Lily's best friend she never knew she had...West Palm Beach Senior | Gwyneth

It's nine o'clock. The kids are in bed (finally). The dog has been fed and is in for the night. Dinner eaten. Mini sessions finished and one last thing to do before I go off to Dreamyland.

That is share one of the sweetest seniors I've been privileged to shoot.

Gwyneth, Gwynnie, Gwyn. She is all those names and so much more.

She is all grown up and heading to College this fall. I know, I know...Most seniors get their photos done the year prior. But this angel cupcake wanted me to take them. And I couldn't get there until March of her graduating year, and so she was gonna wait until March of her graduating year!!! It as an honor and a privilege that she even ask me to take them. I accepted with gratitude and a hint of excitement. ;)

We started planning months ahead. See, Gwynnie is a planner. She likes to have everything perfect (except her bedroom floor). And so when we decided we were gonna do this, she went all out, dawg.

Being a huge, *ahem* HUGE, Lily Pulitzer fan and owning several dresses, we already pretty much knew what she was going to wear. And when she told me she had her mom had a Lily BIKE!? We knew what had to be done. It must be put in the Suburban and brought along.

We perused up and down Worth Avenue, in West Palm, pretending like we were going to buy everything as we passed. Chased light down alleys and looks for pretty florals to go with her gorgeous frocks. Found colorful, tiled steps from Pinterest. Threw pennies into fountains, and dug them back out (we po'ah). Biked along the beach. Brought confetti, forgot to use it. Ate ice cream from Sloans'.

HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST. She's rad. I like her. Here she is.

Gwyn, YOU are an incredibly girl. I can't wait to see how God writes the rest of your story, 'cause, it's ALREADY so beautiful.

:)Tori

A bus, chickens, canoes, and what happens when you do your homework...Jupiter Farms [Engstrom Family]

When a family I've known for a good thirteen years messages me on facebook asking about a family session, you can bet I'm gonna be thrilled. And when I get thrilled, I'm gonna think and dream and write back and ask lots of silly questions. And when I start asking questions it kinda becomes like homework. And when clients get homework it'll either overwhelm my clients or get them thinking. And when they get thinking...Ok, I'm done. 

It's so much cuter when it's about a mouse and a cookie.

Julie got thinking. And she thought and she thought. She climbed mountains and she dreamed dreams. She had a list of things they loved and places they enjoyed. She called the day before and asked about a few more things and I exclaimed "yes!" with all my heart. And never before have I been so proud of a client for working so hard to make their session reflect who they are. I felt like a mother hen releasing her baby chicks into the Wild to learn to fly free and be hero...chickens?

Anywho. 

We began our session in the backyard of the grandparents where Brookie's chicken pets live. All four ladies were quite lovely, pretty friendly and holdable. (Mind you, Brookie was doing all the holding. *no chickens were harmed in the making of these frames) Then we headed down to where Julie parks her bus.

Yes.

Her bus. 

HOW COOL IS SHE!? 

She had been praying that the Lord would open doors for her to work at the school where her kids attend for a long time. The Lord answered her prayer and she became a bus driver, and she absolutely LERVES it. It's gotta be pretty sweet to get first dibs on your seat er' mornin' on the way to school, yo'.

We wrapped up our session down at Riverbend Park, in Jupiter Farms, FL, where the family loves to bike, hike, canoe and wrestle alligators---OK I'm fabricating about the 'gators. 

Such a wonderful time, with a wonderful family, doing what they really love. And that's why it pays to do your homework, students ;)

Your story is so fun! and happy! And so beautiful, Engstrom family!!!

:) Tori

Lacrosse love and four years of friendship...West Palm Beach Couple [Alicia + Jon]

This girl. 

This girl is beautiful, gorgeous, gloriously lovely. She's beyond-words-pretty and not just on the outside. But on the inside as well. 

Her family moved from Kentucky to South Florida when she was just eleven. I was seventeen. And though separated by six years, I felt an instant connection to her kind and mature heart. She grew up to be even more even lovelier lady than I could have dreamed.

About four years ago Alicia began casually talking to Jon about common interests. Although they'd grown up in the same church they had little to do with one another until then. He played lacrosse, she played lacrosse. He loved Jesus, she loved Jesus. He ate ice cream, she also enjoyed ice cream. Bam! Match made in Heaven ;)

In celebratory goodness, this session was inspired. We danced, and sang, and snapped (well, maybe that was just me) away the evening around the Flagler Museum and Palm Beach. They celebrate real, true blue, fun-loving, four-year-togetherness. Are NOT engaged, yet. And waiting until they finish college. Please meet this sweet couple and prepare to swoon over their cute faces.

Your story is a beautiful one, Alicia + Jon.
:)Tori