Love, Me Blog

Erin is such a humble young lady … it wasn’t until half way through our session that I started finding out all of her awesome accomplishments!  At first I learned that she would be going to Texas Women’s to play basketball. I have a very special place in my heart for any basketball player … especially girls   I pray every night that Mia Grace will also play basketball (just kidding!) but I do hope she’s an athlete for sure. I need something to be competitive about!

So, Erin will be playing at Texas Women’s next year, so I asked if she got a scholarship and soon found out that the answer is yes, but not for basketball, but for academics, as she was the valedictorian of her class … yes, that makes TWO valedictorians and three college athletes I photographed this year! (Erin just happens to be two in one!)  It was really sweet to talk to Erin’s mom about her daughter. As a mom myself I really get the pride that wells up in our hearts as mother’s for our children.  More than being athletic and smart, the first thing Erin’s mom told me about her was that she had so much integrity. As I drove home that night I thought a lot about how I hope to be able to describe my own daughter when she’s 17. I really can’t imagine a better description than smart, athletic, and full of integrity ….

I know I always brag about my clients and the seniors I get to photograph, but I swear to you, I’m not lying!  It truly amazed me this year at the young girls and guys I had the opportunity to meet and Miss Julia was certainly no different.

I rememeber when Julia’s mom was booking her session and I asked her to tell me a little more about her and she said something like this …

“Well, Julia loves drama and has played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz a few times. She’s also very smart, and will be Valedictorian of her class this year. She’s really involved with her church and takes her faith seriously … she’s also quirky and fun, has a wonderful smile and is a beautiful girl …”

Um, mom. I think you hit the nail on the head (and hopefully looking at these photographs this description fits the bill)

Julia’s session was another one of my very favorites.We bounced around all over and she brought a truck full of clothes (my favorite!)  Julia was also reeeally natural in front of the camera.  I remember giving her my normal “talk” in the beginning about how to relax and how I often make suggestions that are terrible, but that was all part of how I mold and pose and get natural looking shots.  After the first few shots, I remember thinking, “Well, that was a waste of breath because she obviously knows what she’s doing!”  She really made my job so easy.  Right before I was about to make a suggestion, she’d just do what I wanted. I love love when it just clicks ….

Congrats, Julia!  I wish you many many blessings as you go off to college in the next few weeks. I know its cliche, but your future is yours for the taking, so go out and capture those dreams … it was more than a pleasure meeting and photographing you.