Olivia : Class of 2022
This session was such a long time coming! Liv’s mom shared with me well in advance that she wanted me to photograph her and I jumped at the chance to have Liv join me on a video shoot to help update my website. That video shoot gave her a few extra senior photos (featured here first in the scroll) and I knew within seconds of photographing her then, that we’d have a ton of fun at her full session come June.
Liv is known for her skills on the court, unfortunately, those skills were derailed by a knee injury that required surgery in her junior year. But, she didn’t let that knee brace stop her from being on the sidelines, cheering on her team (including her little sister). Seeing her heart for encouraging others despite her own heart breaking made me want to know this girl more.
From her love of the basketball court to the tennis court, we wanted to document both sports Liv will be in this year. Especially since one of her favorite memories from high school includes a particular home basketball game, one where Liv earned the prestigious “She’s a freshman” chant. :)
It’s amazing to me what can occur between two frames of a camera shutter clicking. From the time that I took the N’Sync photo to when we arrived in the Maffitt Reservoir field, I got a message from my Mom that “Your father’s course has changed. He is resting comfortably.” I found out that Dad had slipped into a coma because of the brain hemorrhage he’d suffered from chemo crashing his platelets. Our stop at Maffitt was specifically to document Liv wearing her maternal grandfather’s cowboy boots. I knew these boots were so treasured, and they just became even more important to me to photograph for Liv & Laura. In the span of minutes. It was Liv’s joy & spunk, her comfortability in her own skin that helped me get these images while my own heart was starting to break. This girl is truly an inspiration and encouragement to my heart to keep moving forward, knowing God will help you take the next step.
Liv is such a joyful powerhouse, despite the scars on her knee and the season she had to miss. She is definitely living up to the example of her Grandma Cleola who’s husband worked the railroads while she held down the home front with 6 kids, living in the south through integration. When you have examples of strong women around you, including your own Mom who is our public school nurse through a pandemic, I don’t think there’s anything that is off limits or out of reach!
Liv-thank you for buoying me without even knowing you were doing it. Your session reminds me of not only your strength through adversity, but how you helped me be stronger than I thought possible too. When you’re surrounded by strong women….;) I know you are destined for great things & your Mom will keep me updated with all your successful endeavors.
You deserve the best of EVERYTHING.
—Carrie
PS You can view their favorites HERE.