This family is special. Every one of them has made an impact on me, my husband, and even our kids. I have now photographed three out of the four siblings for their senior portraits (and Rachel, I’m coming for you in a few short years 😉 ) This boy right here can somehow manage to steal everyone’s heart the moment they meet him. He’s always smiling, always kind, has a gentle aura, and isn’t afraid to be himself and do what he knows is right. Once, when my boys were VERY young, he even offered to babysit. He had a hard time putting them to bed because he just didn’t like to hear them cry. I’m a bedtime warrior so I know the drill, but Stephen was still such a softie that I’m not sure they ever made it to their rooms that night. I’m pretty sure I came home to find at least one boy asleep on the couch…which only made me love Stephen even more. I knew my kids were in good hands with him.

Stephen is active in lacrosse, playing the trumpet in marching band, swimming, and Boy Scouts – just to name a few. He tells me that his plans for after graduation are to first, serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then second, to serve a different kind of mission for the United States as a Marine. I asked Stephen to describe himself in one sentence, and this is what he came up with:
I believe in God, family, America and in going about doing good.

See? What did I tell you? Heart of gold, this kid.

We met up at one of my favorite Maryland locations, Kinder Farm. One thing I didn’t know about Stephen before this session was he has a little bit of a country boy in him! Kinder Farm was the perfect mix of rural and park, and Stephen nailed this session with confidence, just like I knew he would. I can’t wait to see where life takes him – I know it will be far.

 

Meghan is a portrait and wedding photographer based in Sylva, North Carolina. She photographs in Sylva, Franklin, Cashiers, Highlands, Asheville, and even into Tennesee, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland (and beyond!)