texas go big

I’ve never had a session I eagerly looked forward to and dreaded all at the same time, till this one.  You might remember a gorgeous snowy portrait I blogged about during one of our snow storms last winter?  Well, I knew the day was coming and now it has, Ashton’s graduated and I couldn’t be happier/sadder about that!  

Ashton’s mom hired me to mark the graduation of her first born and all the family who’d be driving into town from Texas to celebrate this special day.  They were interested in more traditional poses but also were happy to have fun with some photos!  I was so happy to help mark this day for this family who knows how to whoop it up together in a big Texas way!  

Ashton’s just one of those special girls who brings out the best in everyone around her.   Her smile is magnetic and she is genuinely kind.  Whether she’s working, playing volleyball, performing in plays, babysitting, at school, weeding with her dad…it doesn’t matter, she bring her “A” game.   I told her I just wished my boys were all older in the hopes that just one of them would have hit it off with her.  She’s just the kind of daughter in law I’d love to have some day. 

The kids inspired the moms to give it a whirl and I’m sooo glad they convinced the husbands to play along because it made for a hoot! Thanks for indulging your ladies men! 

Notice Grandmom looking at her crazy kids!  Not like any portrait session she’d ever been a part of I’m sure!

Little brothers can sometimes help big sisters be brave and conquer their fear of heights…even if they tease a little along the way!

 Seems like they are in a doll house!

I promised the women I’d help to keep the laughter flowing because none of them wanted running mascara and puffy red eyes for the photos.   So cool to see so much love in this little group of people!  It was hard enough when the family left Texas to come to Maryland several years ago and now it was time for another big transition.  Mom wanted to save her tears for the ceremony and miraculously enough, we were able to do just that!

This Grandmom should be on the cover of Southern Belles!  She is radiant!

So everyone’s eye make up remained in tact and these Southern belles beamed that morning.  This gorgeous grandmom warned me that she’s been trying to wrestle her Texas hair her whole life and I should tell her if it started getting crazy!   This cracked me up because I  think just about every woman I’ve photographed has been particular about how her hair is laying and whether we are in elementary school or we are grandmoms, that’s just who we are as women. 

 All because a boy fell in love and asked a girl to marry him….