Meet Sunniye Buesing | Massage Therapist/Esthetician & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sunniye Buesing and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sunniye, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I started out my career 21 years ago as a massage therapist, my life was completely centered around career building. I had no work/life balance. It was really only about 6 years ago, after moving to Colorado Springs to be closer to my mother who was fighting breast cancer, that I really started to shift my perspective. Now, I am still very focused on my work when I am working, but I am able to prioritize my time off. I started hiking about 5 years ago, and then transitioned into hiking and photography about 4 years ago. Instead of thinking about work when I’m not working, I am constantly planning out hikes as well as different areas around Colorado for shooting pictures. I am so much happier and healthier now that I have balance in my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think what sets me apart from other photographers is my unique perspective. I realize that I still have so much to learn from the technical side of things. When it comes to having a good eye for framing, and for capturing the sometimes crazy things found in nature, that is where I excel. While I hike, I am constantly looking for unconventional beauty, whether its a rare moss that looks like a combination between blown glass and a sea monster, or even a weird tree branch that is twisted to look like a wizard out of Harry Potter…that is where I find joy. I am also a sucker for a good lake reflection. I love when the reflection and the item being reflected combine to make shapes that are completely unique. I never started shooting with the aim of being a professional photographer. I just wanted to be able to share the places that I found with others that could not hike to them. It wasn’t easy, as I was hit by a car a few years ago and had to struggle for years with horrible hip pain while hiking. I would never say that I am naturally gifted when it comes to hiking…but I have perseverance. I often continue past where others might stop or give up. I have definitely learned that choosing friends that are supportive has made all of the difference. Not every hiking partner would put up with a slow hiker that stops to take a million pictures! Luckily, I have found the right few people in my life that have patience with me on the trail. The right person can make even the worst day into the best day, just because of a shift in perspective. One person might look at the snow and say, “Ewww, snow, it’s going to be so cold and awful!” Whereas, another person would look at snow and say, “Yay! Snow! It’s going to be the best day!” Perspective is everything.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had to show someone the best time ever, I’d bring them to the San Juan mountains in Southern Colorado. If I had a solid week, I could show them parts of this state that have a profound natural beauty that is unique. From red-topped mountains, to alpine lakes that are unnatural colors of aquamarine and cobalt blue, this area of the state cannot be beat! Waterfalls cascade mountainsides during the summer, and whole hillsides are covered in flowers. During the Fall, the aspen colors blanketing the mountains are unparalleled in their beauty.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom. I started taking pictures years ago to show my mom the beautiful places in this state, because she could not go there personally. Even though she has since passed, I am often thinking of her when I am on the trail, and am looking for shots that she’d appreciate (especially of daisies…she loved daisies!) I often think that she would be proud of me, for living life to the fullest, and for overcoming adversity to do so. She would want me to be happy, and so when I am on the top of a mountain taking in the gorgeous views, it brings me peace.

Website: lovelettersphotography.com and hot-stone.massagetherapy.com

Instagram: Sunniye Buesing

Facebook: ‘Love Letters Photography’ and ‘Sunniye Buesing’