Emilie's VIVIFY Session
“If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have hesitated for a second… the experience alone was worth every penny. And then you add in the photos? PRICELESS.”
I held onto this post for a while, hoping to write it alongside Emilie—maybe a collaborative blend of her words and mine, story and image intertwined. But life happens, and time has its way of moving things forward. Still, these photos… they deserve to be more than quietly tucked away. They deserve to be celebrated. And maybe most fittingly, as a send-off. Emilie moves from Durham today, and this feels like the right moment to mark it—with gratitude, awe, and a deep bow to the woman she is.
Emilie carries a soft but steady strength—rooted, curious, luminous. Her Vivify session took place in late September, just as the light began shifting and the water turned a little colder. We pushed through the chill and followed the golden hour into dusk, flashlight-hiking our way back from the river after squeezing out every last drop of light. She showed up with trust and presence, open to the moment and the artistry that unfolded.
When Emilie first reached out, she shared that she’d stumbled upon one of my photos while scouting Eno River spots. Something about it caught her, and she found herself digging deep into my feed, mesmerized. I remember her saying she assumed I must be booked out and the water season was over. But it wasn’t. Not yet.
What unfolded was far more than a photoshoot.
At our very first meeting, Emilie shared so much—her story, her heart, her sharp humor, her honesty. And right after our session, I discovered just how gifted a writer she is—eloquent, published, deeply thoughtful. While editing her gallery, I listened to her voice through a few podcast episodes she’d guested on—it added a surreal layer to the experience.
“You made me feel beautiful,” she wrote afterward. “Not just pretty, but truly beautiful as a human being. You made me feel seen and accepted and valued.” That line stayed with me. So did her reflection on her favorite images—the overhead river shots. “Did I almost die of hypothermia to get them? Sure did. Was it worth it? 100%. I’ve never seen myself like that before.”
Since then, a friendship has quietly blossomed. Emilie has generously offered feedback on some of my Vivify materials and guides (her fingerprints are in the margins of this work), and I give her part credit for turning me into a full-on Swiftie. There’s been so much growth in both of us over the last three years—and it’s been a joy to witness her walk that path.
As she steps into this next chapter, I’m cheering her on. These photos aren’t just a timestamp; they’re a turning point. As she put it: “Taking these photos with you really and truly felt like a turning point. It made me shift focus and reconnect with myself and what I want out of my life.”
So here’s to Emilie. To bravery. To change. To art. And to the mystery and beauty that happens when you show up for yourself—even if the water’s cold.