FOUR degrees. One Master’s. Tornado warnings. Vintage vibes.
Yeah, Morgan’s graduation session had everything.
When she reached out about her session, I knew we weren’t heading into just another cap-and-gown shoot — but nothing could’ve prepared me for the wild ride the day had in store.
Earlier that afternoon, multiple tornadoes had touched down nearby. The skies were dramatic, the winds were unpredictable, and for a minute we weren’t even sure if the session could still happen. But Morgan? She was calm, collected, and completely unfazed. A literal force of nature.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Morgan found herself building a life out here in Southeast New Mexico — and clearly thriving. She brought all that brilliance and beauty with her: dressed in a show-stopping dress layered with her graduation robe, she radiated grace and strength. And after weathering literal tornadoes, she showed up with the kind of cool energy you just can’t fake.
As golden hour broke through the leftover storm clouds, the sky gave us a moody, cinematic glow. The desert was soft and glowing, like it knew something special was happening. Then came the shot: an iconic 70s-inspired image that felt like it was ripped from a vintage yearbook.
And because I’m always down for that nostalgic magic, I brought out my Canon 35mm film camera to capture those perfectly imperfect film frames. There’s just something about film that hits different — raw, real, and timeless.
Morgan was such a dream to photograph. Kind, grounded, and just quirky enough to remind you that the best people never take themselves too seriously. We laughed, we celebrated, we talked about life, her incredible educational journey… and yes — her ducks. Real, feathered, adorable ducks that she owned. Still not over that.
To round out the chaos, our session ended with a totally random man yelling at us from across the road (???). But honestly? We were too in the zone to care. We were riding a high from tornadoes to glam to grit — and nothing was going to throw us off.
This session was one of those that reminds me why I love what I do: not just to capture a pretty photo, but to freeze a whole experience — storms, stories, surprises and all.
Morgan, you’re brilliant. Thank you for letting me celebrate this huge moment with you. Still obsessed. Always will be.
