Jocelyn

"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is Jocelyn. Not just the pictures, but the words. She has a genuine smile that lights up a room and never hesitates to give. She works herself to the bone to reach her goals. She envisions a future where others appreciate the world around them through the beauty of artistic expression. She loves and is loved. She has succeeded and will continue to succeed.

I am so grateful to have friends in my life like Jocelyn. She has supported my dreams since Day 1 and continues to be a great support for me. The pictures from this shoot serves as a small thank you to someone who constantly puts others before herself and is a shining example of a great friend. Thank you, Jocelyn!

Jeremy

One of my favorite parts about being a photographer is helping capture a side of someone that they don't get to see themselves. Most people I have met do not care for how they look behind a camera. They seem to think of every imperfection they have. What they don't see is how great they truly are! What I see behind the camera is everything about them that makes the picture amazing. The way they smile, the natural way they hold themselves, the unique style they have. These are all the things that I see.

My last senior portrait session of the semester helped remind me of how much I love working with other people. Jeremy's session was special because it helped me show him how great he is. Alright, I'm a little biased...Jeremy is one of my closest friends. But sometimes you need something in life that shows all the great things about you. That was my goal for this shoot.

The best part of this shoot was easily Jeremy showing unique parts of his personality. From making goofy side comments to wearing a Star Wars tie, this shoot was 100% Jeremy. 

Matthew

On the home page of my website, I post three words: Creative, Unconventional, and Fun. Working with Matthew on his senior portrait session, I felt like I was really able to tap into all three of these promises that I make.

But I certainly can't take all the credit for that! When I had my phone conversation with Matthew before the shoot to get an idea of some of the shots he wanted, he had some unique and personal ideas that reflect his personality perfectly.

First, he told me that he wanted to take a "Clark Kent" style picture of him opening a button-down shirt with a Ragin' Cajuns shirt underneath. I immediately freaked out and said we HAD to do it. If you were to meet Matthew, you would understand how perfect this shot is for him and his quirky, yet lovable personality.

Second, he told me he wanted a shot of him fishing in Cypress Lake, the swamp in the middle of campus. I was excited to do this shot because I am always looking for new poses to do around this area. It's just a beautiful spot in Lafayette. This is where "creative" and "unconventional" came into play because I had to straddle a brick wall hanging over the swamp to get this picture! Completely worth it.

I really enjoyed working with Matthew and helping capture his memories at UL. As his fraternity brother and friend, I am so proud of everything he has accomplished and can't wait to see him succeed in his next great adventure. Thanks for the memories, Matt!

Winter Guard Season Wrap Up

This past year, I took on a client that led to amazing opportunities I never even thought I would have. I began working with Lake Area Independent, a world-class winter guard affiliated with Winter Guard International, as their public relations director. What is winter guard? It is indoor color guard pageantry that incorporates dancing, flag work, and weaponry.

So what did this activity do for me this year? It gave me the chance to see some of the most amazing young performing artists I've ever seen expose me to a whole new art. The way these kids perform with such emotion inspired me as a photographer. They made me want to capture the feeling they were expressing through their performances. Getting to work with various high school and independent groups has shown me the hard work, dedication, and skill that goes into this craft and I would like to share with you some of what I got to see.

The pictures I am sharing are of the talent that is right here in Louisiana. There is an amazing amount of artistic talent in our community if we only just open our eyes and watch. I want to thank Lake Area Independent, Lafayette High School Winter Guard, Westlake High School Winter Guard, and Lake Arthur High School Winter Guard for allowing me to capture their shows and share with me their talent.

Connor

This is probably the most special photo shoot I will get to do this year: my brother's. Connor is vivacious and energetic. He does everything 100% because he's the type of guy that is super passionate about the things he does, which is why we absolutely had to incorporate some of the memorable things Connor has done in his photo shoot. Connor is a graduating senior at Louisiana State University and has recently been recognized as one of the Tiger Twelve - the top 12 graduating student leaders on LSU's campus. He has been so engaged on his campus and come into his own at LSU, which is why we needed to pay tribute to the various beautiful locations Louisiana's flagship had to offer.

In my opinion, the lighting for the day was incredible. Overcast skies for the majority of the shoot meant really convenient lighting situations with the sun coming out just in time for some fun sunset shots. This shot was more than about giving another client a great experience...it was about giving my brother something special we could share for the rest of our lives! I'm very proud of my brother and all he has accomplished so getting to help him capture the memories he has made on the campus of LSU was an absolute pleasure.