When I found out I had been voted a Top 10 Photographer of the Year by Child Couture Magazine, I honestly had to sit with it for a minute.

This kind of recognition is such an honor. To be listed alongside incredibly talented artists across the country feels surreal. But more than anything, it feels deeply personal.

Because this isn’t just about photography.

It’s about the girls.

Every image that led to this recognition began with a tween or teen who stepped in front of my lens — sometimes confident, sometimes unsure, sometimes carrying more than she shows the world. It began with families who trusted me with something sacred: how their daughters see themselves.

And that is never something I take lightly.

Why Teen Portraiture Matters More Than Ever

The tween and teen years can be beautiful and complicated all at once.

It’s a season of becoming — figuring out who you are, where you belong, and how you want to show up in the world. It’s also a time when comparison is loud, confidence can feel fragile, and girls are constantly measuring themselves against impossible standards.

Portraiture, when done with intention, can shift that narrative.

When a girl sees herself through a lens that highlights her strength, softness, courage, light — something changes. She begins to recognize herself differently. She stands a little taller. She sees proof of who she truly is, not who the world tells her to be.

That’s why I care so deeply about this work.

The Heart Behind Grace & Grit

Our Grace & Grit sessions were born from that belief.

They’re about more than beautiful images. They’re about creating a space where girls feel safe, celebrated, and seen. Where they can lean into who they are right now — whether that’s bold and expressive, quiet and thoughtful, playful and creative, or still discovering.

So while I’m incredibly grateful for the Top 10 Photographer of the Year recognition, what means the most to me is this:

It represents every single girl who has trusted me.

Every mom who believed this experience would matter.

Every moment of bravery in front of the camera.

This award belongs to them just as much as it belongs to me.

For the Girls Who Are Still Becoming

If you’ve ever wondered whether teen portraiture is “worth it,” I can tell you this — it is.

These years pass quickly. But more importantly, they are formative. The way a girl sees herself during this season can echo into adulthood.

Photographs have power. They hold stories. They preserve identity. They remind a girl, years from now, that she was strong, radiant, and enough exactly as she was.

And that reminder is priceless.

If you have a tween or teen daughter and you’re curious about being part of a future Grace & Grit session, I would love to share more with you. This work is close to my heart — and it always will be.

With gratitude, always.