Deb Wesley

“Solving A Hole-y Problem”

July 22, 2020 By Deb Wesley

Solving a Hole-y Problem One Sock At A Time

Andrea had her ah-ha moment one day while tidying up around her Chicago home..

On the upside, her husband had cleaned out his sock drawer. That was awesome.

What wasn’t so awesome was the pile of hole-y ones that were being tossed out in the trash.

As a conscience city-dweller, she’s always tried to be mindful of doing things in a way that would have the least impact on the environment.

So she thought there MUST be something better to do with these old socks than pitch them into a landfill.

This is how the idea for her business, “MY BASIC REVOLUTION” was born. And how she became my client.

So Is There Really A Problem?

Yes, and it’s BIG.

According to Green American Magazine “Unraveling the Fashion Industry”:

“Even though many Americans donate clothing, textiles still make up a shocking amount of the US waste stream. The EPA reports that Americans generate 16 million tons of textile waste a year, equaling just over six percent of total municipal waste (for context, plastics make up 13 percent of our waste stream)...Recycling textiles can keep materials out of landfills and incinerators as well as reduce need for virgin fibers by extending the life of existing ones. In the processing, the reworked “new” product is then re-spun into yards of threads and ready to be used for weaving or knitting into new products.”

Becoming Part Of The Solution

To be a part of the solution to a growing problem, Andrea created a company that helped people do something small that--when multiplied--would create a much bigger impact.

“My Basic Revolution” is a subscription service with the simple goal of decreasing what ends up in landfills. It gives folks a simple way to recycle their old, unusable clothing while also replacing your old socks it with new sustainable pairs.

You get the new socks shipped in a box with pre-paid postage to send your old stuff (in that same box-no waste) to a responsible recycler.

According to Andrea, the company’s founder, “You’d be surprised what your old clothing can be turned into. An old t-shirt might be sent off and turned into wipe rags. Other items might go to a fabric recycler to be broken down and turned into insulation, stuffing for automotive seats, or new textiles.”

So Andrea became a client who needed to show off her socks! That’s where I came in to do a personal branding photography session for her.

woman with hat sitting on blanket in park

tennis players legs with white socks, tennis ball, and raquet

Socks Really Are Important

They may not seem exciting, but they sure are important to foot comfort and health. And you definitely notice them when thy don't fit well, become stretched out, or get a hole!

Whether the feet they were on were relaxing, running, or just staying warm, there's plenty of good stuff to highlight.

And how nice to have new ones show up at your door followed by a responsible plan to get rid of old ones!

One win for the planet!

We did the photo shoot outdoors, because Andrea's goal was to show all the outside stuff that feet get into, and therefore depend on a comfortable sock to feel good doing. Yes we did put socks on Dee the dog. She just wanted to help.

couple with white socks looking down at black dog wearing white socks

Like "My Basic Revolution" (https://www.mybasicrevolution.com/), every small business story is unique! That is exactly why the stories behind the business are important to tell in an authentic way.

Whether you are trying to save the earth or help entrepreneurs thrive, your personal brand is yours alone.

Deb Wesley is a business/branding and portrait photographer based in the western suburbs of Chicago. You can hire her for business and personal branding photography.

Don’t Call Them The “Class Of Covid”

May 14, 2020 By Deb Wesley

Don't Call Them The "Class-Of-Covid-19"

Some are calling them “The class of COVID-19”.

While we won’t ever forget 2020 for all the terrible things it’s brought us...the class of 2020 deserves way better.

This time of year--regardless of extraordinary circumstances--tends to bring about reflection about the ending of one stage and beginning of another.

It's especially true for the parents of graduating high school seniors.

I swear it happens when you’re not looking. It hits you hard that your little girl or boy is literally grown-up and ready to fly on their own.

Putting It Into Words

I asked some of the moms of my clients from the 2020 graduating class to reflect--on paper. I wanted them to write a love letter of sorts to their seniors.

They obliged... after all, it was a great excuse to shed a few tears and talk about how you feel about your child.

If it's one thing we've been reminded of during this pandemic, it's that our families are precious. And that there's no time like the present to tell them.

Grace is graduating from DGN and heading to Auburn U this Fall. She describes herself as funny, creative, and outgoing. Her mom, Maureen wrote this…

Dear Grace, We never know what the future holds, and a few months ago no one would have dreamed that your senior year would end this way!. Despite the fact that it looks and feels different I want you to celebrate all the same. I am so proud of you and your amazing successes at North. From the many sports you played, clubs that you were a part of, challenging AP classes you endured, the thing that I am most proud of is the woman that you have become. I have nothing but excitement and confidence for your transition to Auburn University. Go be you and take in all that college has to offer. It will no doubt be the best time of your life.

