Small Town Girl

The senior year is busy, especially when you live out the value, “bloom where you’re planted”. I am a few months late in posting these photos (taken at the end of October) just because life continued on at a crazy pace for this family as they bloomed where they were planted. I never post photos before seeing what resonates with them, so I continued that tradition with this post. Between then and now, jobs were added to their lives, a few car accidents added some additional complications to schedules (everyone is fine), family visits were made out of state, and college decisions were deliberated over. And now… It’s with great pleasure that I post the senior photos of this small town girl!

This senior moved out of the small town she grew up in her sophomore year of high school. This session, in fact, happened while a surprise gathering of friends from that town were setting out pizza at her house, completely unbeknownst to her! I do laugh a lot during my portrait sessions, but there was definitely an extra giggle I kept having to suppress, knowing her evening was about to get even better! We had a lot of fun moving around Mulberry Fields in Zionsville, IN. This park features a great depression era farm which is open to the public, and nearby is a splash park with gorgeous giant rocks that had already been drained for the season. Everything was in walking distance and her years in a show choir made her an expert at on-the-go costume changes!

I love how authentic and direct this girl is. She has a skilled eye for style, so I was completely surprised by the fact that she does not like to go shopping. When she makes a commitment, it is thoroughly thought through and prayed over. She is deliberate in her relationships and dedicated to her faith. The best part about this senior? She’s got joy and strength spilling out from her soul all over everything! I know she’s choosing an urban Christian college in her next season, and frankly I can’t wait to watch that unfold. Why? Because she allows the Lord to define and refine her. This small town girl is going to redefine that iconic city!

I also love that the whole family showed up at the beginning of the portrait session to get their family portrait updated. They know me mostly in the ministry world I’m a part of, so working together in this capacity was a fun layer to add to our relationship. Speaking of capacity, this family is a high capacity family with lots of gifting – calling out gifts in people, organization and detail orientation, a welcoming sense of hospitality, pursuit of knowledge, and a good deal of snark and southern charm mixed in. Have you ever seen the animated movie, Robots? As the motto in that movie goes, “See a need, fill a need!” That could be one of their family mottos, as well.

Enough of my chattering… Please enjoy these portraits!