Brianna. Beautiful, Sweet, and Sincere. And she’s country to the core. You know, the girl who at first glance you know could be beautiful in a grunge or urban setting. But that’s not her. She’s one of those handful of teens to are blessed to experience fields, trees, and more than one animal – the kind you’d better close the gate or you will have a big problem in the road.

Senior pictures should be a reflection of who you are. There’s no other time in your life (except maybe when you are two) when your unique personality should shine through in your pictures, because you have your whole future in front of you. Life is fresh and amazing. And even though you might be scared to death, you know if you work hard enough, there’s nothing you can’t do. I asked Brianna if she wanted to do some urban themed photos. No way. “I’m a country girl,” she said. I knew she was in her comfort zone within 3 seconds of snapping the first shot. We did the majority of her shots within two miles of her house, and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out.

Brianna a busy young lady, and even though she didn’t care about getting pics with the Watusi cattle on their farm, we did quite a few in the field right beside her house. If she’s not summer sitting for Reese and Briar, she’s out with her dad and brothers in the log woods, or doing a thousand other things that probably feel just normal for her, but they are really building the foundation for her future. When I asked Brianna about what she wants to do as a career, I wasn’t surprised that she wants to help kids. She’s drawn to a career that will allow her to work with those who struggle to get around, to do the things that so many of us just take for granted. And what I do know is that she will do an amazing job at anything she chooses to do.

Brianna is a part of my extended Judd family and it always takes me down memory lane when I get to go back to the area around where I grew up. She lives not far from her grandparents’ farm where my sister and I spent so many happy and adventurous days in the summer and any other time Mama would let us go. Our fun from those days are always a “Do you remember when” topic of family gatherings. There was always something happening and we got into more than our share of unintended trouble. Sometimes, if Janice or Margaret had some money, we would walk across the field to Hunley’s Grocery to get a Zero candy bar and a Coke. I thought that was so cool, and Hunley’s is still open today – more than 35 years later.  Then, there was that one time we were playing house and lit a candle, then decided to quit and do something else. Brianna’s dad found that candle burning in Uncle Bill’s barn a while later. That could have been a disaster, but since it wasn’t, at the time, we were pretty upset with Calvin for fussing at us. I don’t remember if Mom and Dad found out, but I remember being very concerned that they might. And it’s one of those memories that we say, “Do you remember the time when we almost burned down the barn??” Looking back my heart drops a little just thinking about it.  I can’t believe we all made it through childhood relatively unharmed. It was pre cell phone, computer, and all the other things that keep kids sitting through their whole childhood, and we were lucky.

I’m pretty sure Brianna has her own stories already, because she is also blessed with quite a few adventurous cousins – and brothers.  They went with us while we did her pictures, and other than a quick comment or two that made her roll her eyes, all was well.  I used to hear the older generation talk all the time about how fast time flies, and while doing these, I just kept thinking about how true that statement is.  And time doesn’t stop for any of us.

Brianna, thank you for letting me capture this time in your life. I can’t believe you are already grown and ready to move to the next phase of your life!!  You are beautiful inside and out, and you did an amazing job with these photos. I hope you have the best year ever, and that your senior year is full of moments that turn into ‘Do you remember when….” You are such fun to be around and I hope you always stay just like you are today. Love and blessings, Patricia