Anna. Is. Awesome. She’s smart, talented, beautiful, and sweet as the day is long. Her session was a dream because of all of the above and we hit golden hour perfectly.  The glow just wrapped around Anna and highlighted her natural beauty. Because golden hour is such a limited time, and some days are just more golden than other, we don’t always end up with the absolutely stunning light that Mother Nature gave us for Anna’s pictures.

This session was special to me for many reasons. First, Anna loves photography too and is working hard to learn and grow. I can identify 100 percent. And it seems like no matter how long you do photography, there’s always more to learn, and another technique that can change everything. And even though I’ve snapped so many pictures over the last 20+ years that my index finger now knows when the weather changes, I’m still learning too. And I still love it. So it was fun to share that joy with someone just beginning that journey. It doesn’t matter how tired I might be, when I get behind the camera, there’s an excitement that takes over me, and I can’t explain it. I’m pretty sure Anna gets it too, and I know she’s going to do great with photography.

Second, Anna is my second generation cousin. And doing family pictures always brings back a little of my own childhood, because it was so intertwined with all my cousins in a way that just doesn’t seem to happen much anymore with most of us. Our lives have become way too busy. Back then, we all were at each others houses nearly weekly, and when tobacco was in season, more often than we wanted – for obvious reasons. I was one of the younger ones, so many of the cousins were already grown and gone from home, but everyone was around and made an effort to gather and eat/converse and just be a part of each other’s lives. I didn’t know that would change, until it had already happened. It wasn’t on purpose, it was just a normal part of life. One thing I’ve learned is always constant, that our lives are changing. We grow up; life regroups and our paths don’t cross nearly as much as we wish. Anna is such a beautiful mix of those memories, and I love watching this next generation of cousins that have grown up and are making their own paths and memories.

Anna, thank you for sharing some time with me, and for just being you. I can’t say enough how impressed I am with your sweetness and your enthusiasm for life – and of course the photography. You are incredibly smart (Ask her about the ACT), and your hard work and willingness to dig in no matter what the task is going to take you anywhere you want to go in this life. I’m blessed to know you and to call you family. Here’s hoping that this year is the best ever and that all your dreams come true. Love and blessings, Patricia