The Top Trojan: My Favorite Martin...

There's an old saying that says something like the best thing about freshman... is that they eventually become sophomores.

While there may be a lot of truth to that, as a photographer, I might suggest the best thing about juniors is that they eventually become SENIORS!

I couldn't help but think that last spring when, for the first time, I was asked by South Tama Tennis Coach Steve Bearden to take Team Trojan's team pictures.

While all the ladies seemed genuinely pleased with our individual attention, I couldn't help but notice a heavy dose of JUNIORS on the squad.

Potential senior clients just a few months away?   One could only hope.   And as it turned out, we picked up the lion's share of those potentials.

One after another they came.  Caitlin in early July... Tori a couple weeks later...  Taylor right before school started... and Ali in mid-September.

Yet something was missing.

All those Trojan netters and still, I still hadn't photographed the best player of them all.

Until early October finally.

I greeted Emily Martin that day by saying, "at long last, I finally meet number one!"

She smiled her shy smile knowing full well what I was talking about.  Coach Bearden has a plethora of talented players, but only one assumes that top spot, and she was finally in our studio.

So we knew we were gonna finish up with another sports collage featuring Miss Martin's mad tennis game, but we had much to do in the meantime.

Mainly, Em and her mother, Laura had told me they really liked our urban looks that they had seen from all the friends that had been our way... and with a couple killer outfits that played right into that mold, we were off to find some brick walls and alleyways..

While she may have really struggled walking in those insane heels and sweet grey boots, the end result didn't show it.   I couldn't be sure what they were saying, but the Hispanic workers hollering across the street from the Tallcorn Towers in Marshalltown at Emily seemed to giving her their stamp of approval as well.   :)

Unfazed, our future UNI pre-med student (who eventually plans on getting into radiology at Allen College) nailed image after edgy yet fun image.  We did eventually toss in a little dress to mix it up and show a softer side, but in the end, we had one more thing to complete.

Sure, we mixed in a smidge of volleyball, but make no mistake, tennis tops the list of this Trojan's strengths.   She may have may me wait for my shot at her, but when given the opportunity, just like when we did the tennis pictures back at the end of April, we were gonna make the most of it.

Thanks to Team Trojan and Team Martin, we can't thank you enough for the chance to be your photographer.