I knew right away Lily wasn't from around here when I heard her politely say, "Yes ma'am." Honestly, it's been ages since a teenager addressed me that way. Usually, it’s more like “Erin,” "Miss Erin," or some casual teenager lingo. I was really pleasantly surprised by how polite she was throughout the entire session.
We explored the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, and the light that day was unreal—everything, including Lily, just glowed. She was sweet, kind, and utterly charming.
Thank you, Lily, for trusting me to capture this special time.