All my love ---Mom

Sydney has been attending Metea Valley High School. She loves country music and her true passion is working with special-needs kids (wow). She too, is heading south--to U of Georgia--in the Fall! Her mom, Pam, wrote this to her...

Dear Sydney: What do you say to your daughter who has been forced--due to the pandemic--to social distance from her friends, classmates, teachers, coaches, teammates, etc? The losses are great and words can’t explain the feelings that I have about something I have no control over. All we can do is be there for one another. To listen when she wants to talk or cry about the soccer game she should have played, her senior prom, senior road trip, and graduation.Although this time has been difficult, it has also allowed our family to connect on a deeper level. We have had family game nights, gone on long bicycle rides, and worked out together almost daily. The memories we are making during this pandemic will stay with us forever. I am confident that Sydney will excel in whatever she chooses in life. Her drive and ambition is contagious. Love, Mom

This last letter was written by Lisa, mother to Annie. Annie graduates this month from Glenbard West and is heading out to Southern California University. Sounds amazing!

She’s adventurous and enjoys photography too. I snagged her to assist ME a couple times!

Dear Annie, Wow! As every parent says, “time flies.” We can’t believe you’re graduating and going off to college. We know that this isn’t what any of us thought this time in your life would look like, but you’ve handled it with such grace and maturity. You are amazing! You always impress us with your creativity, your kindness and your positive attitude, not to mention your calm demeanor!

We are so proud of you and so excited to see what your future holds. We know you will be successful in whatever you choose to do. Remember, to choose what makes you happy. We love you and are always here to support you. You rock!

Mom and Dad

girl in floral dress and fringed top twirling in field

Unlucky but Undeterred

The class of 2020 is worldly, motivated, and smart. They’re going to be known for the amazing things they have already done--and will continue to do--to make the world better.

They’re just unlucky.

Also undaunted and undeterred.

Congrats to all the 2020 graduates. You're awesome and strong. And we celebrate you!

Deb Wesley is a West-Suburban photographer offering senior photo session experiences. She's also now offering special Cap & Gown/Prom mini-sessions.

www.debwesleyphoto.com

Seven Steps To Finally Organizing Your Photos

April 8, 2020 By Deb Wesley

Seven Steps to Finally Organizing Your Photo Collection

So here we are... in the midst of a pandemic. You’re stuck at home..and need something productive to distract you from the news stories.

How about that photo organization project you’ve been meaning to get to? How long have you been meaning to do SOMETHING with your photos?

It might be the perfect time to get this project underway! Especially when it's gloomy and rainly outside.

What Does Your Collection Look Like Right Now?

It's likely a combination (depending on your age) of shoeboxes filled with 4 x 6 prints, envelopes of negatives, magnetic photo albums, and a cell phone photo with hundreds (thousands?) of pics.

I know...it's frustrating! You’re well aware that you “should have kept up” with this somehow... and now it just seems impossible...so you don't do anything at all. But if you break it down a bit, it can happen.

What's Your Goal?

Generally, it's a good idea to schedule small chunks of time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Baby steps! Keep these tips in mind too:

Cut down the numbers! It’s much better to have a few good photos that tell the story about that event, holiday, or vacation than lots of not-so-good ones. Throw away the bad ones and don't second-guess yourself.
Have an endgame in mind. That is, what do you want to do with the photos when you're done?

For example, do you want to create a photo book (or 10)? You can use a number of user-friendly consumer printers for your DIY book projects, such as Shutterfly or Pickaboo.

Maybe you want traditional photo albums to insert your prints into? Just be sure to pick a reputable dealer who makes albums labeled "archival-safe".

How about something for your home decor? Aside from ordering the best-of-the-best from your professional photographer (which I recommend for your most important and professional images),many options are out there for you to print yourself.

Feeling ambitious? Scrapbooks are a great way to get creative and add text and embellishments onto. Warning..this can be very time-consuming. (I was a scrapbooker myself).

Perhaps the only goal at this time is to simply digitize and organize.

Perhaps your answer is a combination of things. When you begin the tasks below, be sure to incorporate that labeling as well (ie: print-worthy, save-but-not-for-print, etc.)

One thing EVERYONE needs regardless of these options, is a solid organization, back-up, and maintenance plan.

