Some shoots feel different because of who's in front of the lens. Kofi is one of my best friends, so when she asked me to shoot her graduation photos, it didn't feel like a job. It felt like a small ceremony I got to be a part of.

Lincoln Park gave us Downtown's Skyline as the backdrop. Soft greens, dappled afternoon light, that quiet kind of Chicago beauty that's easy to overlook until a camera reminds you.

We were halfway through the session when butterflies flew right in front of the lens. Not one or two, multiple. I want to say this clearly because the photos almost don't look real, and a lot of imagery online lately is generated with AI. These are not. We were standing there, the camera was rolling, and they appeared.

That's the thing about graduation. You spend years grinding for it, and when it finally comes, you want the photos to feel like more than a cap and gown checklist. Kofi got that.

Real friendship behind the lens, real Chicago around her, real butterflies in the air. Some sessions you remember because they were perfect. This one I'll remember because it felt earned.