Artist Point Double Senior Session

When I was an undergrad at Western Washington University I had both Pete and Jackie as my professors. Pete taught us Petrography and Jackie taught us Geophysics. Both classes were absolutely riveting, and I still use Jackie’s super fun and engaging examples to explain why, as geologists and geophysicists we know what layers are dense rock and which are slightly melted and which are liquid. I have a matchbox car at all times with me in my backpack just for this reason. Doesn’t everyone know that when an earthquake wave is moving through crust, you can imagine it like a car, and when it hits the liquid layer, much like hitting peanut butter with this matchbox car the tires will slowww waaaaayyyy down and slightly turn inward. I also still tell everyone I know that Columnar Basalt cools perpendicular to the surface, and there is a place in British Columbia with a formation that looks like a Koosh Ball.

In fact, the way these two taught classes, so engaging and making those types of real world connections was one of the reasons I decided to become a teacher.

This family was one of the first families that let me take their photos when I was just learning when these kiddos were about 12 or 13. I had just gotten a new lens and since I am a hands on learner I needed a family that would come adventure with me while I learned how lens compression worked.

Several years, and some much needed better equipment later I’d say that lens compression is probably my most favorite thing in the world.

Back to this session. For parking reasons we decided to ride up together and explore the beautiful North Cascades National Park. We had two goals, Capture the mountains, and Capture the unique personalities of the twins. I would say we nailed it.

I asked the twins where they wanted to go for college, and if they were going to stay close to home and go to WWU, almost immediately and assuredly Naomi responded “I am going somewhere very far away” and not because she dislikes living here. You see both the twins are adventurous, confident and excited for this next chapter of their lives. In fact, this family spent some time this last year driving around to colleges and tourist spots all over the Eastern US and mid-west. When asked what their favorite part was, of course, it was the personal interaction with people they’ve never met.

This family has an amazing way of connecting with those around them. You feel as if you are old friends within minutes and it is truly incredible to watch them together. I have no doubt that the strangers around them on their adventure felt the same way. I know the twins, wherever they end up are going to have so much fun, and meet their goals, and fill their lives with great people along the way!

Something fun they told me, is they play this game where this program drops you in the middle of a part of the world and you have to guess where you are. They were driving and they remembered that one of the towns they visited in the game wasn’t far from where they were. I wish I could remember the name of this town, but I do remember they had all kinds of crazy things such as the biggest pencil in the world, the biggest chair, the biggest mailbox?

Ok, I had to google it because it was killing me, the town was Casey Illinios and their catch phrase is “Big Things in a Small Town”

It has been so fun getting to know this family a little bit more during this session. I am so proud of all of them, each changing the world in their own special way.

Scroll down to the bottom to see the glow up, both from the twins, and my photo taking abilities