That One Time I Took my Husband's Senior Photos...

If ya’ll need a laugh… that’s literally what this post is for.

I’m often asked how Dustin and I met, and it never ceases to make us laugh when we reflect on it. Originally, I met Dustin at a junior prom in Baraga that I was invited to. Dustin was a sophomore at the time and someone in my group invited him along as a last minute date. We didn’t really talk much, as I was dating someone else at the time and let’s be real, high school has so many layers of awkward. It wouldn’t be until the summer of 2012 when our paths would cross again.

Lo and behold, I took Dustin’s senior photos! Ahhhh, yep. No, this isn’t the actual beginning of our romance, but if you would’ve told 18 year old me that I was actually photographing my future husband and taking a few snaps of my future brother-in-law and sister-in-law too, I would’ve probably laughed hysterically!

Years came and passed, and about five years later, I found myself getting ready to graduate from college. I’d always been a classic, helpless romantic, and in the early spring of 2017 I was feeling rather defeated after the most recent love life fiasco. Navigating the dating world as a young single mom wasn’t particularly easy, and I was set to believe I wouldn’t find my soulmate in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

While in college, I was working at Northern Michigan University’s student newspaper originally as a staff photographer and in the end as the photo editor. As an editor, we were expected to rotate writing an opinion column. I had written a piece on how success isn’t simply defined by your relationship status. Mentally I was drained, and a new relationship was far from what I was dreaming of. Shortly after publishing however, Dustin reached out to me over social media, complimenting my writing and relating to the piece well too.

GROAN. I did NOT want to be talking to another Yooper guy! But, I remembered his kindness and sincerity in in past encounters. I couldn’t think of a red flag, yet I tried to keep myself guarded. Me writing that article was definitely not meant to attract someone. Plus, we’re only a year apart but dude, I took his senior photos! Hahaha!

About a week later, Dustin made an excuse to replace his retainers in Marquette so he could take me out for coffee at Babycakes. I remember fragments of our conversation, but what stood out to me most was the absence of that anxious feeling the boys of my past gave me. Soon enough, we driving back and forth between Marquette to see one another more often. Oh snap, guys. The picture lady started dating him.

When he first invited me over to his parents’ house, we couldn’t help but laugh at his senior photo hanging on their wall… taken by yours truly. So in the meat of this post, you best believe I’m sharing with you some of his senior photos! You’ll also see how much my style and abilities have evolved… everything was so vibrant and saturated in my earlier styles, haha!

And juuuuuust to be fair, here are some of MY senior photos too! They were taken by Vienna Glenn once upon a time when she was newer to the photo scene too! Hahaha. Also, what the h*ll was my style?

I hope this made you laugh… we could all use a little more laughter right now!