Bengal Bio: Lesley Hallmark Colvin

After graduation, Lesley Hallmark attended BYU to study international relations and politics with the intent to go to law school. After an internship in NYC in 2003, Lesley decided to take every opportunity to travel while earning college credit, so she decided to attend a political science study abroad in London. She met her husband, Kyle Colvin, the first day there, and the rest is history. After a semester of exploring London and traveling all over Europe, Kyle and Lesley were married in September of 2004. Lesley switched her major to Art History and Curatorial Studies, and completed an internship at the Smithsonian business office in Washington DC.

After graduation in 2006, Lesley and Kyle attended the University of Oxford in England. Lesley received an MSc in Historic Conservation, and Kyle received an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. They soon found out that they were expecting their first child, and after a move back to the states so that Kyle could attend BYU Law School, their daughter Ella Kensington was born in January of 2009. Soon after Ella joined their family, Lesley discovered a love for photography that later turned into a part-time job as a portrait and wedding photographer. You can see her work at kensingtonblue.com, and her blog http://www.kensingtonblue.blogspot.com. Lesley and her family thoroughly enjoyed their three years in Utah while Kyle was in law school, as they were close to family and good friends. During the summer breaks, as a 1L Kyle completed an internship for the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Santa Fe, NM, and as a 2L, Kyle and his family spent the next summer in London and New York City working for a British-based, global firm called Linklaters. At the beginning of Kyle's third year, he received a job offer to start in Linklaters' New York City office.

Following graduation, Kyle studied for the NY bar exam while Lesley took care of Ella, and prepared for the big move and the birth of their second child. Their son was due on July 28, 2010, the exact day Kyle was supposed to be in New York taking the bar exam. They crossed their fingers as Lesley neared her due date and Kyle had to fly to New York. Luck was not on their side, however, and Lesley went into labor during her baby shower on the evening of the 27th. After every effort to stall labor, she finally went to the hospital (dilated to a 7 when she arrived), and their son, Jones William, was born that morning. Fortunately, Lesley's mom and sisters were there for her during the labor and birth since Kyle was so far away.

When Jones was 6 weeks old, Lesley and her family moved to New York City. Kyle works midtown for Linklaters as a corporate M&A attorney, and Lesley continues her work as a portrait and wedding photographer. They absolutely love living in NYC, and currently reside on the Upper West Side. Life is incredibly different for them with no car, Kyle's crazy hours, and being so far away from family, but they have made wonderful friends and are truly enjoying everything this city has to offer.