Arizona Senior Photographer: Anna…a senior portrait session

Apr 4

There’s something remarkable about spending time with a senior on the cusp of graduation. There’s a tension about them that simultaneously communicates a readiness to leave the nest as well as a tenderness about the life they’ve lived up to that point. I met Anna a few weeks ago who resides in the space between taking flight and still being tethered. She’s graduating in about 6 weeks and I was fortunate enough to spend some time with her and hear a bit about where she’s been and where she’s going.

Anna moved here the summer before her junior year from Philadelphia, PA. It’s quite a leap…from northeast cold to southwest hot, from green to brown, from one school to another. And did I mention her family moved smack in the middle of the pandemic? None of those transitions is easy, not in the least.

But Anna…she gives off a very resilient vibe. It’s not easy to pick up and move across the country half way through your high school years and start over. However, Anna has found her way here in the desert. And my time getting to know her and capture her was a blessing and joy to me.

Anna is graduating in May from Eduprize High School (Gilbert campus). She will be heading north this fall to Northern Arizona University to study psychology and art. She’s a true creative and will have a showcase of her own artwork before school year end next month. She loves music and being outside…the beach, the woods, walking, running, dancing…drawing inspiration from all of those things.

Anna was so friendly and conversed so easily. One of the things I love is talking to my seniors and figuring out what makes them tick, what they’re passionate about. She loves art because it’s an outlet for expression. She loves psychology because she finds the human brain absolutely fascinating. What I noticed when we spoke of these things was that they bring her joy to talk about. Anna is not a senior who is entering college with little direction, no, she has business to attend to and dreams to pursue.

Our time together went quickly. We even got to take a boat to a little island and watch the beautiful golden sunset behind us. I enjoyed our time and feel blessed to have shared in just a small moment in Anna’s life.

So Anna, as you get ready to cut your tethers and leave the nest, I pray that you would continue to find expression in your art and that you would never stop marveling at the complexity and beauty of the human mind, and that you would pursue hard that which brings you joy.