Lies!!!

If you had told me back in 2009 that the high school senior who stood before me for his graduation photos would one day ask me to photograph him and his high school sweet heart on their wedding day, that I would one day meet their children, photograph their extended family, work in the ICU with him, attend their birthday parties, going away party, share tears together or that one day they would be living in St. Kitts while Ethan attended Veterinarian school and that I would travel there to visit and photograph them on the beach... I would've laughed in your face.

But that's all true.

Last year, Ethan and his wife Neyda casually said, "you should come visit us in St. Kitts." And if there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I don't ever play about travel. One night, I impulsively purchased flights to the islands; not even knowing where to find it on a map. I messaged them the next morning and said "flights are booked!"

Earlier this year, I made my way out there and had the single most life changing vacation of my life.

Neyda was kind enough to drive me around the island every single day. We shared meals, sunsets, coffee, dreams, fears, laughter, conversations and amazing food with each other. It was so wonderful to grow even closer with her.

And because I love to photograph people, and that's initially how our friendship began, I asked if I could take their family portraits in their temporary home on the island.

Here are the highlights:

If viewing from your phone, turn your phone sideways :-)

I could go on and on and on about this family. How they are all so resilient, how their daughter has become quite a force of nature, how their son inspires me with his hunger for learning and life... how Neyda finds beauty in everything and purposefully seeks to create presence of life, joy, peace and love in her home and with her family. Then there's Ethan, who I remember standing with at the going away party... with tears in his eyes, said he was asking so much of his family so that he could follow his dream. I have never met such a collective group of humans who care for each other so fiercely. And because that is the standard at home... it pours out into the rest of this world easily.

They are one of my most favorite families to witness. I am so so so in awe of them and look forward to meeting them in their spaces in the future. All the good in you is now part of me. And I am so grateful to have had the great fortune to share the island and this life with you all.

• Chriselda