caitlin elizabeth photography | adrienne ~ william and mary senior | williamsburg portrait photographer

adrienne.

i don't even know where to begin this post.

i guess i should start with a gargantuan THANK YOU. 

thank you for waking up at the crack of dawn to sit in dewy grass and discuss the finer things of our existence: being happy.  

thank you for reminding me why i love this so much.  

thank you for being as beautiful and awe-inspiring inside as you are out. 

you're so full of life and energy - really a force to be reckoned with.  

your infectious laughter and self-less nature are over-whelming.  

and your abilities to understand and relate go unmatched.

not to mention the fact that you're drop. dead. gorgeous.

so thank you.

for frolicking with me.

and for reminding me why.

~

i was PUMPED when adrienne contacted me after i advertised for my william and mary mini sessions. but i was even MORE thrilled when she said 'but i don't want a mini session - i want the full on caitlin elizabeth photography experience' - this is my kind of woman ;)  mini sessions are great, but full portrait sessions give us a little more time to get comfortable and to really explore you as a subject.  it's amazing the variety of images that i get out of a full portrait session as opposed to a mini session!

i just had to start off this post with a black and white - because to me black and whites make you truly focus on the subject. 

you aren't distracted by the green of the background or the poppin' color of her accessories, 

instead you have to look at her.  

it simplifies the complicated.  

and draws your attention where it's truly warranted:

mama was in the room while i formatted these for the blog post - she kept saying: she's just so pretty. 

and she's right - you are absolutely breath-taking!

and adorable. 

I DIE. seriously. those eyes!!

no w&m session is complete without a few posed photos with the man who made UVA possible: 

and then she let her hair down ;) LAWD have mercy!

and i will end with this - because it really encompasses adrienne: 

beauty in its truest and simplest form... 

no fussy posing or unnatural embellishments. 

just pure, unadulterated gorgeousness radiating from her very existence.

[hark!]

caitlin elizabeth photography | kate - william and mary senior | williamsburg portrait photographer

kate and kelsey were roommates on our tour de italia that fateful summer... 

I WAS SURROUNDED BY SUCH ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE :] 

and there were only 4 guys on the trip... dear male population at the w&m: YOU SERIOUSLY MISSED OUT because not only is kate another gorgeous william and mary grad, but she's also genuine and sweet.

she claimed to not know what she was doing, 

but her unassuming gestures quickly became snapshots of her darling nature.

enjoy :)

she's definitely laughing AT me...

see?! i told you: darling :)

tj is a real ladies man!

whoa kate - don't go throwing this look around anywhere... it could be dangerous ;)

kate, photographing you and being able to catch up really did my heart good :)

much love - and hark upon the gale!

caitlin elizabeth photography | alexis - william and mary senior | williamsburg portrait photographer

alexis is FUN.

that seems like a super over-used adjective, but it's completely true :)

her laughter is contagious and you just can't help but smile when she's around.  i had a BLAST frolicking around w&m's campus with her!  

she's actually a grad student - we graduated together last year (she was my PRC go-to-gal and i was her RA) and she's now graduating with her MASTERS!

congratulations beautiful :) now go rock the world's socks off!

bomb. shell.

alexis poses so naturally, and she LOVES being in front of the camera (lucky for me!)

happy graduation :)

caitlin elizabeth photography | williamsburg portrait photographer | william and mary senior photographer

occasionally you meet someone you just KNOW you want to be friends with. like: i hope she likes me, because i can already tell that i'm really going to like her - so i hope i'm cool enough for her to want to be friends with me - zara is that kind of person.

she is super involved, well-rounded, bubbly, and just lovely :) 

but she is also honestly one of the sweetest, most down to earth, beautiful inside-and-out individuals i have the pleasure of calling a friend.  

zara, it was truly an honor to document this pivotal time in your life.  it astounds and humbles me on a daily basis that people i cherish so dearly and hold in such high esteem trust me to document precious milestones in their lives.  

i know you felt 'absurd' and 'ridiculous' but you TOTALLY ROCKED IT. and this first photo: proves it.  

oh dear sweetness.

gosh. i just love you so much.

I TOLD YOU THIS WAS GOING TO LOOK GOOD: and i know you didn't believe me, but now you can see for yourself ;)

we were cracking up :) i always have fun with this beauty

cue tears and nostalgia. seriously: i almost cried when i was fixing her hood and tassle. ugh. stop growing up please 

quintessential w&m

zara, with all my heart, i adore you. thank you for being in my life and letting me into yours.

you are going to do big things girl :)

hark!