This past May, I turned the Big 4-0. I celebrated the entire month: went to the Kentucky Derby with my best friend, Grace; my husband surprised me with a huge party at home after I’d participated in the Woodward CrossFit Women’s Throwdown; we had a family birthday celebration in New Braunfels plus a multitude of birthday lunches, dinners and drinks. It was fabulous.
The only thing I really wanted for my birthday though, was a classical portrait of me with my daughter, Hannah and mom, Janis. I’ve been a full-time photographer for five years now, and have never had professional images taken of myself! I had seen Sue Bryce’s portraits of women and thought they were stunning. So elegant, yet so simply done. And that’s what I wanted. At this time, Mom is 60, I am 40, and Hannah is 20. If you do the math, yes I made my sweet mother a grandmother at 40. But clearly, that turned out to be fabulous.
Hannah couldn’t believe I wanted us in “matchy matchy” clothing, but really I was just going for simple. A photograph that focuses on faces, not a “moment” or something happening. I wanted a clear demonstration of hey–this is how we looked in 2015. And Hannah’s children and grand-children will appreciate that. A huge thanks to Mike Reed for taking these for me. He did exactly what I wanted.
Me with my Good Best Girl. She’s got one year of school left at the University of Texas at Austin.
Me, Mom, my sister Jenna and Hannah.