Graduating with Honors Despite Going through a Tragedy
Photographing MacKinzee Howard’s senior session at Knoxville Botanical Garden was so much more than just capturing a milestone. It felt like a full-circle moment. I’ve had the absolute joy of documenting her family’s biggest celebrations, starting with her older brother’s wedding back in 2019, and then again in 2022 for her second brother’s wedding. An invitation into a family’s life during these monumental moments is something I’ll never take for granted, and MacKinzee’s senior session was no exception.
What made this session especially meaningful is getting to serve MacKinzee just after her sweet dad passed away. Like me in 2017, MacKinzee lost her dad suddenly this past year. It’s a pain that shifts your world entirely, and it’s a journey that’s both uniquely personal and deeply universal to those who’ve walked through it. When you meet someone who gets it, it’s like finding a soul sister… or in this case, maybe a soul mentor (I’ve got a few years on her, after all). My heart aches for all she’s been through, and yet it swells with pride when I see how she’s standing so strong in the middle of it all.
Despite the heartbreak, MacKinzee is graduating with incredible honors and stepping into her college era with grace, courage, and confidence. I just know her dad would be beaming with pride. Watching her walk through this season with resilience and quiet strength has been nothing short of inspiring.
MacKinzee, the Lord is using your story in such a powerful way. I’m so honored to have walked alongside you and your family through these life-changing milestones. You are a light, and it was such a gift to capture this chapter for you. Congratulations, sweet girl—you’re just getting started.
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