The Beautifully Flawed Retreat | KAUAI, HI

I had the honor and privilege to travel to Kauai and document a very special week for a very special group of young women. They all share a common bond of having a form of limb loss or limb difference. Through this common bond they have a place where each attendee can empathize with one another’s unique challenges and connect in a special way. It’s the ultimate summer camp for these ladies in one of the most beautiful places on the earth.

It was an incredible, transformative week for these amazing ladies. They spent the week doing some really unique, cool activities together. This included unset swimming/surfing in majestic Hanalei Bay, hand-making flower leis, morning workouts with personal trainers, devouring some incredible meals by local chefs, their own private luau, worship and prayer times together, getting hair and make-up done for their own portraits, and many other incredible island adventures…

What a treat to have this week-long refuge of joy and community that is created and crafted just for them. They can pour their hearts out to one another over the daily trials they endure and fears they have for the future, then two minutes later belly laugh over the goofiest things only they can relate to. Above it all, the Beautifully Flawed retreat is an affirmation to these precious ladies that that God is always with them, sees and loves each one intimately, and will be their rock through all the trials they may face. 

On a personal note, this week was so incredibly life-giving and fulfilling. Spending time with such amazing, resilient, hilarious, and humble women was something I will always carry with me. To hear their vulnerable stories, watch them ride those waves or do that last push up was so inspiring. Everyone was so warm and inviting. It was so wonderful to connect with so many of them over life, family, dreams, hobbies, and struggles. 

As a photographer, this was the kind of visual storytelling that I feel I was made for: Incredible people with unique stories, Kingdom-focused work, an organization with integrity and human dignity at the core, all while being in incredible places on all ends of this globe. If just one of these boxes is checked, I’m so beyond blessed in my job. But when all are, it’s just the ultimate dream. Capturing these kinds of moments is all I ever wanted to do with my calling. I hope God continues to use me to do so well into the future. 

A giant MAHALO to the amazing crew at The Beautifully Flawed Foundation and to each and every attendee for welcoming and trusting me with your stories.

Beyond grateful.