"Day with Mikayla" was one of my first photoshoots, and to this day, it remains one of my favorite portrait sessions. I had just bought my Canon Rebel T7 and was practically begging all my friends to model for me so I could get in some practice. When I asked Mikayla, she was immediately down.

I drove to Ann Arbor, and we grabbed lunch before heading back to her place to pick out outfits. She was living with her aunt at the time, so we spent some time chatting on the patio, soaking in the summer air, before heading into the woods for the shoot. There was no plan, no shot list—just a camera, natural light, and the freedom to create. I wasn’t worried about getting everything "right." I just followed the way light and shadow danced around her, letting the in-between moments shape the images.

Mikayla moved out of state not long after, and we eventually lost touch. Looking back, most of that summer is a blur. But what still lingers, even now, is how impossible she was to pin down. Being around her felt like chasing the wind—always moving, always just out of reach. She was a free spirit, unapologetically led by her heart, fierce in her convictions. Strong, unwavering, and deeply rooted in her own path, she always seemed to know exactly where she was going—even if no one else did.