Words fail me when it comes to explaining my 2023 Senior Rep Team. There are 14 girls from QHS, QND, Unity High School and Central High School on the 2023 Rep Team. They are involved in golf, theater, basketball, National Honor Society, volleyball, choir, softball, church youth groups, tennis, cheerleading, band, and a variety of other clubs and organizations. Their schedules are busy and they go above and beyond to do everything with excellence. They are kind, talented, friendly, outgoing, highly involved, big dreamers and so much more. Spending time with them (as a group or individually) brings me so much joy. We have spent time together as a group taking fun photos and getting to know each other. I have also spent ample time with them individually ensuring they have the best senior pictures possible. Keep reading to get a recap of our year together and individually!

Our First Hang Out:

We always kick off the year as a Senior Rep team with a hang out in late May or early June. We take a few photos, enjoy a meal together, get to know who everyone is and going over what our year together will look like. There is always a lot of anticipation going into this first hang out. I could tell instantly that this year was going to be a great one. The girls were intentionally being inclusive of everyone and taking the time to get to know everyone from different schools as them. It was so exciting!

Our First Group Shoot

We do two themed group shoots every year. I offer up themes/concepts and as a group the girls pick which theme they want to do. This year we quickly decided to do a boho themed shoot. I sent a specific mood board for them to pick outfits, and they began sending them to me for approval prior to our shoot. In August we got together to make this vision come to life. It was such a FUN night enjoying the sunshine and laughing way too much. We ended the night with TCBY and watching some teenagers flip some tricks in the parking lot (iykyk). 🙂

The Second Group Shoot:

One of the concepts we were toying with for our first group shoot was a color theme. Ultimately, we decided we couldn’t miss it. We got together on a Sunday afternoon in Sunday played games with the wind and sun but made this rainbow come to the life. All of the girls did such a great job picking their outfit to match their assigned color and stepping out of their comfort zone some to make it happen!

In addition to these hang outs, we split into two groups to go Christmas shopping for children in foster care in Adams County. A portion of every session I complete throughout the year goes back to the foster care / adoption community. Christmas time is a big time of year for this, and my Senior Reps become elves for the mission. I was so impressed with all of the care and attention they put in to ensure that every child had the PERFECT gifts. I couldn’t have done this without them. We will have our final 2023 Senior Rep Team gathering in May to celebrate their graduation and the year we had. I will be a puddle of sadness sending these girls out, but I am also overwhelmed with pride to see how they are going to change the world. Get a peek into each individual girl’s experience this year below.

Maddie O’Brien

Maddie goes to Quincy High School. She plays golf, soccer and is highly involved in Beta Club at QHS. You haven’t met a sweeter soul than Maddie. She loves big and ensures she is always living out kindness. She loves her yellow jeep and her pup! Next year she is going to be playing golf and beginning her journey to become a Physical Therapist. I can’t wait to see how she thrives. For Maddie’s senior pictures we hung out this summer to get pictures with her jeep, in a more urban setting and in the best wildflower field. We did a mini session for soccer, golf and she was my guinea pig for a FUN New Year’s Eve photoshoot. Hanging out with Maddie is one of my favorite things.

Kyra Carothers

Kyra goes to Unity High School. She plays volleyball, basketball and runs track while working and being involved in a lot of school activities. She loves her siblings, her sports and her friends (in no particular order). She works hard and has a beauty about her that radiates and shines more than she realizes I love having her in front of my camera! For Kyra’s senior session we found some of my favorite spots: an abandoned bridge, a ditch FULL of wildflowers, a backroad at sunset and ended with a studio set up. Her mini session was used for her sports and I can’t wait to hang out with her family this spring!

Kylee Barry

Kylee goes to Unity High School. She plays basketball, softball and volleyball while working at a couple of the small businesses in her community. Kylee laughs easier and more often than anyone else I know. She goes with the flow and doesn’t let others affect her. She is silly and quirky and I LOVE IT. You can’t not smile when you hang out with her. For her senior sessions we went to the tall pines and waterfront at Siloam Springs. We found the perfect black wall for a more casual, urban setting. Her family pictures were with her sisters and precious niece. Her mini session spotlighted her sports.

Kenzie O’Brien

Kenzie goes to Quincy High School. She plays soccer and is involved with a variety of clubs at QHS. Kenzie is confident, driven and full of life. She loves flowers and anything with bright color. Her fashion sense is incredible, and I know I can count on her for something bold. Next year she is hoping to major in business. She identified her dream early and has been chasing it ever since. For her senior pictures we hung out in the summer to visit a brick road, unique urban setting and a great wildflower field. We added pictures of her with hanging flowers and captured her in her element on the soccer field. I can’t wait to see Kenzie thrive at Ole Miss!

Kennedy Figge

Kennedy goes to Quincy High School. She is a pommer, a dancer and involved in band and choir at QHS. She has a lot of spunk and joy. It comes out in her dancing and everywhere she goes. She is attending Missouri State University next year and dreams of a future where she can serve and help children. The love Kennedy has for her parents and siblings is amazing. She often mentions how she just wants more time with them, and it’s amazing. For her senior sessions, we went to an abandoned bridge, unique/colorful wall and explored downtown for an urban setting. Her mini session highlighted her pom career. This spring I can’t wait to get together with her family!

