I don’t do senior sessions. I don’t do senior sessions. I don’t do senior sessions.

I can’t tell you how many times I say that a year, BUT when someone a little extra special comes up as a senior, it’s hard to say no. This year I have three of those extra special people. Judge me, it’s fine. Since they were all special enough for me to break my “no senior sessions” rule, then I can’t NOT share them. I think once you read all three of their stories you’ll understand why they are the exception.

First up of these sessions is Clayton! I met Clayton when he was barely in Middle School as one of Daniel’s 4H Livestock Feeder Calf kids. Dan and I had just started dating and if my visit to Kentucky would coincide with his 4H meetings, I would end up sitting in the back of the room with the parents while Dan spent a hour teaching breeds of cattle, sheep, hogs or whatever was on his agenda for the night.

I think it was his freshman year of high school when Clayton started working on the our farm. He didn’t have a driver’s license yet, so I’d literally wait in the parent’s pick up line in my SUV at the school so I could drop him off wherever Daniel and the other guys were working that day.

Just a blink of an eye later, Clayton is pretty much an adult and one of our head guys on the farm—knows the ins and outs and takes on so much responsibility, and has grown so much Daniel and I both have to look up to talk to him. 😂😂

Because of Clayton and his outstanding work ethic and maturity, Daniel and I were actually able to take a real deal, only the two of us, vacation this past fall. Our first real one since our honeymoon five years ago. That’s a big deal, y’all.

Also a first, we left the farm and everything didn’t fall a part. Also, a really big deal.

I think anyone who worries about future generations not knowing hard work, having drive and skill hasn’t been fortunate like us to know the 18-year-old Claytons of this world.

So now you can understand why this session was so special for Daniel and I, and a good reason to break my “no senior sessions” rule.

The first half of Clayton’s senior session was shot on our farm, “the main farm” as I call it, I actually only shoot sessions in this spot for our immediate family and people who feel like family. Mainly because the chicken house driveway, hay barn and cattle handling facilities which I used below, are some of the consistently BUSIEST spots of the farm. Our cows also make a blog debut in this post.

After our farm, we went across the road (super long commute, I know) to Clayton’s grandpa’s farm to finish up this session. I—and the whole crew of his family, that were there to cheer him on during this session—loved that his senior session would be documented with a sentimental location that would forever be important to him.

Clayton we’re all so proud of you and know you will go out and do great things in this world!