SENIOR SESSION: Jake

They graduated this past weekend...

It's the culmination of all the years...

In my own family, we are just a few years away from this moment in time...and already I can't fathom what I will be feeling like, watching my daughter end this "season" of life under my roof...

That high school diploma represents more than just finishing high school...and I'm fairly certain every mom & dad understands the deeper meaning...

it's akin to those moments when they don't drink from a bottle any longer...when they take their first steps...when they learn to read all by themselves...

we spend, what seems like every moment, preparing them...

making them ready for independance...to "need" us less in one way...

When Jake's mom asked me to take his Senior pictures, her words were simple...

it wasn't a model shoot, it wasn't about the clothes, it wasn't about location...

she said, "just capture my Jake"...

She wanted to see all the years of Jake in his adult smile...

she wanted to look into his clear eyes and see all the past, all the present and all that is to come...

This is her son, whom she's poured her all into...

to her, yes, he's an adult, but he's still her little boy...

in his face, she sees him now and the film replays in her mind's eye all the "moments" from the past..

it's bittersweet...and beautiful! 

Congratulations to the graduates this year...