Prom just happened, and while everyone’s still riding that glittery high, I’ve been thinking about something I secretly love more: homecoming.

Maybe it’s the school spirit. The pep rallies. The poster-board HoCo proposals that feel like something out of a rom-com. Or maybe it’s the fact that everyone just shows up with their friends, dressed to the nines, ready to make a memory. Whatever it is, homecoming hits different.

This past fall, my daughter asked me to bring my camera and take a few photos before the dance, and naturally, I showed up in full mom-tog mode. Not just an iPhone moment, no ma’am. I had the camera, the bag, the whole setup (minus the reflector because I tried to play it cool). She gave me the classic “Okay mom, chill” look, but deep down? I know she was glad I was there.

The Almost-Skipped Moment That Became the Favorite One

It was quick. Just a little meet-up in a patch of grass in the neighborhood. No perfect location, no hours-long shoot. Just 15 minutes of laughter, hairspray, sparkly dresses, and friends hyping each other up before heading off to one of the most fun nights of the year.

It’s the kind of moment you almost skip.

But I’m telling you, don’t.

Because one day, when you’re 37, living your best life pushing a sticky Target cart with three screaming kids and a lukewarm Starbucks in hand, trying to remember where you parked…

You’re going to come across this photo and say:
“LOOK at me. Look at my friends. Look at this moment.”

And then you’re going to show your kids and say,
“See? Mom was HOT.”

And they’re going to roll their eyes and say,
“Ew, gross, MOM.”

To which you’ll reply:
“This is where you get it from, baby. You’re welcome.”

Don’t Just Take the Photo, Print It

Take the photos. But then? Print them.

Don’t let them live quietly in your phone next to screenshots of Pinterest recipes and failed attempts at aesthetic lock screens. Print them. Frame them. Hang them in your dorm. Stick them to your mirror. Give them a place in your life.

Because these are the moments you’ll come back to.

These are the ones that will mean something.

And one day, when you need a reminder of who you were, where you came from, or how amazing that dress made you feel. Your future self will be so glad you took the picture. And let’s be real…you’ve probably spent hours scrolling for homecoming outfit inspo, dress ideas, or color combos that’ll pop in golden hour light. So when the big night comes? Take the picture. Make it count. 

So no, this wasn’t a full session.

It was 15 minutes, a patch of grass, and a mom who just happens to be a Central Florida senior photographer with a fully packed gear bag and a heart full of nostalgia.

And it turned into one of my favorite moments of the year.

Still here? You get it.

I don’t actually shoot homecoming—but this moment? The getting ready, the golden hour, the “hold up, we actually looked good” part? That’s the stuff I live for. I photograph high school seniors across Orlando and Central Florida, and if this kind of magic speaks to you, well… we might just be a vibe.

No pressure. Just putting it out there. Let’s chat!