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 12: THE GAINES FAMILY

It’s so funny that many of the people that I have been thanking for one thing or another have been active in commenting on other features that I have done. The Gaines Family is my comedic relief, genuinely nice people and another family that has become repeat clients over the past few years.  I first met Dwan through a group of our sorority sisters and found out that she also attended my alma mater!  I knew that we’d hit it off- she’s an Aggie, a Delta, and she has become my official style guru!  When I met her beautiful daughters- Morgan and Sydney- I thought they were so sweet and I knew that I wanted to photograph them.  When I had my first official model shoot, I asked Dwan if her girls would model for me and the rest was history.  They have done several shoots for me, I’ve taken senior photos, Christmas photos for the past few years and I truly adore these four individuals!

I get embarrassed with public recognition, so when I walked into Morgan’s graduation party and Dwan announced that I was her daughter’s photographer I became really nervous, but from that announcement I booked several more photo sessions!!  I admit that I want my clients to be my best form of advertising, but that was totally unexpected.  However, it was pretty cool to see Morgan’s Senior photos looping on a slideshow and her Cap and Gown photo in an enlarged framed print in the party room!!  It’s okay to have photos on a disc or USB, but to see my work on walls, canvases, prints and greeting cards will never get old!!

I love how supportive the Gaines’ have been on this journey and I am thankful for the additional clients they have sent my way! Any chance I get to return the favor I am excited to do so!

Each person that is on my list is because of something that I’ve learned from them.  From Dwan and Lawrence, I’ve learned that having a mate that is supportive in every endeavor life is key. From their daughters, although they are younger than me, I’ve learned to laugh, enjoy life and live in the moment.  I’ve laughed the hardest at some of our past photo sessions and I know that it’s okay to be myself, however silly that may be at times because it allows the client to be themselves, which generates natural expressions and real photos.  From their entire family, I’ve learned that whenever I’m giving, loving, and sincere without expecting anything in return, God will reward that with more than I can ever ask and in many different forms!

Thank you Lawrence, Dwan, Morgan and Sydney for the laughs, the fun sessions, and the future sessions!  Love you guys!

Christmas 2012:

Christmas 2013:

Morgan’s Cap and Gown Photos:

Sydney’s Senior Photos:

• 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.
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 8 – The Champions
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 9- The Woolfolks
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 10- Abby Grace
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 11- Lacoya Heggie