Meet the lovely college graduate — Ms. Aria.

Aria graduated from the University of North Texas last week and scheduled a senior session the week before to commemorate the grand benchmark occasion.

These beauties were the shoes in which Aria strutted across the graduation stage.

Aria chose the Fort Worth water gardens as her first location because she really wanted a reason to showcase her rain boots that she loves so.

This one above is my favorite shot from the session. If you remember, Aria, this is the one that after I took it I looked down at my camera screen I gasped audibly.

You look absolutely stunning.

Our second location was a nearby library. Aria loves to read — both the classics and children’s books. She’s an education major and hopes to (soon) be an elementary school teacher.

I loved how Aria’s shoot was completely centered around who she is — water for her favorite rain boots and a library for her favorite past-time.

Go on with your bad self! Working it in the children’s section of the library – – love it.

She picked out some of her favorites to flip through while I snapped some pictures.

I am just a really big fan of that cardigan, Aria.

After some time spent in the children’s books we moved on to the classics — Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, Gulliver’s Travels, etc.

Pretty, pretty blue eyes.

Aria, you are incredibly lovely. I had such a great time with you, perusing the water gardens and library.

Congratulations on your graduation! I hope these shots show a picture of who you are at this exciting moment in your life with so much exciting changes at your fingertips.

Meet Ryan.

Ryan is my cousin. And, yes. He is wearing a monkey shirt. The monkey shirt has been a staple in his wardrobe since he was eight, so it was only appropriate to start off his senior photo session in it.

Look at those blue eyes and laughing smile! Who couldn’t love this kid?

I guess that’s just the thing, huh? I expected to go take some photos of my little cousin Ryan and ended up taking pictures of this handsome senior guy. I was blown away. WHO IS THIS PERSON IN FRONT OF MY CAMERA?! AND WHERE DID MY LITTLE COUSIN GO?!?

Hello, little camper trailer. I love you.

And old peanut mill? I love you too.

(Proud cousin voice:) Did I mention that Ryan is valedictorian of his graduating class?

AND did I mention that his suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper-beautiful girlfriend is salutatorian? That right there is a couple to watch out for.

This random, empty sign beckoned us. It called, “Ryyyyyan! Ryyyyaaaan! Come take your picture next to meeee!!” So we did.

I ended this session proud. Proud of Ryan growing up. Of how incredibly good-natured he is. Of how his mother can still make him laugh. Of how smart he is. Of who he is.

Go get ’em at A&M, Ryan! You’ve got lots of proud family back home rooting for you.

 

Introducing Sarah!

The day of Sarah’s senior session started with a bang — well, more of a wail. Tornado sirens were going off in Denton and it was pouring down rain. But, thankfully, it cleared up by the evening, leaving us just enough time to explore downtown Dallas and get some photos with the lovely light reflecting off the wet pavement.

When I walked up to meet who I thought was going to be just Sarah and her mom — I saw Sarah, her mom, her stepdad and, especially unexpected was her boyfriend, who was in my graduating class in high school. Looks like I had chosen the wrong day to whip out one of the shirts I owned in high school. Nice, Jillian. Nice. Reeeeeeeeeeeeeally time to clean out your closet . . .

 

Sarah had chosen this area in Dallas as our locaton because she loved the funky, urban feel it gave off.

In addition to having legs the length of a runway model and being absolutely gorgeous, Sarah was also completely fearless in front of the camera. She’d laugh, make goofy faces, work the model poses, and just be completely herself. I truly appreciated it.

Speaking of legs-as-long-as-a-runway-model, Sarah will be attending Clarendon college in the fall with a full basketball scholarship. So perhaps I should have said legs-as-long-as-a-basketball-star . . .

I kept laughing from behind my camera. Sarah’s older brother was in my high school class as well and I kept telling her that taking her pictures was like watching a girl-version of Calvin  — too funny.

I lovvvvvvved those suspenders Sarah was sporting that went along great with the funky feel of Dallas.

Gosh, Sarah. You are just stunning.

Soooooo Sarah’s pretty hard core and had a massive bruise on her leg the day of the shoot from a softball (yes, she plays softball too). I took it out in all of the photos except for the two above because  you can only see about a quarter of the bruise but I think it pays homage to her athletecism and all-around general hard-core-ness.

Suspenders AND a romper all in the same shoot?! AM I DREAMING?!?! Love your style, Sarah.

Fierce. Fierceness in romper-form.

Sarah, you are absolutely fabulous! Here’s to a wonderful start at Clarendon in the fall! I know you’ll do great.

Meet Ryan.

Ryan, his mother Tana and I met up a couple weeks ago to snag some senior pictures of this Southlake Carroll senior.

Now, there are several reasons I was particularly excited about this shoot: 1) Tana was referred to me by a very dear couple to my photography (and regular) heart, Jillian and Jonas and 2) this was my first shoot using my new camera!! Double win.

Now Ryan certainly had me fooled — I thought Ryan was a natural in front of the camera but Tana kept telling him to relax and give me a real smile. Mother knows best.

Ryan is the pitcher for the Southlake Caroll high school baseball team, so we obviously needed to work that into the shoot with a few shots of his letter jacket and trusty baseball hat.

Now, I’m going to be honest with you, Ryan did NOT want to take pictures wearing his hat. But his mother wanted him to. So he did — AND he smiled while doing it.

‘Atta boy, Ryan. Any respectable man ought to care what his momma wants.

We finished up the shoot with one last shirt switch and some wonnnnnnnnderful light shining through some slats.

Ryan and Tana, I had such an enjoyable afternoon with y’all! Happy graduation, Ryan! I wish you the very best.

 

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