Here’s a step-by-step process of how you can get it done. It takes into consideration all the possible scenarios that might describe your own situation.

STEP #1 Collect and cull the older stuff

Of course I'm talking about the olden days of film photography. In reality only 15 years ago, most of us were just transitioning to "digital" capture!

I suggest you start with one medium at a time. You can skip this step if you only have digitals. If your prints are a mess and you never labeled your photos, this part could take awhile. One clue to look for is the photo lab imprint on the backs of the prints and dates on the negatives.

You’ll need some shoe boxes/photo boxes plus index cards and a pen (archival ink) to label.

Collect all your physical prints, negatives, photo books, and envelopes of photos and put them all in a location where you can work on them without moving until you’re finished. If you don’t have space, use a bin you can keep everything together in and store away when you’re not working on it.
Label your index cards by year (or any other way that is meaningful to you, such as seasons, events, holidays). Stick with this method of organization through your whole project.
Start with your negatives. You can hold them up to the light to see what they are and label them--placing them into the year or event they belong to. Keep them in their original envelopes if possible. They shouldn’t be out in the light for any length of time.

The negatives are better for scanning as they contain more info and therefore result in better quality scanned images. You’ll be scanning all of them.

If you have the same images in prints, you really don’t need to go through them...unless you plan to use the prints in your final project.

If you do want to use them, go through and label each on the back, placing them into the boxes under your labeling system. With your print culling process, it’s a good time to dispose of prints that don’t make the cut.
Remove all photos stuck into magnetic photo albums (carefully). These types of albums degrade the photos. Label them and file them into the appropriate box.

STEP #2 Digitize the prints and/or the negatives

Prints and negatives fade over time and should be scanned to be preserved in digital format.

And it’s great to have them at your fingertips when you are looking to make that birthday tribute collage or memorial post.

Personally, I don’t have the patience to scan a zillion photos, and I don’t want to figure out how to scan negatives.

Fortunately, there are services that can do that much better, quicker, and reasonably for you. Again, negatives are preferred, but if you didn’t keep your negatives, you can scan the photos.

Scanning services take the work out of this and to me, the key to getting the project done. Expect to pay per image (.40-.60/each), but it’s worth it.

If you were a shutterbug like me back then (I took lots of photos), and don’t want to pay for every single one (knowing that you're only going to want the best of them to keep) use a service that is “post-pay”. In other words, they scan all of it, send you an online gallery, and you decide which ones you want to keep and pay just for those.

This will help you get rid of the duds when you have to stop and think about whether it’s worth the money to archive that blurry photo.

The service will send you a USB or download of your finished scans Three services to look at:

www.Gophoto.com (best overall)
www.Scancafe.com (best value for bulk)
www.Scanmyphotos.com (best turn-around time)

STEP #3 Organize your digitized library

This is a really important step. Now that you have your prints & negatives in a digital format, you’ll want to have them findable and accessible. You can create your own folder system on your computer, but I recommend using software that allows you to do more... such as adding keywords, and editing functions.

I won’t go into all the details of the various software programs out there, but suffice to say that a little research will help you find one (and often free) to give you the features and ease of use (and sometimes even back-up) you’re looking for.

I love everything Adobe makes...and they do offer a free product (https://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html) which is outside of the Creative Cloud subscription used by professionals.

STEP #4 Get your phone photos under control

I’m making the assumption that you’ve got an unwieldy collection of photos on your phone. I’m also guessing you find yourself endlessly scrolling when you’re looking for a particular photo.

IOS and Android can help you with the built in function of albums. Themed albums. Take advantage of them!

How do you want to organize your albums? You should use the same method of organizing your digitals as you did in step #1. Use that method that makes sense to you.

Or...organize the same way your phone does, which is different on iPhones and Androids, including organizing them by people or places. Your phone has literally been organizing for you, and you can search for photos a variety of ways (faces, places, items in the photo you’re searching for using object-recognition). Amazing.

I suggest being consistent...no matter how you decide to do it.

Being a control freak of sorts, I prefer to take that control and use my own themes.

Are you running out of space on the phone? Once you complete the process below, you can delete the ones you’ve archived. You also have a choice of using the cloud as your primary storage instead of your phone.

As you’re scrolling through, adding your photos to albums, be sure to clean up your selections by deleting the ones you don’t want to save. In fact, do this on a regular basis, just like doing the laundry or cleaning the kitchen!

