designed to minimize damage. Lately I've found this is really nice to use about an hour after I get out of the shower and want to spend 1-2 minutes smoothing and finishing drying my hair with a couple comb-thrus of this tool. Makes my day a little easier and I can say goodbye to the "messy bun" and be okay wearing my hair down when I don't have time to style it. Another way I love to use this is (at the same time, hour post shower) to run it through my hair and then wrap the hair around curlers for 10 minutes - the result is perfect beach waves with only 2 minutes of my time.  I have a 70% off discount for you guys if you’re interested!
Code CHAMPAGNE70 for all champagne tools at www.joseeberhair.com/ My last stop in China was to Shanghai, a fun, crowded, lit up city with lots to do. Prints will be available in my Print Shop, the first week of March! Interested in taking better photos during your travels? Check out what's in my camera bag, and my ebook to Taking Better Photos and learning your DLSR. River CruiseWe took a pretty decent sized boat cruise along the river in Shanghai. On one side of the river, it is filled with the the colonial architecture of European design - the Western influences of the old days. On the other side it is full of more modern skyscrapers. Seeing the difference of the area depending on which side of the river you were on was pretty incredible to witness via boat.       City God Temple BazaarThis large and insanely busy market is composed of specialty stores, selling traditional Chinese arts and crafts, medicine and souvenirs. The buildings were all incredibly detailed and beautiful and everywhere we went was packed with people, especially on the weekend. If you want to shop, this was definitely the place to do it!      
  Chinese AcrobaticsOn my last night, we attended a Chinese acrobatic show called "The Intersection of Time." The performers were phenomenal.     Hangzhou was described by Marco Polo as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world" and has been described by poets and artists as “Paradise on Earth”, home to the West Lake, the most beautiful lake in the country. Daytime here was quite and serene while nighttime downtown was filled with plenty of shopping, eating, lights, and fun things to explore! Prints will be available in my Print Shop, the first week of March! Interested in taking better photos during your travels? Check out what's in my camera bag, and my ebook to Taking Better Photos and learning your DLSR. The West Lake              Dragon Well Tea at the Tea PlantationWe got to visit and tour the number 1 tea plantation and taste (and buy way too much) of the "Dragon Well" tea, the best green tea in China. We learned a lot about the health benefits of green tea and got to witness its antioxidant benefits in a cool experiment!      Wuxi (pronounced "ooo-she") was such a calm peaceful city. The accent here almost sounds like singing as opposed to other cities like Shanghai which tend to sound like yelling. Here i visited the grand Buddha and a serene lake. Prints will be available in my Print Shop, the first week of March! Interested in taking better photos during your travels? Check out what's in my camera bag, and my ebook to Taking Better Photos and learning your DLSR. Lingshan Grand BuddhaOne of China's largest Buddha statues at over 80m tall. The surrounding area is huge, and full of peaceful, beautiful attractions. At sunset, there was a large musical fountain which plays out the story of the birth of the Buddha. Also here is the Brahma palace, a palace with sandalwood pillars, built to host the 2009 Buddhist conference. 
 
Lake Lihu / Lake Taihu     Suzhou is also known as the "Oriental Venice" for its beautiful canals, bridges, pagodas, and gardens. I took a boat ride through this gorgeous yet mellow city and was so humbled by the way of living I witnessed everywhere. 
      
 
While in Suzhou, we stopped at the Lingering Garden, a private garden with 500 years of history to see a traditional Chinese garden.  
 My first stop in China was to Beijing. After getting my bags held up along the way in Shanghai, I arrived in Beijing for 3 days with nothing but the clothes on my back (and the cameras in my carry on). Beijing is in northern China and it was winter, so it was freezing cold! Thankfully I had worn a scarf on the plane! Prints will be available in my Print Shop, the first week of March! Interested in taking better photos during your travels? Check out what's in my camera bag, and my ebook to Taking Better Photos and learning your DLSR. Park near the Temple of HeavenBefore visiting the Temple of Heaven, we checked out a park nearby early in the morning. Here you can find many things you are unlikely to see in America. There were hundreds of elderly people gathered playing games, cards, stretching, doing yoga, playing hacky sack, singing, and exercising. There was also an area I like to call the "in person tinder" where parents brought worksheets describing their children (height, salary, education, a photo, etc) and placed them on the ground in the park. Other parents would go around trying to find a suitable mate for their child. Check out some of the happenings in this park!
 Temple of HeavenAn architectural masterpiece built in the1400s for emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. 
Tiananmen SquareThe city square in the center of Beijing, contains the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China in the square on October 1, 1949. 
 The Great Wall The Great Wall (Juyongguan) is one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”! I got the chance to climb/walk a small portion of the 3,700-miles for about half of a day. The steps are totally uneven, one step might be 6 inches tall and the next 2 feet. It was pretty difficult on the uphill portions and you had to constantly be watching where you stepped, even though this section (and a lot of sections) had been rebuilt. I walked most of it alone and it was a great experience to be in a place so grand, alone in my thoughts.      
 Hutong RideWe took a ride with some locals to see a hutong which is essentially a neighborhood that people live in. We were lucky enough to get a home cooked meal by a local family with noodles made from scratch!      Before I went to Beijing, I was so lucky to have made a friend from there named Mona. She was so sweet and came and met me, showed me around and took me to another hutong at night on the subway. I didn't bring my camera, but the hutong she brought me to that night was quite different than the one pictured above. It had a lot of shopping and eating and was a spot where people would go to hang out. Olympic CenterThe hotel I stayed at in Beijing was right next to where the 2008 Olympics were held. I got to see the amazing buildings built for the ceremonies, and they were lit up every night, full of people enjoying the space.
 Forbidden CityBeijing is a city of rings, all formed around the center, which is where the Forbidden city is. This is the former seat of the emperors throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, and now home to the National Palace Museum 
Summer PalaceA former retreat place for royalty, this palace has a man made lake, now a serene retreat for the public. It is huge, and beautiful, but only a few feet deep.
Lately my anxiety has been out of this world. I work full time, run two side businesses on my own, own two homes, property manage multiple tenants, and do all the cleaning and yardwork at my house. When I have free time, I was finding myself getting anxious and irritated rather than enjoying it. A friend showed up late? Instant anxiety about wasting my time. Roommates never cleaning? Anxiety for a week. Not the kind of person I wanted to be. When I was in college I had a doctor give me prescription pills to calm me down when my anxiety got the best of me, but that I stopped taking them after hearing about all the addictive traits and adverse effects these medicines can have.
What To Buy...Here are some of the extensions and products I use, on Amazon. Enjoy!
I only got to spend a few days in Auckland but man was it gorgeous! Check out some photos of Auckland, surrounding harbors, ferry rides, and Waiheke Island! See something you like? Check it out in the Print Shop! Interested in learning how to use your DSLR to take photos of your travels? Check out my eBook!  
            
