April, 2025

Hannah

Western Carolina University - Cullowhee, NC

Light streaming through the trees. Campus full of the quiet buzz just before finals and graduation. Anticipation of the celebrations just around the corner. A faint pop of the champagne then the real fun can begin! 

Hannah’s Grad School Graduation session was full of fun, confetti, and champagne! It was wonderful to have her in front of my cameras again. It seems like just yesterday we were documenting undergrad portraits. Now, she is graduation with a masters from Western Carolina University.

It is alway such a range of emotions when I step on WCU’s campus. I immediately feel like something is due and there are deadlines. It feels like I have homework to catch up on, even though I am 31 and settled into my career. With each graduate I get to document on campus I’m reminded if life goes different than you think it should, that is not always a bad thing. Little did I know eight years ago when I was about to graduate my college side hustle would turn into my full time career. I had no idea my final project for my marketing class (building a branding package for my small business) would shift and evolve into what Emily Lauren Photo is today. 

To Hannah and all of my other graduates, thank you so much for allowing me to document such a wonderful time of your life! 

-Emily:)