One of the things I was most excited about for my return to Chiang Mai was the chance to reconnect with lots of old friends.
Some were people I’d known during my English teaching days a number of years ago and many others were bloggers. Some (like my friend Alana) belonged to both groups. And the best part? All of these pre-established friends then introduced me to even more amazing people so that by the end of it all, I almost couldn’t bear to tear myself away.
One pair, in particular, would play an unexpected role in my time in Chiang Mai.
I met Tim and Laura one evening while sipping wine at our mutual friend Alana’s place–in fact, it was Alana they were in town visiting, and we immediately bonded over our shared Washington roots. Their playful personalities were absolutely infectious, and they had me doubled over with laughter many times throughout the night. They’d been together for something like a million years and were the kind of couple that made marriage look effortless. Fun, even!
I learned they were photographers building up their own business and working for Flytographer as well, a company that helps travelers find local professional photographers to hire during their trip.
In case you haven’t heard, hiring professionals for travel photography is a trend that’s totally on the rise. It’s a really cool idea if you ask me, and in places like Thailand, it can be astonishingly affordable, too.
I wouldn’t actually see samples of Tim and Laura’s work until we all got together for a work session at The Barn, one of Chiang Mai’s cool new design cafes, a few days later. I wasn’t after travel photography, per se, but I always like having some portraits on hand for use on the blog (they’re all over my new About page, for example–check ’em out!) and as soon as I saw samples from the magical portrait session they’d done with Alana, I knew I had to hire them.
The resulting photos will be making plenty of appearances throughout this site, but I also wanted to share them here, all in one place–both to highlight the exquisite talent of this photography power couple and also to enlighten you to the possibility of a similar photoshoot on your travels through an agency like Flytographer.
I had a few ideas of my own for these photos but was willing to hand over the reigns to the professionals for the most part, and they definitely had a few surprises up their sleeves. We began our afternoon at the gorgeous Fern Forest Cafe within the walls of Chiang Mai’s old city. The name, as you’ll see, is quite appropriate. 
Next, we were off to a surprise location they’d spotted earlier and were dying to check out. It was an abandoned and crumbling building in the northwest corner of the old city, where we may or may not have been trespassing when we entered. But boy, did it photograph beautifully! 
Finally, we found a slightly more iconic (and definitely more legal) backdrop for the last set of shots, one of Chiang Mai’s many white temples. 
Since I’m typically behind my own camera and not in front of one, this had the potential to be very uncomfortable and awkward for me. Luckily, these guys kept me laughing the whole way through–I never had to fake a smile once!
You can find more of Laura and Tim’s work on their website, Lightworks360. Sadly, the duo is no longer available for shoots in Chiang Mai, but if you’re in the Seattle area be sure to follow their Facebook page for news on all the unique and fun events they’re putting together with other talented creatives.
Would you ever hire a professional photographer on your travels?