             
  
  From Brisbane, I drove down the Gold Coast to Byron Bay, and stayed in Currumbin. Here are some photos along the way. See something you like? Check it out in the Print Shop! Interested in learning how to take better photos of your travels? Check out my eBook!   
                 
       
 After arriving in Brisbane, I stayed in the quiet town of Currumbin, which is south of Gold Coast, and a lot more quiet. Wearing Strange Bikinis Photos taken with the help of Pat Black. Styled, modeled, and edited by Lindsey O.
Waiheke Island.. WOW. The perfect ferry ride from Aukland, NZ. Swimsuit from Strange Bikinis Photos taken with the help of Pat Black. Styled, modeled, and edited by Lindsey O. 
 This bikini had me feelin' like a pacsun commercial, and i'm okay with that! Bikini by Cheeky Swim Top - bought locally in Byron Bay, Australia Photos taken with the help of Pat Black, styled, modeled,+ edited by Lindsey O.
Take a walk through downtown Brisbane with me <3 Explored this city on my own and was so impressed with the tiny shops, bakeries, and the parks! Photos: Canon 5d Mark iii and 50mm f/1.2, edited with my presets. Want to learn how to take better photos of your travels? Check out my guide here!  
 
 
Bali. Bali. Bali. Oh my goodness Bali. I cannot wait to go back here and stay longer. I stayed in Sanur which was the more quiet area of Denpasar. While in Bali I visited Ubud, the sacred monkey sanctuary, Tanah Lot Temples, the rice terraces, saw how coffee was made, rode scooters throughout Denpasar, Learned to surf at Kuta beach, talked with local artists, and visited Mt Agung - a volcano that erupted just 2 days after. Photos taken with a Canon 5d Mark iii Want to learn how to use your DSLR to take photos of your adventures? Check out my ebook here! 
   
 
 
 
 
           
 
   
   
 
  
Bali was such an amazing experience. I especially loved my airbnb in Sanur, as it was away from all the tourists and oh so cute. I felt like I had a little piece of the jungle to myself. Check out some photos lounging around this place in one of Strange Bikini's awesome handmade pieces! Model / Content: Lindsey O. Photos taken with the help of Pat Black, styled & edited by Lindsey O.
I was SO excited to find out Cheeky Swim was going to offer this one piece again for 2018, it is absolutely gorgeous, and handmade in Florida! Sanur was the perfect secluded area in Bali, leaving me feeling like a jungle goddess in this bikini! Content / Model: Lindsey O. Photos Taken with the help of Pat Black, Styled and Edited by Lindsey O.
Next up is this cute little retro two-piece, also by Cheeky Swim.
A short drive from Sydney is Royal National Park. I stopped at one of the beaches here and found some pretty cool secluded spots including a natural pool in the rocks! Photos: Lindsey O. Equipment: Canon 5d Mark iii See something you like? Prints start at $25!   
  
  
 My first stop in Australia was the little beach town of Bondi Beach. Talk about a gorgeous swimming pool location! Loved the vibes here, and the food! Poke bowls and Pad Thai were not in short supply ;) Photos: Lindsey O. Equipment: Canon 5d Mark iii and Sigma 24-70mm See something you like? Prints start at $25!        Living out a day dream exploring the coastline near Sydney, Australia in this adorable high waist bikini by Cheeky Swim! Content / Model: Lindsey O. Photos taken with the help of Pat Black, edited by Lindsey O.
Summer roadtrip in Banff, Canada - can you beat it?? Day Hikes, a Helicopter ride, Crystal clear blue lakes, it was heaven. See anything you like? Check it out at the Print Shop!  
     
  
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Traveling Wedding, Elopement, and Brand Photographer based in Charleston, SC and Seattle, WA. Learn More!
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