Teenagers are the Best

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I'm going to say it anyway. Teenagers are the absolute best. And maybe I have no leg to stand on here since I'm a Mama to the under ten crowd, but I adore teens. My undergraduate degree was in Adult and Family Services with an emphasis in youth. My first job out of college was working inpatient at a adolescent drug treatment facility. I loved those girls. They made me absolutely batty some days but we also had some of the best belly laughs too.

So when the Stevens family approached me and asked if I'd be up for photographing their teenagers, I was like, "Heck yes!" I've known Mama Stevens for years on social media and have enjoyed her posts about her kiddos and their personalities and interests. So I felt prepared for the photoshoot.

But Mr. C kept surprising me. He was telling me dirty jokes about Imagine Dragons and asking to pet all of the fluffy dogs we saw walking the sidewalks in Historic Valley Junction.

I was able to get some real sibling interactions and laughs when I casually suggested they play a friendly game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. C, again being the hilarious big brother, decided to flip the bird at little sis during the first round. I was focused on the faces so I missed it but Mom, Sis, and C knew what had transpired. So much laughter followed.

I hope my boys enjoy each other's company when they're teenagers. I did comment to C and sister A that I got the impression that they never fought. They agreed and Mom even backed them up. They said they do get along and A helps ground C. I love the bond these two siblings share and I'm so glad they chose me to photograph this period in their lives. Blink and they'll be grown with a house and dog of their own.