What an inspiration! Tracy, age 53 (yes, she is 53!)–personal trainer and fitness advocate

May 6, 2015July 24, 2015 | lisalemmonspowers

What a fantastic, inspiring shoot! My friend Tracy, turned 53 on April 23, 2015, the day of this shoot. Yes, she is 53 years old!! Amazing! She is a personal trainer based in Chattanooga, TN, and is dedicated to helping others maintain their fitness goals as they age. I’ve known Tracy since before she started this journey (in the ’80’s) and watched her amazing transformation from a body builder to a fitness instructor. We started this as a “fitness” shoot, but Tracy and her husband had the hotel room for another hour, so we decided to do an impromptu boudoir shoot! Neither of us had ever done a boudoir shoot. She was a natural and we had a blast, with lots of giggles!

From her website: (http://fitbal.org)
Living Strong & Courageous…regardless of age- even after 50!
Tracy has advocated physical fitness, health & complete well-being for 28 years. Her main focus is making sure her clients’ transformation into a healthy life is a joyful experience.

What began as a hobby, teaching aerobics and later weight training in 1987, transitioned into her passion for life. Dedicated and disciplined, she works toward fitness with fierceness and empathy. Tracy believes that precise goals and a flexible plan of action are both necessary in learning and mastering the basic fundamentals of fitness, the keys to happy and long life and indispensable to monitor the on-going positive change process.

Demonstrating fitness through body balance, her eclectic style incorporates weight training, cardiovascular exercise, stretching, proper nutrition, quality supplements, prayer and meditation on a daily basis. Everything is connected; heart, mind, body, soul, spirit working well together inside and outside.

Tracy started competing in bodybuilding contests in 1988 and won shows in Mississippi, North Carolina and The 1991 Tennessee State Championship. She won her first national title in New Jersey at the NPC Junior National Championships in 1991; first Middleweight and Overall. She placed in the top five at the NPC Nationals and USA until 1995. Although she did not compete for several years, she would frequent many shows on a yearly basis.

As her interest in Fitness and Health increased, she enrolled in continuing education concentrating in Human Ecology and earned certifications in personal training and group exercise instruction. To this day she enjoys working with individuals, small groups and teaching classes.

Time passes and she learns about NPC Women’s Physique. Professional critique sessions were arranged and she made the decision to compete. She won two Class A ,Physique titles,(NPC Eastern Seaboard and NPC Southern Classic) then achieved her unspoken dream of becoming an IFBB Professional in July 2012. Now in her fifties, she encourages athletes that she meets to work, stay healthy and embrace every minute.

”It is going to happen. Aging is our reality. All of us are going to grow old, but that does not mean we sit down, watch life pass us by and lose our spirit for active living! We simply modify and keep moving.”

“Count your blessings, life is not perfect but it is still a gift. Fitness is an all-inclusive adventurous journey with many pathways. Maintaining a conditioned relaxed fit is essential for sustained health, peace and happiness.”

If you would like to see more photos or purchase prints, you can go to this link: http://lisalemmonspowersphotography.pass.us/tracy/

© Lisa Lemmons-Powers and LisaLemmonsPowers Photography, [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lisa Lemmons-Powers and LisaLemmonsPowers Photography with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Rosie–Model Shoot!

Image | October 6, 2014August 17, 2015 | lisalemmonspowers

I had such a fun time on this shoot with Rosie, who is pursuing her modeling career. I think she is well on her way!!

Tracy Bacon-Fitness Advocate

April 25, 2014May 20, 2014 | lisalemmonspowers

Happy Birthday to my long time friend, Tracy, who just turned 52 years old! Tracy is a former body builder and now a Fitness Advocate and Personal Trainer in Chattanooga, TN. I knew Tracy before she started body building many years ago. She is an awesome inspiration! You can “like” her facebook page,Victory Fitness (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victory-Fitness/149004565168063) for motivational tips on health and fitness, and visit her website, http://www.victoryfitnessbytracy.com

Suzan Mitchell-Campaign Photos

March 21, 2014May 20, 2014 | lisalemmonspowers

So glad I had the opportunity to take these photos for my friend, Suzan Mitchell, who is running for Washington Co., TN Circuit Court Clerk. Vote for Suzan!

Why I “became” a photographer

July 15, 2013July 15, 2013 | lisalemmonspowers

Many people ask me how I got into photography. Well, here goes:

I’ve always been a photographer. I’ve taken pictures for over 40 years, for as long as I can remember, definitely since grade school. I have old fading photos of friends sporting their orange and white safety patrol belts, hanging upside down and doing handstands on the playground and just hanging out being kids. I was fortunate to be raised in a neighborhood reminiscent of the “Wonder Years” back in the good ole days of the late 60s and the 70s. I know I’m now telling my age! To you “youngsters,” I must sound like I’m ancient, but you know what “they” say, “50 is the new 30…?” 😉

Many friends say that if it weren’t for me, they would have very few photos of their families. I always have a camera with me, so they expect me to be there to take photos of whatever we’re doing. I have countless albums of cruises, trips, just cats, tons of flowers, sunsets, family and friend get-togethers, and thousands of loose photos stored in boxes.

I remember the first camera I used had the cube flash. 4 flashes, and you had to change the cube. Then came flash stick. I think you got about 10 flashes with that one — amazing!! Then came the camera (film) w/ a BUILT IN FLASH!! Woo Hoo! I’ve gone through several point-and-shoot digital cameras (both film and digital), the handy dandy Polaroid and countless disposable cameras! And, how can I forget the iPhone! I can’t imagine the money I’ve spent on film and prints over the years. Thank goodness for the invention of the digital camera!

In the 90s, my uncle gave me my first SLR, a Canon EOS 10s. I was thrilled! However, I never had the sense back then to take the thing off auto. Cringe! What a waste!! My uncle is an awesome landscape/ wildlife photographer and I had admired his work since I was a tike. He did try to explain Aperture, ISO and shutter speed to me, but for some reason it seemed too much like algebra to me (NOT my best subject in High School). He is a doctor, so I knew he was probably a lot smarter than I was!

Last year, I finally got my first DSLR, a Canon T3i. I decided it was finally time to take my camera of auto and actually learn how to use it! With the help of several mentors and hours and hours of studying, I now shoot in manual, RAW, and have decent editing software. I recently updated to a full-frame camera, a Canon 6D, and LOVE it!

Now I have thousands of photos stored on my computer and back-up hard-drives! More on all of those photos in my next blog…….