Like so many of the High School Senior Sessions I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this summer, Maisie is the daughter of one of our former Bello Bride’s. Her mom, Amy, is also a dear friend of mine (and Andy’s too)! So, when she asked if I’d be willing to take Maisie’s senior photos, I initially was a little nervous…nervous because it’s always been our policy to not mix business and friendship…for a whole bunch of reasons, but one big one has always been that I would never want to risk disappointing a friend in some way.
I’m not sure why I’ve ever thought that would be possible…I mean, I pour my whole heart into what I do and generally speaking, I think I do a pretty good job! Not just the taking pretty photos part, but the relationship building piece is perhaps what I do best of all. I just love the connecting that naturally comes whenever someone steps in front of my cameras.
Photography is a really beautiful give & take and every session is different because of that….two people bring themselves and everything that’s living inside of them to our time together and that can result in so many different things. But, when the person in front of my cameras let’s me in….beautiful things always happen. And, my time with Maisie certainly made for some magical moments. Let’s take a look….
It’s not easy to be 17 and have the confidence to be photographed all by yourself, but Maisie immediately trusted me…even if, like ALL of the girls I’ve photographed this summer, she was a little nervous. But, that didn’t stop her from CRUSHING IT!
And looking beautiful and natural in the process….
Maisie showed me some photos she had Pinned on Pinterest and one she really enjoyed was very similar to this next shot below….I like to think it’s her celebrating the approaching end to her high school experience and the taking in the excitement that comes from heading out into the world.
Easy, breezy, beautiful….COVER GIRL. Isn’t she lovely??!! And like all of the girls I was lucky enough to photograph this summer, her outside matches her beautiful inside!!
It’s kind of crazy to think Maisie has been in my life for 17 years now, but this is the first time we hung out just she and I. It was so much fun to have a couple of hours to just chat and play….and capture her in all her loveliness!
I love the candid moment on the left….the sunflare…just a girl walking on the beach unaware she’s being photographed in the moment. Love it! And, I’m also partial to the juxtaposition in the image on the right….Maisie’s pretty softness against the giant bolder, with balancing rocks perched atop.
Strike a pose…and vogue….
Just love this lovely human…
How lucky are we to get to live in such a beautiful place?
These next two are some of my faves…she just looks so beautiful, and sooooo grown up (in the the pic on the right she looks like a movie star from a bygone era) Maisie is just so serene and rooted in a kind of confidence I reaaaallly wish I’d had at her age! This next generation of young women gives me soooo much hope for our future!
After we were done photographing on the beach, we were walking back to my car and we were chatting and laughing about how much fun we’d had and I had to capture the moment and the feeling, the look on Maisie’s face just radiated what we were both feeling and it made my heart sing!
But, before we were done, we jumped in Maisie’s friend’s dinghy because…well…why not when they’re this colorful and cute?!! Plus, Maisie sails and it just seemed fitting to have a senior portrait in a boat!
Lovely lady…thank you for this night!
Maisie & I have known each other for many years, but we’ve never had the chance to spend so much quality time together, just she and I. And, well….it was delightful!!
Dear Maisie….I LOVED our time together and I hope these photos leave you feeling as good as our time together made me feel!! I hope you have the most amazing senior year and I can’t wait to see where the future takes you next!! Thank you, Amy, for entrusting this monumental moment to me! Love you both! C xoxo