deep south grad portraits:: laura and michelle

where to begin on these two beauties? the beginning is actually back when i was 10 years-old and i met them as tiny little infants, my twin(!) cousins. they were responsible for knocking me off my throne as youngest grandchild, and incredibly popular in the family to boot, but, they were so cute, i forgave them [even when they did ruin one beach vacation by teething and crying the.entire.time.]. i could fill this post with memories of the times we've spent together throughout their childhood and my growing up years, all the way to their maturity into wonderful young women and my beginnings of adulthood [i'm still young, i try to remind myself, though they aren't helping my mentality by graduating high school next month and starting at the university of alabama this fall!]... doing this shoot with laura and michelle in march was such a privilege, a fulfillment of sorts... back when i first started photography, they were some of my first victims subjects, and always my most willing. the fact that my aunt nina [their mom] thought those first photos were worth displaying in her home was incredibly flattering and encouraging for an aspiring portrait artist. it made sense that i would get to shoot their senior portrait session, but, it also meant a lot to me personally; i wouldn't have had it any other way. yes, i'm pregnant, but, i can't help but get a little emotional when i look at these photos. just five years ago they were my jr. bridesmaids in my wedding, and now they are young women. i can't believe i've gotten to be a small part of their lives. here's a few faves from my time with "my twins"...


first set taken in downtown fairhope, alabama.
second [beach] set taken at the grande hotel/point clear, fairhope, alabama.
last set taken in a few spots off a lonely highway in backwoods-next-to-nothing, alabama.

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