My dear friend Amanda was so sweet to allow us to use her family’s beautiful property for this precious session with this amazing little girl! It had been a very tough week for my family as our dear friends and neighbors had just lost two of their sweet children in a tragic accident. My heart was aching for my friends and my own family as everyone was grappling with the news. This loss of two precious souls was almost too much to bear. That week….all of our emotions were so raw. When Laura arrived with little Layla, I knew we were going to have a blast and I was going to enjoy running around capturing her fiesty spirit. She was an instant little friend with lots of posing ideas (at this age, we always let them think the session is all their idea…when really I know how to use their ideas to my advantage to get great shots). She was a pro at showing a range of emotions and at one point when I sat down on the grass with her…I knew this was just what my soul needed. The wind was blowing through the trees, the sun was setting, and Layla was smiling while her eyes danced with mischief….it was then that God whispered to my heart the importance of what I was doing. I truly believe that a photograph can be a glimpse into one’s soul. It is a lasting image of a child’s spirit, the joy of a new love, the beginning of a life together, the sad goodbye before deployment, the excitement of a homecoming, or the bond of a family. As I was leaving that night, my friend Amanda sent me this message: ” Watching you tonight photograph that beautiful child, made me think that doing just that may be a form of healing for you. I know when you photograph, interview, paint, etc. someone, you get a secret glimpse into their soul. I couldn’t help but feel like you had two angels running along side of your subject tonight. xoxo”. This night along the banks of the White Oak River with a special little girl was a true blessing! Thank you Laura, Layla, and Amanda….