A Senior Session Close to My Heart: Ella’s Portraits at Lewis Ginter & Historic Tuckahoe

Tomorrow, my oldest daughter graduates from high school. Even typing that feels surreal. Photographing Ella’s senior portraits was one of the most meaningful sessions I’ve ever done—not just because I’m her mom, but because of everything this milestone represents.

Ella is graduating from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, and I couldn’t be prouder of the young woman she’s become. She is kind, funny, thoughtful, determined, and truly beautiful inside and out. Watching her grow up has been the greatest joy of my life, and this moment—her senior year—is emotional, exciting, and a little bittersweet.

We photographed her senior session at two of my favorite Richmond-area locations: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Tuckahoe Plantation. The mix of blooming gardens, open fields, and historic charm gave us a perfect blend of color and natural beauty to match her style. She looked so at ease and happy—exactly how I want to remember her in this season of life.

Outside of school, Ella stays busy (to say the least!). She sings in the Deadbeats, the a cappella group at Maggie Walker, and her voice always fills our home. She works at CAVA and is also a site manager for i9 Sports, balancing it all with grace. Ella loves being downtown with friends, grabbing coffee, taking walks by the river, and soaking up the energy of the city she’s grown up in.

This fall, she’s headed to James Madison University, where she plans to study to become a Physician Assistant. I have no doubt she’ll do amazing things in college and beyond—her heart for others and her drive to make a difference are just a few of the reasons I know she’s on the right path.

Photographing Ella’s senior session was more than just taking pictures—it was capturing the essence of who she is in this exact moment: full of hope, ready for the next chapter, and so deeply loved.