Claire's best friend

Two days in a row, she was in my studio.

Oh, they were separate sessions. Different clients. But, she was there.

I never met the young lady, but she must have been amazing because judging from what I've seen, she hasn't been forgotten.

This week is the four year mark of the day that yesterday's senior, Amanda, lost her best friend, Claire. Just finishing 7th grade is way too early for anyone to leave us and I can't pretend to know what it feels like. What I will say is that, while her death may never be understood. her friends are making sure her memory lives on.

Monday's session saw Claire's initials on the shoes of the area's best basketball player. Tuesday's saw Claire's trademark yellow smiley face adorned in patch form on Amanda's letter jacket sleeve. In addition, perhaps it was comforting for Amanda to have Claire's commemorative smiley stone propped up in the camera room the entire session before we put it into action for the last few shots of the day.

The last thing I want to do is bring sadness to what should be a happy occasion. Senior pictures should be a blast... and I think Amanda did have a good time. But there can be no doubt that it felt right, and proper for her to pause and remember on this day... and this week... and this, her senior year her best friend forever.