April 1st began a series that will allow me to be transparent about the people that have influenced my personal and professional growth.  When I look at where I have achieved success, I can honestly say that I never did it alone.  There was always someone there that believed in me, motivated me, encouraged me, or pushed me to continue.  This series is dedicated to those people!

“If you admire somebody, you should go ahead and tell them. People never get the flowers while they can still smell them.” ― Kanye West

DAY 8: GENE AND JOY CHAMPION

As I look at the list of remaining names in this series, I have to say that I have been so blessed to have so many amazing people that have entered into my life.  While some people may have been around for only a season or a reason, there are some that will be around for a lifetime.  That’s what I think about Gene and Joy Champion, so Day 8 is dedicated to them!  Joy and I go way back to college (North Carolina A&T State University) where we lived in the same dorm our sophomore year.  Joy and I ran against each other for Vice President of Morrison Hall and despite the outcome we still remained friends.  We kept in touch after graduation and when I received the call that she was becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta I was so excited for her!  Who knew that when I decided to move to Virginia that we’d live so close to each other and would eventually become members of the same church.  Joy has seen many phases of my life from designing websites to acting and now photography.  Joy has sent me resources- like her wedding photographer, so that I could study his work, to her friends that needed photos.  I hope to one day be the wedding photographer that my clients are referring to their friends! Day 8 is dedicated to her and her family because they have become loyal and annual clients!  I don’t take on many families anymore but because we have been in each others’ lives for so long it only seems right that I make the exception every once in a while.

The Champions have seen my development as a photographer and have complimented my growth after each of their sessions and because they return each year, I feel like I am doing something right!  When they contact me for their photo sessions, they just just give me dates to work with and let me decide the location because they trust my judgement.  I can sometimes be a little adventurous, but they just roll with the flow, so I just love them for that! The last time I was at their home, I saw so many photos on their walls that I had taken.  I don’t think they had time to throw them up before my arrival,so it was awesome to see their maternity session and family sessions on the wall in large prints and a canvas! It really makes my heart smile to see photos that I have taken as Facebook profile photos, cell phone screen savers or phone case images!

Gene and Joy- thanks for sticking with me through the years!  It truly means the world to me that you have chosen me year after year, and please know that each time I have the opportunity to take your photos I will strive to be a millions times better than before!  I look forward to us working together in the future!  Love you guys!

Watermarks on my Soul Series:

• Watermarks on my Soul : The Why
• Watermarks on my Soul : Day 1 – My Parents
• Watermarks on my Soul : Day 2- Rae Images
• Watermarks on my Soul : Day 3 – Quad and Keisha Smith
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 4- Laura Huntley Photography
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 5- Mark Baskin
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 6 – Andre Dalton
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 7 – Leroy Walker, Jr.