JDP senior Kara is likely a beautiful familiar face to blog followers. A few years ago, her mom Laura saw me photographing seniors in the snow and was intrigued. We happen to be neighbors. She decided it was time for her to have portraits of her girl that stopped her in her tracks. So we celebrated Kara’s Sweet & Sassy 16 by highlighting what a cool combo of interests and gifts she has. And now Laura has wall art that stops her in her tracks every day! Click here to see Kara’s Sweet & Sassy 16 blog.
This was also the time we launched our JDP senior model program. To launch it, we invited clients who told us we’d be creating their kids senior portraits in the next two years. So over this last two and a half years, I’ve gotten to know Kara pretty well. And let me just say, it has been an honor. Kara and her mom and dad feel like family to me and I sure am going to miss Kara when she travels back to TX for college!
For those of you not blessed to being doing life with Kara, let me take a moment to introduce you to this strong young woman. Kara embodies a strength and conviction of justice that is both admirable and inspiring. When she sees injustice or meanness, she is not content to look the other way, even when looking the other way would be the path of least resistance. Why doesn’t Kara just look the other way ? “Turning a blind eye would only help the aggressors,” she said.
Instead, she’s a warrior for the least of these. Kara’s passionate to provide a voice to those in need takes multiple forms. She is very active in local politics and is considering it as a career. She wrote a letter to the editor after an incident at Winters Mill High when a student was injured for not standing for the pledge. She has no stomach for bullying or the toxic culture it creates. As I talked about this with her, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This is the bedrock of a free democracy and that someone Kara’s age feels so passionately about that is rare jewel. Not only does she feel so strongly, but she goes against the tide and speaks up when doing nothing would be far easier. Click to see Kara’s letter to the editor.
Another one of Kara’s passions is caring for animals. As you can see Kara’s Harley is very near and dear to her heart. She and her mom work with the local animal rescue and they foster dogs and help place them in homes. They are required to sign off that they will not try to adopt any of their fosters. The rescue wants them to realistically be able to continue in the role of fostering…which of course mandates that you not take on every sad case that comes your way.
Harley’s case was a little different though. Harley had been abandoned, hit by a car and likely abused. The vet checked her over and suggested Harley was too far gone and should be put down. Kara and Laura were insistent that Harley be given a chance. It took 4 months of nursing Harley back to health, but today you’d never know how close to death’s door she was. Typically foster dogs only stay a few weeks…after 4 months though, Harley was too deeply entrenched in their hearts to let her go.
Kara’s a thoughtful and kind soul on so many levels. I’ve seen Kara offer helping hands time and time again, wherever she is. She shies away from the spotlight and is always busy behind the scenes making the magic happen around her. She’s been involved with theater for years and loves working on sets and seeing a project the team has worked on for months come into fruition. Winter’s Mill production of Little Mermaid last year goes down as one of her favorite high school memories.
Kara mentioned how she’s always covered in paint via her theater work. As we brainstormed in her pre-consult, I thought, what if we really covered you in paint?!? So Kara goes down as the first JDP senior to have paint thrown on her! Prepping for this part of her shoot was no joke–and also kind of Kara’s specialty, so she joined me and my son to plastic wrap the shoot zone! I can’t help but think of the memories that will come flying back at Kara when she sees this years from now! Every show, every set, every late night spent with drama friends, every time in front of my lens…I joke with her mom and dad, ‘just think if you had moved next door to an accountant!’
Laura brought a portrait of Kara when she was about 2 as an angel amongst flowers and asked if we could produce something that would pay tribute to Kara as a baby girl and now Kara as a young woman–loved that idea and that we could make it happen!
Kara chose a piece from one of my recent trips from Phili to have her own composite levitation portrait created. I kept telling her, you know your gallery is going to be off the hook–we are everywhere and I love it! Flexing my creative muscles has been a joy with Kara each step of the way as she’s always been all in for whatever we did. She bought into the vision each time and that always makes for the best portrait experiences.
Lastly, last fall we had a last minute romantic couple portrait time in our waterfall the day before we closed our pool. That romantic waterfall blog can be seen here. I knew Kara’s senior session wasn’t till winter but knowing she always has amazing dresses and how she does not shy away from new things, I asked her if she wanted to use some of her session time early to dance in the waterfall–she’d be the first JDP senior to go in in a gown!
Of course Kara was game and I’m so glad!!
Kara, your heart for people who may wonder if anyone cares, is bursting with the care that every single person craves through this life. Your desire to give voice to the silent sufferers and let them know their value, is an incredible blessing that brings a smile to the heart of God. Some may forget, but He is always championing the cause of the least of these and urging His followers to do the same. Your accomplishments with academics is astounding–one of only 3 Winters Mill National Merit Commended Scholar Awards?!? What!?! Go on girl!! Your SAT scores make my jaw drop! Thanks for always being brave and unabashed in what makes your heart beat faster–the world is a better place because of that! Your future is on fire and you should know your mom and dad won’t be the only ones crying when you leave for TX dear one!
Accepting only 30 JDP seniors for the 2018-19 season! We’d love to chat with you about your own session!
