Capturing confidence, one frame at a time.
It all started in the gym.
I had been training Aria through my basketball skills sessions for a while. Just another focused, high-energy kid trying to improve her game. We worked through footwork drills, shooting reps, and ball-handling routines. Honestly, nothing about those early sessions gave me any clue that she was already making waves in a completely different world. Modeling. Real, professional modeling.
One afternoon, I was chatting with her parents after a workout. We were talking casually, and I mentioned that I had been working on my photography. I told them how I was looking to expand into portrait work. Up until then, I had only done sports photography. I was learning more about posing, lighting, and composition, just trying to grow.
That’s when it came out.
“Aria models,” her mom said. “We’ve actually been looking for someone to update her portfolio. Would you be open to giving it a shot?”
I probably nodded with confidence on the outside, but inside I was thinking, wait, a real modeling portfolio? For a professional kid model? That’s a lot of pressure. I had never done anything like that before.
Still, I said yes. Knowing that like anything, I would give my all-do my best.
And then I got to work. I studied poses. I watched videos of photographers instructing models. I practiced how to give direction in a way that didn’t sound awkward or forced. I read up on how small angles can completely change the feel of an image. I didn’t just want to show up and wing it. I wanted to earn the trust they had put in me.
Then there was lighting. That became a whole other stressor. I kept second-guessing myself. Where should I place the key light? Should I try backlighting here, or go natural? How would I handle tricky shadows? I walked into that first shoot with my head full of technical questions and nerves.
During the shoot, one question stayed with me. Would these photos capture what Abby, Aria’s mom, had envisioned? I wanted to impress her. I wanted to deliver. So, I did what many beginner photographers do when they’re unsure.
I overshot. Took hundreds of photos. Every pose, every angle, just in case.
Now I know better. It's about being more intentional. Know what you want to shoot. Have a feel for the angles. Trust your instincts. But back then, I was just trying to be thorough.
Luckily, Aria made it easy.
One moment she was a fun-loving kid doing TikTok dances and talking about "sigma" and whatever else is trending online. She would giggle between takes, wander off mid-shoot, and then snap back into focus like flipping a switch.
The second I lifted the camera, she transformed. Serious expression. Confident pose. Intentional movement. Suddenly, she was a model in full control of her space. It was amazing to watch.
There’s a professionalism in her that you don’t expect from someone so young. And yet, she never loses the joy. She’s still goofy and playful, still full of energy, still a kid. That combination is what makes her such a natural.
Since that first session, we’ve done a handful of shoots together. Each time, she’s grown. She understands light, angles, and how to create a mood. She listens and responds, but she also brings her own ideas. Every time she steps in front of the lens, she adds something new. It’s not just posing. It’s presence.
Working with Abby and her family has been a great experience. They’ve been patient with my growth, supportive through my process, and incredibly encouraging from the start. That trust means everything.
These shoots with Aria have helped me grow too. They’ve pushed me to plan more, to communicate more clearly, and to believe in what I’m building. I’ve learned so much by simply saying yes to an opportunity that once made me nervous.
Here are a few shots from our most recent session. I think they speak to who Aria is right now, and maybe even who she is becoming.
Because if this is where she’s starting, I can only imagine what’s ahead for her.
— Cass
