09/08/2026
A little honesty 💜🫶💜
Last year, when I received the first few senior portrait inquires for the Class of 2026, my anxiety rose. Families that knew me asked if offering sessions for 2026 seniors was even something I would be doing. I took my time and thought about it. I love these kids. They knew my daughter. They know our story.
Cautiously, I had a photo project idea. These seniors all knew my daughter in their own way- her best friends, schoolmates, from baby playdate groups. I asked if they would do one photo for me, for Carley. They all said yes, without hesitation.
I was torn if I should share here; after all, this is my business page, not a personal blog. After some hesitation, I decided I would like to share why certain times of the year are extremely hard for me. As someone who works with families, being asked if I have children is a natural question to be asked. It should be a natural, easy answer. But my answer isn’t easy.
Yes, I have children. I have a son. And a daughter. Or HAD a daughter? How do I answer that? My daughter died. In my heart she is still my daughter. In my head she should have turned 18 this summer. But my mind can only see her as a 9 year old little girl. Who would she be now? Where would she be going to college? Would her hair be long or short? What music would she like? Would she have just moved into an apartment with one of these kids? The wondering never ends.
Over the past 8.5 years, we have learned to live with our grief. But we still think about Carley every hour of every day. She should have graduated high school in May, Class of 2026, and celebrated her 18th birthday in July. It was a heart wrenching few months for my husband and I. Usually I come out of summer feeling refreshed & ready for the chaos of my busy fall season. But this year, I am tired.
Still, I am grateful for my Class of 2026 seniors. Thank you for allowing me to capture this milestone for you. Thank you for giving me a glimpse of what my daughter might be like now. You are all very special to me, & I am excited to see where your next chapters take you. Thank you for helping me with this, and remembering Carley 💜