Grayson Pritts

Grayson goes to Quincy Notre Dame. She plays soccer and is an avid pommer & dancer. She is mega talented. I admire anyone who can spin, dance and keep a beat. Grayson is dreaming of being a dentist or doing something big with her life. I know she will. She is determined, focused and hard working. She will take whatever life throws at her and make the best of it. I love her confidence and demeanor. I have learned so much from her this year. For her senior photos we went to an open field, captured her sports at the QND football field and explored downtown at dusk for an epic vibe. For her mini session we are dreaming up something really creative that will encompass her. I can’t wait!

Elizabeth Hea

Elizabeth attends Quincy Notre Dame. She is a cheerleader for football and basketball and is involved in a variety of clubs at QND. Elizabeth is effortlessly happy. I don’t think I have ever seen her without a smile. She expects little and just likes to have fun. She will be going to the University of Illinois next year and dreams of being a doctor. I don’t doubt for a second that she will achieve this! For her senior sessions, we went to a creek where she was willing to get a little wet, an open field to twirl in and the QND football field where she climbed up on the field goal post. Her mini session we found the PERFECT fall location and we scored a nice summer day for her entire family to get together.

Dulaney Bennett

Dulaney goes to Quincy High School. She plays golf and is involved in a variety of clubs/organizations. She bleeds Illini and will be in their engineering program next year. The first word that comes to mind about Dulaney is kind and strong. She listens to others, but never strays from who she is. She can see and celebrate the differences in all of us. I have loved all of our conversations this year. For her senior sessions, we prioritized finding the perfect summer wildflower field. We also went to a more urban, casual setting and was sure to include golf. For her family/friend session, I got to meet her boyfriend Ian. For her mini session we celebrated her 18th birthday with a perfectly pink setup.

Clara Louthan

Clara goes to Quincy High School. She is involved in choir, her school theater and the community theater. Watching her on stage is amazing. She lights up and takes on her character in a perfect way. Clara is always herself. She loves all things creative but specifically theater and photography. It has been fun watching her start photography this year! Next year she will be majoring in theater and I hope to always follow the shows that she is a part of. For her senior sessions, we hung out in the summer to capture the greenery at the creek in her backyard, a wildflower field and then a more urban setting for photos with her dog Molly. We got together in the fall for her family photos and plan to complete her mini session on the QHS Theater Stage!

Caroline Knox

Caroline goes to Unity High School. She plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She works at the local ice cream shop and local coffee shop in Mendon/Ursa. I love visiting her there. Caroline listens to others intently and genuinely wants to get to know them. She has gone out of her way to ask me how I am doing this year and I can see how comfortable she makes everyone around her. The college that gets her next year doesn’t know how lucky they are. For her senior sessions, we got together in September. We paired up with Sweet P Petals to have a fully stocked flower trailer for her photos. We then went to the garden at the Illinois Veterans Home and caught a perfect sunset overlooking the river. I was excited to meet her family this fall for family photos and her mini session included her sports.

Audra Cain

Audra goes to Quincy High School. She plays tennis, works at The Racquet Club and is highly involved at Madison Park Christian Church. It’s fun seeing her play guitar for worship some Sunday mornings. Audra is outgoing in all of the best ways. She makes everyone feel included and doesn’t take life too seriously. She has taught me to loosen up, have more fun and keeps me updated on all of the teenage lingo. Next year she will be at Maryville University to become a physical therapist! Audra’s senior sessions started at the tennis courts, ventured to an urban setting and finished at Villa Katherine with an incredible sunset we literally prayed for. Her mini session included her mint green guitar and this spring I will get to meet her entire family.

Ashlynn Arnsman

Ashlynn goes to Unity High School. She plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She is also involved in FFA, National Honor Society and other clubs. Ashlynn has more athletic talent in her right foot than I do in my entire body. I’m not joking. She has signed to play basketball at Quincy University next year and dreams of being a doctor one day. Humility comes to her naturally, but I love to brag on her. We started Ashlynn’s senior pictures on her family property with their creek and barn. We also went to an open field and backroad to ensure she had the best unique experience. Her family pictures were taken back on her family property and her mini session included all of her sport involvements!

Ashlan Tullock

Ashlan goes to Central High School. She is a cheerleader for basketball and football and is an incredible musician. She specializes in percussion instruments but can also play the piano. Last year she was awarded the Young Musician’s Award from the Quincy Symphony. Even though her talent is out of this world, you wouldn’t guess it. She is incredibly humble and casual about it. I admire that about her. Whatever college receives her talent is going to be so lucky. Ashlan included so many personal moments for her senior pictures. We started at Lakeview Weddings where she often took piano lessons. We then headed to her favorite coffee shop, Java Jive, and ended with a casual studio set up. I was able to meet her brothers and nieces for her family photos. Her mini session was focused on her cheerleading.

Alden Barbagiovanni

Alden goes to Quincy High School. She is a cheerleader for football and basketball. She’s highly involved with her church youth group and travels regularly. Her dreams of heading to the east coast for college next year inspire me to be bold. Alden doesn’t shy away from the big questions about life. You never leave an interaction with her without feeling loved and laughing at least a little bit. For her senior sessions, we traveled to Siloam Springs for the perfect lake, a great back road and an open field. Her mini session showcased her cheerleading. We were able to grab a unique time when her entire family was together for her family pictures! Most memorably, Alden didn’t shy away when I asked if she would sit on a bench 20 feet in the air to make it look like she was floating with balloons.

This year’s Senior Rep Team was dynamic, driven and kind. They made me better and helped everyone become more confident. I am going to miss them greatly, but can’t wait to cheer them on forever! If you would like to be apart of the 2024 Senior Rep Team, applications are open until Wednesday, March 1. You can apply and just get more information about the Senior Rep Team here.