When Shannon told me she wanted a Phantom of the Opera aesthetic for her senior photography session, I was pretty jazzed up in a way only an ex-showchoir girl could be. (Jazz hands!) I was on mission to find an epic location. After a few failed attempts to connect with local opera houses and theaters, I vaguely remembered a Gothic building from one of my past senior sessions – over 5 years ago – at Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum in Cincinnati. Of course, how could I forget?

Established in 1845 in response to the Cholera epidemic, Spring Grove was inspired by a famous cemetery in Paris and is a designated national historic landmark. Spring Grove is a hauntingly beautiful place with incredible architecture. So when I asked Shannon and her mom Molly if they were game to drive 45 minutes South in rush hour traffic on a Monday evening and they said yes, I was giddy and grateful for their willingness to go adventuring with me. So giddy that I forgot to check what time the place closed. We planned to meet at 6pm.

Can you guess what time Spring Grove’s gates close?

I’ll spare you the rest of the boring details, but let me just say…THANK THE LORD! Thank the Lord for that extra 30 minutes I always give myself before sessions. Thank the Lord for amazing clients who aren’t afraid to embrace spontaneity and drive fast. Thank the Lord for Google Maps and nearby Mount Storm Park with it’s amazing views and strong smell of weed (Lord probably knew I needed a little contact buzz to calm me down)… and then after it was all said and done, thank the Lord for Spring Grove’s glorious gatekeeper who let me back in hours after close when I realized I’d left my camera bag with expensive equipment inside.

Moral of the story: sessions don’t always turn out the way they are planned- especially if you don’t plan them very well- sometimes, thanks to stunning souls like Shannon’s, they turn out even better…

 

One word to describe me is bold.

 I love with all of myself.

I am involved in choir and theatre.

In my free time I like singing musical theatre songs, reading, writing poetry and especially shopping!

I listen to show-tunes and early 2000s pop punk.

My favorite thing to do is drive around at night with no destination…

I’ve learned not trust to everyone.

I’ve also learned how different each individual is.

I look up to my sister Emily and my mom.

They’re both incredibly strong women that have held their head high despite any struggles they have faced.

I love them more than life.

After graduation I plan to pursue music and see where it takes me.

In ten years I see myself hopefully married, traveling, and living my happiest life…

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