"That's exactly how it should be."
It should be the reaction you always get with every Senior session out there. "That's exactly how it should be." That's exactly how that session should have gone. Showing what that Senior was passionate about and doing what it takes to bring out who he or she really is.
And so was the case of Coco Stewart. This is exactly how it should be. It's never happened before that I have had the opportunity to shoot such a special person whose evidence of the way she loves actually overflowed onto her shooting scene. Shrills of laughter and smiling children of varying ages invaded our space. And she couldn't be any happier-I know this for certain.
Coco's family and ours are members of the same body at Bammel Church of Christ in Houston. She has been a blessing to everyone she meets and I truly haven't met anyone quite like her. Loving and caring for children is in the deepest part of her heart. It just comes so easy to her! I know she can't imagine her life without kids. Are they family? Not by blood. But they are family. They're her spirit family and she is their spirit sister and mother. What an amazing bond!
When Coco's mom asked her about Senior pictures, Coco was reluctant. A beautiful but humble girl, she just wasn't looking forward to having herself as a spotlight. Mom cried, and she agreed. LOL. So I came over to her home and we did her planning session. As I asked her about her vision for her photos, she said, "I'm just doing this for my mom. Really, I don't care where we go or what I wear..." She wasn't excited. She was about to be a tough client. That's ok! I get it. I understand. It's my job to see what defines people. I wouldn't be a good photographer if I just stopped there and let her pick anything and just go anywhere. Avoiding this "whatever" session is why I go over and meet them. I already knew Coco, though, and I kept having this creeping thought of how to integrate what she means to the kids she loves into these pictures. Her spirit needed to be the spotlight. She would be leaving a gaping hole in our children's ministry at my church soon. How can I capture what she means to our church body?
We went up to her room and began rummaging through her closet. As we casually talked about outfits, she jokingly said, "Well, you can bring Rio and Lathan." My kids. She invited my kids to her shoot. That was it. THAT'S what I needed. A vision was born for Coco's shoot. "Ok," I said. "Or you can invite all of the kids you babysit. We can take you to a field and get a picture of you with all of them. Then you'll have something to take with you to college." The sparkle in her eye wasn't just a sparkle. I touched something. Her whole self lit up. "Really?" she said. "That would be soooooo cool! I would love that!" And it was done. Yes, really. Yes, let's do it. Yes, yes, yes, let's put you in your element for your Senior pictures because...that's the way it should be. In my opinion, I would be doing you a disservice by not taking this picture. I am all in-whatever it takes. Whatever craziness I have to endure. Toss aside the extra work, editing, and physical toil-it is all worth it. This is now an inspired session. Yes. That's what I want to do. Capture your spirit...and they are a huge part of it.
We did some solo shots for mom first. Here is Coco! Along with sooo many other awards, she was Valedictorian of her class. She will be attending Lipscomb University in the fall and *surprise*, she's a potter. I got her to pose with one of her favorite pieces she's made.
Here she is with her heart, her kids. "Coco's Kids." Her mom posted an invitation on Facebook and about 20 kids (some not pictured until later) showed up, representing between 8 and 10 families. A small piece of the real legacy Coco is creating. One family drove up from Austin just for this event! I can't say how many families said, "I wouldn't miss this for the world." She is deeply appreciated and loved!!
It should be the reaction you always get with every Senior session out there. "That's exactly how it should be." That's exactly how that session should have gone. Showing what that Senior was passionate about and doing what it takes to bring out who he or she really is.
And so was the case of Coco Stewart. This is exactly how it should be. It's never happened before that I have had the opportunity to shoot such a special person whose evidence of the way she loves actually overflowed onto her shooting scene. Shrills of laughter and smiling children of varying ages invaded our space. And she couldn't be any happier-I know this for certain.
Coco's family and ours are members of the same body at Bammel Church of Christ in Houston. She has been a blessing to everyone she meets and I truly haven't met anyone quite like her. Loving and caring for children is in the deepest part of her heart. It just comes so easy to her! I know she can't imagine her life without kids. Are they family? Not by blood. But they are family. They're her spirit family and she is their spirit sister and mother. What an amazing bond!
When Coco's mom asked her about Senior pictures, Coco was reluctant. A beautiful but humble girl, she just wasn't looking forward to having herself as a spotlight. Mom cried, and she agreed. LOL. So I came over to her home and we did her planning session. As I asked her about her vision for her photos, she said, "I'm just doing this for my mom. Really, I don't care where we go or what I wear..." She wasn't excited. She was about to be a tough client. That's ok! I get it. I understand. It's my job to see what defines people. I wouldn't be a good photographer if I just stopped there and let her pick anything and just go anywhere. Avoiding this "whatever" session is why I go over and meet them. I already knew Coco, though, and I kept having this creeping thought of how to integrate what she means to the kids she loves into these pictures. Her spirit needed to be the spotlight. She would be leaving a gaping hole in our children's ministry at my church soon. How can I capture what she means to our church body?
