To say I knew this session was to be a special one is an understatement.
Toss in the fact that I'd photographed her brothers in what seems like a lifetime ago (Clint 1998, Luke 2000), the connections to this young lady are numerous and far reaching.
Make no mistake, I still put pressure on myself for every session I shoot, but somehow I'm running into a few more than usual this year that make me feel like I'm coming up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs in the last inning all over again... and this was one of them.
She probably had no idea I was feeling it. And why would she? It was just hangin' out with Breanna's dorky Dad one more time, right?
You get the picture... Taia Veren wasn't "just another senior" on the schedule.
I planned for it to be a long adventurous day... and boy was it ever.
We started at the crack of dawn out in the sticks on Lafayette Avenue south of Haverhill. After a meeting of the minds at the kitchen table, it was off to photograph an old John Deere that brother Luke had meticulously restored. After finding thirty ways to shoot a Deere, we still had to capture the best angle on the myriad of wind turbines that dot the landscape around the Veren Farm. Taia nearly perished in some tall grass while getting that shot. There were some ants a couple grasshoppers and a fly or two in there. ;)
After surviving that vicious attack, we knocked off a few more things around the farmstead. Mom holding the umbrella... sister Clare holding the reflector.... Brother Luke sawing down branches left and right. It was a team effort... not gonna lie.
Phase two included a trip to Marshalltown where Taia (I just call her "T") was turning heads in her Jessica Simpson heels. By the end of the day, Miss Simpson's name was being used in vain. I've never attempted to walk in high heels, but I think it's safe to say that I'm glad it was Taia's feet crammed into those stilts and not mine.
Phase three included a requested trip to Three Bridges State Park to capture a couple of spots she had particularly wanted. Folks... if you go there in the near future... bring your bug spray. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
Finally then... after what would suffice as an extra large session at most studios, we made an appearance at the studio in Montour. We cycled back through some outfits to give her Stewart Photography experience the proper balance it called for, and then we saved the best for last.
We knew from the git-go that a trip to East Marshall High School was in order. Taia had told me during her session, all things being equal, being on stage and acting and performing was her true love. So, our task was to somehow capture all her passion in one image.
Ok... that's impossible.
Or was it?
Part of what makes me enjoy Taia so much on stage is her brilliant sense of humor. It's one that mirrors my daughter's, and that's probably why they are BFF's. In addition, they've been sidekicks in several productions and trips to speech contest, so I've seen her in action many times. And if she thinks my daughter is funny... where does she think that CAME from? Anyway, long story short, put her and I's minds together? And what you get is the totally hilarious nine image "Faces of Taia" collage. Pretty proud of that one.
Our final stop was the new gym at EMHS. Cheerleading had to wait to the end as a hair change was in order. After years of tumbling for Ron Brooks' MAT Club in Marshalltown, Miss Veren has turned her acrobatic arsenal into a flip-flopping, bounding tumble show at every Mustang basketball game. It wasn't easy getting our timing and positioning just so for the perfect image at the end of a long day... but T is a gamer, and I was tickled with our results.
Before I let Taia finally see her images... I just wanted to thank her for being such a great friend to my kid. Lord knows that going through high school for girls can be filled will tons of obstacles and enough drama to outdo a state speech festival. That being said, you've always been there for each other... always level-headed and okay with giving each other space when you needed it, yet the rock each one counted on. Growing up isn't easy, and I know you've had some unthinkable loss (I miss your Dad, too), but you've emerged from it all a gorgeous, witty, athletic, funny, yet compassionate young lady. Your Pops would be extremely proud... and I know your mom well enough to know that she is too.
I photographed you at the studio when you were one year old, Taia... Thanks for giving me the honor of doing it again all these years later, T. <3 br="">
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