Fast forward to senior year . . .

First we did her Senior Portraits at the studio.

Next we did a studio prom session and a mini prom session in Pikeville, KY on prom day.

Every prom session felt a little different. She grew more confident every year, but she never lost the same spark she'd had since she was a little girl. She knew how to step in front of the camera without pretending to be someone she wasn't. She was simply more of herself each time.

One thing that never changed was that Stacy and Kevin were always just around the corner. Whether it was family portraits, prom pictures, or senior sessions, they were there cheering her on. It became part of the tradition. We weren't just taking pictures. We were celebrating another milestone together. It's not every day you get to see Mom AND Dad show up for a prom photoshoot. 

Sadie always chose dresses that fit her personality instead of chasing whatever everyone else was wearing. She has always been a trend setter rather than a trend follower. Every year I couldn't wait to see what she'd bring because I knew it would feel like her.

By the time prom season rolled around, I looked forward to photographing Sadie as much as she looked forward to wearing the dress. We had built enough trust over the years that we could spend less time figuring things out and more time creating something new.

Senior year gave us two completely different stories. First came the bold red gown for her boyfriend's prom. Then came the soft pink dress for her own prom. Same girl. Two completely different chapters. That's one of the things I've always loved about photographing Sadie. She could tell a different story every time she stepped in front of my camera.

The location never mattered as much as the story we were telling that day.

Looking back now, I realize her prom sessions weren't just about documenting a dress or a dance. They were little markers along the road to senior year. Every prom, every family session, every creative portrait added another page to a story we've been telling together for more than a decade. By the time we photographed her senior portraits, we weren't introducing who Sadie was. We were celebrating who she had become.