We went up to her room and began rummaging through her closet. As we casually talked about outfits, she jokingly said, "Well, you can bring Rio and Lathan." My kids. She invited my kids to her shoot. That was it. THAT'S what I needed. A vision was born for Coco's shoot. "Ok," I said. "Or you can invite all of the kids you babysit. We can take you to a field and get a picture of you with all of them. Then you'll have something to take with you to college." The sparkle in her eye wasn't just a sparkle. I touched something. Her whole self lit up. "Really?" she said. "That would be soooooo cool! I would love that!" And it was done. Yes, really. Yes, let's do it. Yes, yes, yes, let's put you in your element for your Senior pictures because...that's the way it should be. In my opinion, I would be doing you a disservice by not taking this picture. I am all in-whatever it takes. Whatever craziness I have to endure. Toss aside the extra work, editing, and physical toil-it is all worth it. This is now an inspired session. Yes. That's what I want to do. Capture your spirit...and they are a huge part of it.
We did some solo shots for mom first. Here is Coco! Along with sooo many other awards, she was Valedictorian of her class. She will be attending Lipscomb University in the fall and *surprise*, she's a potter. I got her to pose with one of her favorite pieces she's made.
Here she is with her heart, her kids. "Coco's Kids." Her mom posted an invitation on Facebook and about 20 kids (some not pictured until later) showed up, representing between 8 and 10 families. A small piece of the real legacy Coco is creating. One family drove up from Austin just for this event! I can't say how many families said, "I wouldn't miss this for the world." She is deeply appreciated and loved!!
And that's exactly the way this session should have been. Coco with her kids.
Sometimes a person plays such an important role in your life that you actually remember the first day you met them. I never knew on June 1st, 2008, that I would be capturing this little girl as a Senior and she would be capturing my children's hearts in the meanwhile. On June 1, 2008, I went to a summer playday at a park that my church was hosting. It was one of the first events I attended with Rio, who was turning 3 years old that month. I took Rio to the bathroom and there was Coco. She asked if she could take her to the bathroom for me while I juggled our things. "Wow," I remember thinking. "What a help..." "That would be great, thanks!" She took Rio in and helped her drink some water outside the park bathroom in the summer heat when she was done. I said thank you and asked her her name. "Coco," she responded with a smile. About 3 or so kids came up to her right then and she left to take them to the playground. "Interesting name," I thought. I was still learning people's names. We went over to the playground and I noticed her with the kids but didn't think much of it. She acted like a babysitter. I watched Rio integrate herself with the other children and Coco as I talked with the other moms. Then Coco took over. She took them as a group here and there and led them around with games. I took this picture that day. I didn't know it then. I didn't know what I was witnessing then. Now it seems just so familiar...
Everyone's so young!!! Ack! Tears. Over the years, she would be our babysitter. My kids and a host of others would love on her and run up to her and hug her neck while she would sit on the center stage steps and hold the basket for the children to come up and bring their offering on Sunday mornings. They would all know her name or learn it quickly. They would all want to sit next to her on her pew. They would come to her house. They would love Coco. Always. And she would love them back. In true Coco style, the kids were invited to her graduation party at her house. Pool time, water games, a bounce house and cotton candy-it looked like a child's birthday party. A really big birthday party. But no, it's Coco's graduation! Congratulations! Here she is posing with one of her spirit families. So many of us would call her our own..
And we come to the end...or rather, the beginning. Leaving a legacy at such a young age, this spiritual giant is an example and an inspiration for countless people-young and old. I adore her legacy already and I know her parents are proud of her. I asked her to let me get a dramatic picture and because she's so sweet, she let me get this one...
...even though she thinks she looks like Mother Teresa. Not really on the outside, Coco. but you are certainly of the same Spirit on the inside. Love you!! Thank you for letting God use you. I know your story will be even more amazing in the years to come. I can't wait to see what God does! Congratulations, Graduate!
Love, the Holub family
P.S. A HUGE "Thank You" to the families that were able to make it to this photo session for Coco. She is so grateful to have your children's faces on such an image that defines her passion. She will be keeping you close to her heart. I don't believe you will ever fully understand what you've done. I know you did it because you care. Imagine what it will be like for her 40 and 50 years from now and she's looking at your kids faces in this picture. It's unimaginable. THANK YOU. If you were involved with these pictures and would like to order for your own memories, please visit the webpage on your flash-enabled computer and enter "coco" for the username and password in the client galleries. Enjoy and Thank you!
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