Long before the pandemic upended life as we knew it, I got an exciting phone call from Heather, the mom of Mallorie, a 2020 high school grad-to-be. From that first chat, I knew we were a great fit for each other! By the time of our consultation, where we go over the vision for the shoot, as well as wardrobe and printed product options, all of us felt like old friends. Our conversation wandered through a little bit of everything, and I was very excited to meet for the session.
Ballin’ on the beach, leanin’ on a Jeep
The main vision for the shoot was 100% clear: dressed-down, sporty, on the beach, big smiles, and (non-negotiably) including Mallorie’s beloved Jeep. Unfortunately, the first attempt at our scheduled session was delayed by emergency dental work, and the second postponement was due to some spectacularly untimely damage to her vehicle (not her fault! - school parking lots are a jungle, y’all!) Eventually, we were finally able to meet and get this awesome shot that ticked every box.
To keep things interesting, we shot in a variety of urban and beach locations around Galveston, making the most of clear, breezy weather and the golden light of late afternoon. Mallorie’s fun, sporty, and determined nature comes through just right in all of her pictures, and the mixed locations still blend seamlessly in the framed collage they chose. This level of variety also made a great book that is to be a gift for Mallorie’s grandmother.
Taking it in stride
Although the end of senior year isn’t what anyone expected, Mallorie is taking it all in stride, learning early about the inevitable ebb and flow of life and luck. She said of her portrait experience that she’s happy to have gotten in at least one “normal” senior experience before the worldwide quarantines changed everything and made 2020 a year for the history books. This session will stay with me for decades, too, and I’m really grateful to have been part of some good memories for Mallorie and her family this year.