Abagail is the kind of highschooler that makes feel good about the future.
I knew from the second I met her that she had lead character energy. Smart, funny, kind, beautiful, driven--the whole package. She had a clear vision of what she wanted for her senior photos, enthusiastically participating in the planning process while granting me creative freedom to capture her at her best. But she also had a clear vision of her future, one that would utilize her brilliance and compassion to stand up for others. In the first few moments on the Capitol stairs during her first session, I thought to myself, "It's people like Abigail who will make our country and our lives better and brighter." And going from a white power suit to a pink Legally Blonde moment? The cherry on top. We topped off the evening at Gray's Lake to enjoy some nature at sunset, when Abagail's eyes got bright and mischievous as she said, "I'm going to get in the water." There are very few reasons why I would ever consider getting into Gray's Lake in any capacity, but ran in after her to capture some of the most dramatic water shots I've taken to date. (Even her wet. towel-wrapped, post-water shot is adorable. How is that possible?)
And if you didn't need any other reason to hate Abagail for being literally the greatest person ever, she likes RUNNING. Like, ACTUALLY LIKES IT. (I didn't know people like that actually existed in real time and space??)
But seriously, don't think I've spent time at a track and had so much fun. (Probably because I wasn't getting timed running a mile for the Presidential Fitness Test.) Getting together at the Johnston High School's track for part two of her session was possibly even more fun than our time downtown Des Moines, which I didn't think was possible. One of the highlights of my career will be watching her family push the drum major's conducting stand across the field for us to get some epic photos of Abigail lounging on the Johnston J in the middle of the football field. It's obvious she gets her enthusiasm and zest for life from her family, who joined us for both sessions, making it a special set of memories for the whole family.
I know for a fact that Abigail will have a positive impact on the world, because she's already had a positive impact on me simply by being her. I can't wait to see how she takes on whatever challenges she sees fit--all with a pink lip gloss in her pocket, of course.
