Summer has completely flown by—and somehow, it’s been my busiest summer yet! I’ve had the chance to photograph so many wonderful people and projects, from working with the University of Michigan and local musical groups to WPP in Detroit and, of course, lots of graduation portraits here in Ann Arbor. So far, all of the graduates I’ve photographed this year have been University of Michigan students, and with the new school year just around the corner, I thought I’d share a few more recent sessions before the school year starts up again. As much as I love summer, I have to admit that I’m starting to really appreciate the energy (and cooler temperatures!) that autumn brings.
I had the pleasure of photographing Kenny, a recent University of Michigan Ross School of Business graduate. Kenny reached out because he wanted to celebrate his graduation with portraits at some of the most meaningful and recognizable locations around campus, including the Law Quad, the Ross School of Business, and Michigan Stadium. He had a lot going on—he was getting ready to move to Los Angeles the following week—but he still wanted to carve out some time to celebrate this accomplishment and mark the end of such an important chapter of his life.
I’m so glad he reached out. Kenny was an absolute joy to work with, and I loved getting to hear about his story, his family, and what was ahead for him. Graduation sessions are some of my favorite portraits to photograph because they’re about so much more than simply putting on a cap and gown. They’re a chance to pause for a moment, look back at everything that brought you there, and celebrate before moving on to whatever comes next.
One of my favorite moments from the session actually came toward the end. Kenny mentioned that before the photoshoot, he hadn’t been particularly excited about the idea of having his portraits taken. A friend encouraged him to go through with it, and by the end of our session, he told me he was really glad he had. Those are the moments that make me so grateful for what I do and why I love it. I know that having your photo taken isn’t everyone’s favorite thing, and that’s completely okay! At the end of the session I want the experience to feel relaxed, fun, and meaningful—and hopefully leave you with photographs that feel like you.
It’s incredibly rewarding to help University of Michigan graduates celebrate everything they’ve accomplished and create photographs that preserve this moment in their lives before they head off into whatever comes next. Thank you, Kenny, for trusting me with your University of Michigan graduation portraits. I’m so happy we were able to document this chapter before you started the next one!