STEP #5 Get the photos onto a computer and backed-up

There’s several ways to transfer your photos from your phone to your computer, including software that doesn’t mess your photos up, such as AnyTrans.

These should be catalogued the same way as your scanned items.

Congrats! You're almost done! However, even the most organized system means nothing if you loose it all.

Your goal is to create 3 copies of all your catalogue using two types of media. I suggest one on your computer's hard drive, one on an external hard drive, and one on a cloud service such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

STEP #6 Maintain Your System

I suggest developing an easy workflow.

Upload to your computer at regular intervals, and catalogue.
Have an automatic backup of these files in your cloud service (such as google sync and back-up)
Then regularly copy your files onto the external hard drive (I keep mine in a different location in case of fire, etc). I do this at the end of each year, but you can do it as often as you like--even every time you import photos.

STEP #7 Enjoy Your Work

I personally LOVE to print photos and create photo art!

There's something about having tangible memories. Especially when it comes to telling stories.

While the cloud copy of my photos are always accessible (my daughters love that they have them at their fingertips), I make albums and wall/shelf art.

I think of my albums as a chronicle of our family’s life. I have multiple traditional albums with 4x6 photos from the earlier years, and have switched now to beautiful leather or photo cover bound books for each year or special trip. My walls and shelves showcase canvases, framed prints, and modern prints.

When it comes to my portrait clients, I offer the best prints from the best labs to them as well.

There is no right or wrong way to display art of your favorite memories and your precious family members.

Have some fun and try something different!

I'm Deb Wesley Photography--based in Downers Grove, IL--about 25 miles west of Chicago. I enjoy photographing and creating printed art for families & high school seniors. My other area of photography expertise is business headshots and branding/marketing sessions.

Visit my website www.debwesleyphoto.com

Her Second Skin

November 1, 2019 By Deb Wesley

Her Second Skin

Scarlett filled out the application and submitted some of her improv audition tapes.

It could be a long shot...but why not?

“Second Skin” Dancewear was looking for models to feature on their website and social media. The winners would get to fly out to Phoenix, AZ for the company’s official video and photo shoot.

And after all..she really loved to wear their clothes.

dancer in purple and black on white studio sweep by deb wesley

Upside down dancer in split with bent leg

teen dancer in standing jazz pose for studio photo shoot with Deb Wesley Photography

Scarlett is in the Seventh grade--that “awkward” tween-age time...when changes abound and life gets a little more complicated.

Don’t mention that to Scarlett though...she’s busy in her quest for perfection--in movement and poise. There’s not an awkward bone in her body.

Following her Dream...

It might be because she’s been dancing since age 4. It was at about age 10 that she got serious about her dancing. Having started taking lessons locally, she’s now training at The Colony (Chicago) www.thehive.dance 15-20 hours per week. She travels the US for conventions and competitions.

Recently she was invited to dance in a music video for the song "White Space" by Ava Morse.

Scarlett says she’s inspired by “watching others perform and choreographers create amazing pieces of art through dance.”

Yes, she was picked to be that “Second Skin” model, and came to me for the photo shoot so she’d have new images to submit for publication on the brand’s Instagram page.

Side scale by young female dance in blue costume

back side of blue dance costume worn by teen dancer on white sweep

teen dancer with 2 piece blue costume in side bend on white set

teen dancer in red standing in quad stretch

If you check out @secondskincostumes_, you’ll see dancers from all over that are wearing the company’s progressive dance wear on all-white backgrounds.

This perfectly showcases the precise dance moves and colors of their costumes.

Scarlett came into the studio with an armful of cool dance costumes and great ideas on how she would show them off on the all-white set I had prepared.

She amazed me with her repertoire of poses and moves! I quickly learned not to assume a pose was done correctly until she looked at my camera back and said so!

Poetry In Motion

I loved helping Scarlett show off her moves! Can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next and wish her a cool experience in her modeling debut.

Deb Wesley is a photographer located in Downers Grove. She specializes in working with businesses and individuals with their branding and portrait needs.

Dance Pose against white for Second Skin Dance Wear by DWP

How Personal Branding Photography Creates The Personal Connection In Business

September 20, 2019 By Deb Wesley

Lactation Consultant Connects With New Moms In Need

Sarah felt ready.

She had prepared well for the upcoming birth of her first child. They had a new home and she and John had prepared a beautiful nursery with everything that would be needed when the time finally came.

She had read the books, and attended the meetings. She progressed through the pregnancy just as expected.

After a normal delivery of a 7# 6’ baby boy, she was excited to get started nursing her son.

