THIS BOY SCOUT DIDN’T WANT PICTURES IN A CAP AND GOWN. HE WANTED A SENIOR SESSION THAT ACTUALLY FELT LIKE HIM.

A MOM & DAUGHTER MAKING ART ON AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP

I FIRST MET BELLA WHEN SHE WAS A FRESHMAN SITTING IN MY ART CLASS. FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS AND HERE WE ARE — SENIOR PHOTOS, A LETTERMAN JACKET, LACROSSE GEAR, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. WATCHING KIDS GROW UP IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THIS JOB.

ADDISON WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS BEFORE OUR SESSION, WHICH IS SO NORMAL. WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES OF WALKING INTO THE STUDIO, THE NERVES HAD FADED AND WE WERE JUST HANGING OUT.

WHEN A FORMER COWORKER AND FRIEND ASKED ME TO PHOTOGRAPH HER DAUGHTER'S SENIOR PORTRAITS, WE STARTED THE WAY I LOVE BEST: SITTING AROUND A COFFEE TABLE TALKING THROUGH WHO SHE WAS AND WHAT MATTERED TO HER.

MOST OF US THINK OF PHOTOGRAPHY AS SOMETHING WE PULL OUT FOR THE GOOD MOMENTS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE MOMENT THAT MOST NEEDS DOCUMENTING IS ALSO THE HARDEST ONE YOU'VE EVER LIVED THROUGH?