Three Generations. One Day. Forever Remembered.
Some days begin quietly and end unforgettable. This one began with a note from Rhianna about her family: her grandmother, Rosemary, in her mid-eighties, whose memory sometimes slips yet whose spirit leans toward new adventures; her mother, Beth, a scientist in a world too often overlooked, yet showing up each day with passion for her work; and her own deep admiration for them both.
They are a small family, Rhianna wrote. One that lives in the moment and too often forgets to capture it. It had been thirty years since all the women had gathered for portraits. With her grandmother’s memory flickering, she wanted this session to be more than photographs. She wanted a gift—a way to honor the bond between mother and daughter and hold a piece of their story for years to come.
When three generations stepped into the studio, it felt less like a session beginning and more like a story continuing. Rhianna, lively and thoughtful, with a knack for curating the little details that matter. Beth, a bridge between generations, her reserve quick to light up when Rhianna drew out her laugh. And Rosemary, radiant and graceful, carrying the quiet strength of a matriarch whose love had shaped them all.
Portraits were part of it. But the heart of it was capturing the rituals that celebrated and knit them together: glasses raised, heirlooms worn, tea time shared. Images that would hold not just their likeness, but their life.
They arrived prepared, champagne glasses in hand. A vintage table that was later draped in pearls. Small bouquets. A family tea set. Outfits chosen to match every mood. Their wish list read like a recipe: casual comfort with a dash of black-and-white drama, everyday rituals balanced with Vogue-level elegance. Wardrobe followed three words: casual, classic, elegant. Jewelry sparkled. Bubbles rose. Laughter carried.
Music set the rhythm: Rhianna and Beth’s playlists blending with Rosemary’s timeless loves—Hall & Oates, Neil Diamond, The Supremes, and Tina Turner.
Behind the scenes, my assistant Kitty and my talented HMUA Diane ran the Department of Hair Intervention, catching stray strands, straightening collars, and keeping every detail in place so the moments could unfold naturally.
The day moved in chapters. Rosemary glowing over champagne and sharing her love of jewelry with her granddaughter. Beth leaning into her dual role as daughter and mother. Rhianna stepping into her next season of life, with her fiancé Joe arriving mid-shoot to deliver champagne. The cork popped, laughter spilled, and suddenly an engagement portrait appeared—unplanned but unforgettable.
And then came the pause, not planned but deeply felt. A glance exchanged, a hand resting gently on another, three lives overlapping in a single frame.
As the family shared: “It will be a day long remembered, beautifully captured, and tender in our hearts as a visual reminder—a legacy of our love for each other.”