At home after just one night in the hospital, Conner didn’t seem to be latching onto correctly to her for his feedings. And feeding time seemed endless. He was crying all the time and she swore he wasn’t ever full.

Her nipples were cracked and sore and she needed sleep badly. She was at her wits end. She needed help, or would just have to give up on nursing and try a bottle.

Time To Find An Expert

client journey by Makana in story session by deb wesley

Breast-feeding is undeniably the best way to feed your baby. It would seem that nature would take over, and everyone just instinctively should know what to do next, right?

In fact there’s a whole bunch of things that can prevent a new mom from having success

That’s where Makana Breastfeeding comes in.

There ARE awhole bunch of things that can prevent a new mom from having success

That’s where Makana Breastfeeding comes in.

Melissa (owner of Makana) helps new moms navigate their struggles with breast-feeding their babies. She’s passionate about breast-feeding and her mission is to help other mothers experience success in feeding their babies naturally.

From Passion to Business Venture

Her journey began, as many business ideas do, with her own experiences. As a new mother who was determined to breast feed her baby despite having challenges and few resources to help her, she reached out for help.

Eventually she decided to become certified (IBCLC) herself and live her passion of breastfeeding by helping other new parents.

Recognizing that her website, etc seemed rather generic, she reached out to me to help her tell that story through images with a personal branding session.

The goal was to help prospective clients connect with Melissa and understand exactly what to expect if they were to reach out for a consultation.

Bringing Her Story To Life

I met with Melissa first for an in-depth meeting to plan out every detail of the session, so we could meet all the goals she had set. We set a plan for finding some new moms with babies to be our models, planned Melissa’s looks, and chose a location that fit.

On session day we were well prepared with a detailed “shot list” and everyone scheduled to come and go at specific times to keep the shoot rolling.

Melissa is truly GOOD at her job. Her compassion and soothing demeanor immediately put our “models” (moms and babies) at ease. They got real advice to use themselves. We were lucky to have both a newborn and an older baby to help tell Melissa’s story.

The Results

A short time later, Melissa had 40 new images ready to be used on her website and other posts that feature Melissa working directly with her “clients”.

One visit to her website now will make any frazzled new mother feel she would be able to work with and trust Melissa to help. Check her out at https://makanabreastfeeding.com

That’s the goal and the beauty of personal brand photography; to bring the stories that are at the heart of your life and your business--to life.

Deb Wesley offers individual and ongoing branding photography in the Chicago area. She's also available for travel to almost any location.

Go to https://www.debwesley.com for more information about DWP personal branding photography services.

story session in home breast feeding consultant

Makana consultant with clients image by Deb Wesley

baby model for lifestyle session by deb wesley

The Senior Experience…A Collaboration

August 29, 2018 By Deb Wesley

In a saturated consumer photography market, where professional photographers are competing for business, it may not seem to make a lot of sense to share a coveted client with your “rival”

After all, getting a client is often hard-won. It goes against logic to expose them to another talented photographer by choice.

That’s exactly what I did this summer...and will do it again!

I met in her in photography school. Veronica and I both have a passion for photographing high-school seniors, and are building our businesses similarly, in communities near each other.

Why Not Work Together On A Project?

She’s an awesome photographer, and she’s marketing to the same clients I am. And I’m sharing my clients with her. In fact...letting her photograph them right along with me…sharing my tricks, and me stealing some of hers.

It would be our second annual “collaboration”, where we’ve combined our resources and planned a photo shoot together with multiple models, a videographer, make-up and hair artists, and a unique location.

DWP senior experience Faith 2

We wanted a really cool experience for our clients (and for us)--one that all their friends would not have.

We wanted to work together on our skills and create stand-out portfolio images, all while creating the kind of buzz that would benefit BOTH our individual businesses.

This year’s “Senior Experience” was held at a funky location in Wicker Park, which I stumbled upon “Splacer”. It'a a kind-of-AirB&B-like website that rents out spaces for any event you can imagine. Most importantly it's a lot different than my usual locations, and would be a new challenge.

Once our location was booked, and our models (AKA high school clients) signed on, it was time to build the rest of our team…and do some shopping.

It's A Team Effort

I was lucky to find Elana and Athina Darrus. They're a make-up/hair artist team who were excited about helping with our project. Ther're absolutely awesome artists, and spent the day with us on-location, making our girls look their best and on-theme. The look I was going for was boho/throwback. Veronica’s models were sporting a more classic look. In addition, we had Nik, our videographer on hand all day.

