I've photographed hundreds of seniors over the years, but this one was different; it was my own. I approached the session as I typically do, fully in photographer mode. I was prepared for the shoot, started posing her, and then about 30 minutes in, it hit me. She stood against a giant redwood, and I realized this is my daughter. My senior. Cue the lump in my throat. The tears began to well as that bittersweet feeling every parent of a high school senior knows settled in.
As we drove to her session, her best friends were in the backseat, ready to be her hype crew. I thought about my post and what I wanted to say, but once I sat down, it all changed. All I could see was my little blonde girl dancing through the living room, watching Disney princess movies, singing endlessly until I was sick of it. I thought of her playing softball, chasing a soccer ball, her pink room, and her giggles. Everything hit me hard.
The weather tried to challenge us. Dark clouds and thick humidity were not our usual coastal conditions. Fortunately, the sky cleared, and the garden offered perfect light. Marianne owned every moment of it. Afterward, we headed down State Street, with her best friends tagging along as bag holders and hype crew. We made a stop at the Urban Flea Market for a different vibe.
Thank you, Marianne, for letting your ol' mom capture this time for you.
