Free At Last

So this will probably get sappy, just a heads up.

Last year at this time, I was lucky to have one session a weekend. Now I shoot almost everyday. I absolutely LOVE what I get to do and the people I meet. But photography is an art form, which is easy to forget since there's usually a more common purpose; weddings, families, etc. So like every other art, the person behind the medium is a "creative". As photographers we need outlets for our pent up creativity sometimes so we plan styled shoots or "shoot for ourselves".

Last week I got to be SUPER extra and shoot for myself via my brother and his basically common-law wife (just kidding they're like little babies but they've been together for a quarter of their life so basically married). My brother and his girlfriend will be graduating from Saint Louis University next month, which such a momentous occasion obviously calls for over-the-top photos done by yours truly. Y'all, I had everything; 36" number balloons, smoke grenades, decorated and non-decorated champagne bottles, sequins, confetti AND I dug up (and touched up the grad photos) of these two high school sweethearts.

Yep. High school sweet hearts, just like mom used to make! And by mom I mean our grandparents. As the prevalence of internet dating heightens, I hear less and less love stories that began in the halls of a high school.

But let's back up a little further, like twenty two years. My mom was pregnant with what I was hoping would be a sister. But instead, I got a brother. A little snot that was six years, one month and one week younger than me. Always wanting to do what I was doing, playing with my friends, getting in to my stuff and just generally "ruining" my life. Having a six year age difference was fairly difficult for a while. My brother also didn't get to grow up with a lot of neighborhood kids like I did so he found solace in electronics. Which basically made him a boy genius with members of the Geek Squad coming to OUR house to get THEIR personal items repaired by my eleven year old brother. For the next several years we basically avoided each other. Which wasn't very difficult since I was a teenager and home was the last place I was going to be. When I was twenty I began dating the man who is now my husband. Justin began to soften a tad, and by a tad I mean microscopically. Two years later we got married. And in the spellbinding moments of the day, I was basically locked in with my husband, unaware of much else; like the fact that my brother, the one who I thought greatly disliked me, cried during his readings. Something changed that day, almost like the Grinch and his heart. I've never really asked him about it. Did he realize that his annoying older sister was in fact not going to be just hanging around in the same two thousand square foot space forever? Did it hit his seventeen year old self that I was going to be moving away in a few months across the state?

It didn't really matter much to me because after October 25, 2013 JJ wasn't just my brother anymore but my friend. Which if you knew us, was a big shock. He even did things for me without me really asking, and it wasn't small stuff like getting me some water. It was like driving to my work, picking up my car, changing all of my brake pads, then returning my car to my work.

In December of 2013, JJ and Morgan went on their first date and never looked back. Morgan was the popular class president whereas my brother could NOT have been more polar opposite. We also really haven't asked Morgan seriously (we joke about it ALL THE TIME though) what exactly she saw in the all black clothes wearing, hoodie up, Sith Lord looking Justin; because frankly we don't want her having any second thoughts! From day one I've adopted Morgan as my little sister and she has never let me down. She is a miracle worker for my brother and I'm sure he's rubbed off positively on her (we just haven't figured that part out yet either!) somehow. They have done everything together in the passed five years from traveling all over the country to just studying for finals.

As clichè as it is, I can seriously not wait to see where their future takes them. They are both insanely smart, bright and realistic. They care deeply about each other and their family (especially their niece aka my kiddo). They have their heads squarely on their shoulders and I have absolutely no doubt that they'll both do something to change the world, no matter how big or little.

Justin and Morgan, I love you both so, so much. Thank you for indulging my crazy, super extra plans for "your" graduation photos. I've loved watching you two grow as a couple and in to adults together. I truly wish and hope nothing but the best for your futures as you're now FREE from school! Not debt though, sorry!

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!