A portrait comes from an idea. A desire to remember. Not really the act of taking the photo but rather, the why we are taking the photo. That reason can be and is usually a very powerful one. The birth of child or the death of a loved one. One single portrait can often tell the story of a lifetime.

Beauty is complex. Something that emanates from the mind. The heart. But, beauty is also brown and black.

We met on the second floor of our local library and right off the top they said the three magic words, “whatever you want.”

The best accessory you can bring to any photoshoot is a beautiful smile.

I gave myself some time before I sat down to edit. Eventually I began to smile at Mia’s smiles. I remember when she was just a tiny little middle schooler. Is she really about to graduate from high school?