RCK Photography

05/17/2025

🎓✨🌟 SHE DID IT, Y’ALL!!! 🌟✨🎓

This Saturday, May 17th at 10:00am, our middle girl—my sweet, spicy, strong-willed Cierra Aileena, aka Cicibear 🐻— walked across that stage at Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY, graduating with her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Medicine!!! 💪🏾📘💥

Let me tell y’all…this wasn’t just a walk in the park. It was more like a triathlon in a thunderstorm while blindfolded—BUT SHE MADE IT!!! LOL 😜🏃🏾‍♀️⛈️💃🏾

Over the past four years, Cierra has faced:
🚨 THREE back-to-back car accidents (yes, three 🚗🚙🚕...don’t ask)
🏥 A mystery illness that had her hospitalized and left us all praying hard
🧠 A new mental health diagnosis and the courage to navigate it
🚗 The adventures of figuring out how to get back and forth to Nashville without a reliable car (we’re now on vehicle #...🤷🏾‍♀️ we’ve lost count)
💔 The heartbreak of losing her beloved Great-Grandmother Lois and our sweet family dog Roscoe in the same week 😭🐶👵🏽
📚 And STILL made it to class, turned in her work, and kept showing up.

Sis. Kept. Going. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
There were days when we weren’t sure how it would all come together. But God. But grace. But grit. 🙌🏾🙏🏾
Cierra, I want you to know how insanely proud I am of you. 💖

You have persevered in the face of pressure, grief, breakdowns, and setbacks. You’ve shown me how strong, wise, and determined you really are. You’ve shown me what faith-in-motion and answered prayers looks like. 🦋

When you were born, I knew you were destined for something special. ✨ Watching you grow into this beautiful, deep-feeling, hilarious, courageous young woman has been one of the great joys of my life.

Parenting an adult ain’t for the faint of heart—we’ve had our moments (and Mom, yes, I’m talking to myself here 😂), but we've healed. We've grown. We've chosen each to support each other and extend grace to one another over and over again. And we’re stronger for it.

Now, go out there and use your gifts to heal the world! 🌍💫
Congratulations, Cici !

“Peace be the journey.” ❤️🎓

✨

05/16/2025

You’ve worked hard and held in more than most people know.
You may not feel “successful” in the way society defines it—
But you’ve made it this far.
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Let me tell you something I’m still learning myself:
You're worthy of being seen, celebrated, and remembered.
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A portrait isn’t about perfect timing. It’s about honoring the journey—especially the messy, in-between parts.
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So if you’ve been waiting for the right time to finally book that shoot… consider this your sign.
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📅 Now booking portrait sessions for the summer, milestone celebrations, and legacy sessions.
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You’re worth capturing. Right now. Just as you are.
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05/14/2025

The responses and DM's I received after yesterdays post truly touched my heart and I just wanted to share this today. 🙏🏾🤎This is for the ones who don’t feel successful by the numbers…..but have shown up anyway.
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Since 2011, I’ve been building RCK Photography—quietly, slowly, and sometimes painfully. I’ve held space for women rediscovering their power, families celebrating milestones, and clients who wanted more than just “a photo.”
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For me that is success.
And it demands effort every single time.
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Whether you’re a mom, an artist, a survivor—or all of the above—your voice matters. Let’s honor the work you’ve done just to be here.
Let’s capture your courage.
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📷 Your portrait is your legacy. Let’s tell your story.
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05/13/2025

“Success always demands a greater effort.” — Winston Churchill
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Here’s the truth: I’ve been in business since 2011.
But by the world’s standards—huge profits, a full team, a big studio space that I can rent out to other creatives, being an educator—⁣I haven’t “arrived.”
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Some days, I don’t give that “greater effort.” Not because I don’t care. But because I’m tired.😩 Because being an entrepreneur, a nurse, a caregiver, a wife, and a dreamer wears on you.😞
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Yet here I am. Still showing up. Still redefining what success looks like—for me.
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Sometimes the greatest effort is simply choosing not to quit.
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If you’re in a season of trying to keep going... I see you. You are not alone.
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05/07/2025

49 trips around the sun 🌞 and still shining bright!

To every call, text, post, and hug—thank you. I felt the love in every message, and I’m genuinely grateful you took time out of your very real busy lives to make me feel so seen, loved, and celebrated. 🥹

This final lap of my forties hits differently. I don’t take a single moment for granted anymore. I’m trying my best to be fully present, savoring every laugh, wrinkle, tear, and gray hair (yep, they’re multiplying—but I’m still your cool, young-looking grandma 👵🏽✨ loading… cue Megan: “Real Hot Girl Sht!”*)

I’m navigating this wild ride with three brilliant adult daughters, the same man who’s had my back for the past 26 years (shout out to you, Mon’te 💙), two beautiful younger sisters, and parents who continue to anchor me.

Even in a world that tries to dim the light of women who look like me—Black, bold, brilliant, and born to lead—I move with love, wisdom, and joy. I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams, and every year I’m more committed to leaving behind a legacy of light.

As Kendrick said:
“I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA.” 🖤
And baby, all of it is showing up beautifully.

Thank you again for loving on me. I hope you know I love and appreciate each of you more than you can imagine. Here’s to living with intention, loving out loud, and dancing into 49 with gratitude and grace. 💃🏽🌸

#ʜᴀᴘᴘʏʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏᴛᴏᴍᴇ

05/07/2025