Nik is super-talented at creating cool promo videos for us that will really showcase our event. He’s also fun to be around! Check him out on You-Tube (Nik Adams Productions).

We arrived at our location with plans to complete hair and make-up on-location and start the photo shoot indoors. The requested music playlist was rocking, and there were plenty of snacks around to keep everyone energized.

We exchanged models after each clothing change and snapped away in the space--both of us photographing each girl, giving it our unique spin, with poses and use of the funky props. These included eclectic furniture, an old piano, and a very colorful geometric wall design.

DWP senior experience/ Faith at TLR

The girls (and their moms) were having a blast!

When our time ran out, it was late afternoon, and time to head out in the nearby neighborhood for some street shots.

DWP senior experience Melina

Getting Creative

I generally find Chicago to be a treasure trove of great locations, and it look almost no time to scout out some interesting spots to grab the last images of the day (and possibly a Stan’s "Donut"-I hear they’re famous).

An underpass looks a lot like a Roman ruin, and a grungy alley--an unlikely spot to make the environment behind my model really interesting. You just have to “see” it and give it a go. Melina, Faith, Briana, and Samantha were having fun and game for all of it. They were awesome!

DWP senior experience Brianna

The evening ended with new friendships formed--along with dinner--and stories to laugh about.

More importantly, I loved the spirit of cooperation and idea-sharing that Veronica Adams Photography and I have, and the lack of concern that there "isn’t room"--or enough business--for us both. I really believe everyone benefits! And we definitely have much to learn from each other.

To find out more about DWP senior photo sessions, check out our website.

Together So Much Stronger

May 25, 2018 By Deb Wesley

There’s nothing unusual about the girls varsity basketball team at Lyons Township High school.

Not when you’re on the outside looking in at least.

They’re a group of 13 or so teenage girls that seem to play pretty well on the court. They win more than they lose.

I had a unique opportunity to follow the girls’ season (I photographed all their games as a team gift from one of the Dads). Now I don’t call myself a full-time sports photographer, but have done before, and really enjoyed the prospect of this diversion from my usual portrait and head-shot work.

The season started out gangbusters with win after win. There were bumps along the road like injuries and those close games “that we should have had”.

In the end they progressed to the second round of the play-offs and lost by a small margin to the top-ranked team in the state. I had some difficulty shooting that game because it was so riveting, and these girls played with such heart, that I’d forget my job for a few moments and find myself cheering them on as if I was one of the moms! (I think I was reverting to my time as a soccer/volleyball/gymnastics/softball-MOM)

Anyway, this post isn’t really a story about basketball or game statistics.

Because what I found after some time showing up to the games, spending time with the girls, and getting to know some of the parents, was so much more than a high school varsity team.

I asked the Dad who hired me why this was so important to document. Why this year and this team?

He told me that it was a “special” group of girls who’d played a long time together. Even Coach Frick (his last season coaching-and he’s been around) admitted that this was no ordinary group.

Sidney (senior) said this of the coach-

“He taught me that it’s not about wins and losses, but the relationships you create”

Sure, I could see that the girls seemed to like each other. That’s a bonus with teenage girls for sure. But, it wasn’t until I hung around for awhile, took lots of photos, and even more so--asked the girls to explain how they felt--that I saw them differently.

I asked them what the best part of being on the team was. The answers were astoundingly the same--and went something like this:

“I LOVE this team. I’ll never forget this amazing experience. The entire team is my extended family and I consider them all my big sisters. They have embraced me and loved me, and I them. I will cry when the season comes to an end but the friendships and bonds that were created will last me a lifetime. They are special people” --Lindsey (freshman)

Many of the girls had played together in some way since they were 7 or 8 years old, and 8 of them will be graduating this month.

I was curious to know how being a member of THIS team affected their ability to navigate high school-if it had any effect off the court.

Yep, I confirmed that high school IS stressful.

“Being a member of this team during high school was VERY effective...helped me become a leader, create amazing friendships, and make me a better person when it comes to dealing with difficult situations...It made my life less stressful because I could always go to my teammates for advice because they’re like sisters and we are like one big family...it made me less insecure, vulnerable, and lonely” --Gabby (senior)

That’s gold.

In these times, what could be better for a girl trying to figure out her place in the world? I wish that for all teenage girls.

I’m glad I was able to document this final phase of togetherness for these talented and beautiful young women. I also truly believe these girls will always continue to be sisters.

LT basketball team on bleachers in pink shirts