I’ve watched Gabi grow from this little powerhouse on the field, commanding every sport with a natural ease that I could only admire from the sidelines. Seriously, watching her play made me rethink my coordination levels (spoiler: they’re not great). She’s always had this effortless talent, and when I say effortless, I mean I was winded just watching her.
Fast forward a few years (okay, maybe more than a few), and I had the absolute pleasure of photographing her. And let me tell you, she’s still got that same quiet confidence. But what blew me away this time was how much grace and kindness she exudes—seriously, it oozes from her like sunshine on a California day. As I gave her my usual photographer pep talk—be yourself, lean into the prompts, trust me—something magical happened. She did trust me. And then bam—a whole new Gabi emerged. The girl in front of my camera was playful, radiant, and completely in her element. We were having a blast, and I got to witness firsthand what happens when someone lets go and enjoys the moment.
Oh, and about halfway through the session, I realized something. I kept saying "perfect" every time she nailed a shot. (And let’s be real, that was pretty much every shot.) It got to the point where it became this running joke, and Gabi started laughing every time I said it. And hey, if my perfectly awkward self is what gets the best photos and some belly laughs along the way, I’m all in!
So, here's to Gabi—still effortlessly amazing, still rocking life, and now, forever captured in photos that show just how perfect she really is. Congrats, Gabi! Keep being the fabulous human you are, and I'll keep embracing my awkward charm, one "perfect" at a time.
