Five years ago, we had the pleasure of working with Sam and Aaron, twin brothers, for their Bar Mitzvah. Their mother and I had collaborated on numerous events for the non-profit she was working for. Fast forward to the present, and the boys are now on the brink of graduating from their high school in Towson. They wanted something special to commemorate this milestone, and that’s exactly the kind of thing I’m here for.
The boys, now young men, were joined by their long-time friend Ryan, who was also graduating from the same school. Their school, a non-traditional institution with a sprawling, picturesque campus, was the perfect backdrop for our session. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “A school? Really, William?” But hear me out. This wasn’t your typical brick-and-mortar school building. This was a place that had nurtured their growth, a place that held countless memories, and a place that added a sentimental layer to the images.
We met in the early evening, just as the school was emptying out. The weather was perfect, the kind that makes you want to bottle it up and save it for a rainy day. The campus was bathed in speckled sunlight, creating a beautiful contrast with the rich foliage.
Now, not everything went according to plan. Some areas of the campus we had hoped to use were under construction. But hey, when life gives you lemons, you… have a lot of lemons, right? Something like that. Anyway, we found some fantastic spots near the school entrance, a path the boys had walked through countless times over the last 15 years. We also discovered a charming spots over by a small campus pond and the school’s unique cafeteria boardwalk.
The session was filled with laughter and good-natured ribbing. Initially, I had planned to spend about 25 minutes with each of the boys individually. But seeing their rapport, I decided to switch things up, and as we moved from spot to spot we used a more round-robin approach — a fun way to explore and contrast each of their well intwined personalities.
We wrapped up the session with a few shots of just Sam and Aaron, capturing the bond of brotherhood. As the sun began to set, we called it a day, leaving the campus with a sense of accomplishment and a collection of unique senior portraits.
Looking back, the choice of location for this session was a stroke of genius — Kudos to Sam & Aaron’s mother with the suggestion. The school, with its unique landscape and sentimental value, added a depth to the images that a more typical setting could never achieve.
As I reflect on that day, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation about the future. Sam, Aaron, and Ryan are on the cusp of a new chapter in their lives — one that feels as if it were just yesterday for me. And if their high school journey is anything to go by, these guys are set to make their mark on the world. Here’s to the future, boys. I can’t wait to see where life takes you next.
