A Senior Session | Dylan | Ontario Christian High School

I’ve had the privilege of watching Dylan grow up—from an elementary school student into the beautiful young woman she is today. It’s always a little surreal (and very special) when I get to photograph a senior I’ve known for so many years.

Dylan is a soccer player and has her sights set on becoming an athletic trainer, which feels fitting for someone who is both strong and quietly determined. She has an easygoing, laid-back personality, but there’s a spark underneath it all—a little bit of strength, confidence, and personality that comes out when you least expect it.

And then there was her choice of a morning senior session. Almost every senior chooses an evening session, so I was more than a little surprised when Dylan opted for an early morning in the mountains. In the middle of summer, the mountain air was actually chilly, and the soft morning light made the whole setting feel a little magical.

Not quite a woodland fairy—that doesn’t really feel like Dylan—but there was something about her in the mountains that reminded me of Arwen from The Lord of the Rings: beautiful, strong, understated, and completely at home in the landscape.

I loved getting to spend this quiet morning with her and document this particular season of her life right before she steps into her college years!

It’s such a gift to photograph these milestones, especially when I’ve had the privilege of knowing someone for so many years. Dylan, I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you. I have a feeling that quiet spark of yours is going to take you far.