Senior Portraits of a Basketball State Champ – Dallas Frisco Family Photographer – Me Ra Koh
I’m thrilled to share these senior portraits of a Basketball State Champ! Jaylen Johnson has such an amazing Rising Phoenix story!
Meet Jaylen, See His Album, Photo Shoot and Dancing!
People ask us all the time if you have to be a woman to have a Rising Phoenix Experience. Absolutely not! The Rising Phoenix Experience is all about celebrating how you’ve overcome–your resilience. Jaylen is a powerful example of a Rising Phoenix who has overcome so much this year! You are going to love his story!
His mom wrote in her Google review; “During our son’s photo shoot, he was emotionally taken aback by all the kind words we had shared with on the discovery calls. Each photo represented a special relationship and a unique bond. We were already a close family, but this experience brought us even closer!”
Standing Out in a New School
This is one of the most AMAZING young men! As a senior, he transferred to a new school, joined the basketball team, and helped them win the State Championship! As a 6’7 young African American man, he stepped up and stood out in a new community where there were very few minorities. But as his mom describes so well “Jaylen has a HUGE heart for people who need to be loved and understood.” He handled all the new changes and unexpected challenges with grace, patience and determination to contribute his best to the school.
His Favorite Portrait
When Jaylen saw this portrait of him and his mom, he said “That’s the one I want. That right there is my favorite.” I asked Jaylen what his mom has shaped in him that he is taking into this next season of life. He told me his mom loves everyone. “She makes everyone feel welcome. No one ever feels left out. When I see a kid on campus who is alone, I’ll try to cheer him up. I got that from my mom. She’d do the same.” It’s so powerful to hear what our children have picked up from us. You never know how much you’ve impacted them for the best.
Jaylen and his mom also love fashion and dancing. “He has swag about him, this CONFIDENCE with his huge heart for people,” she says. So it only made sense to turn up the music and just let them be who they are. I LOVE this portrait of them!!!
My Bubba Forever
Jaylen told me he was there when his baby brother was born. He still remembers crying seeing him for the first time. “I want to do good by him, set a path for him to follow.” When Jaylen goes to college in the fall, he wants Hunter to know that “Jay-Jay is still there. He still protects him and loves him. Even when he was three and Bubba was 18, we were connected. I’m his Bubba forever.”
How His Father Describes Jaylen
I had the most AMAZING call with Jaylen’s dad. He describes his son as RADIANT, his energy brings life and happiness to everyone he’s around. He is a trailblazer, resilient, and he gave my life purpose.” Their father/son relationship was so special to witness and capture. You can tell they have each other’s back in every way.
Jaylen told me his dad is the smartest person he knows. “He taught me how to be a man in this world. If you were to see us hanging out and having a good time, you’d know we were best friends. And his height…that is something he has uniquely given to me.”
But He Didn’t Expect His Sister’s Words
Jada is Jaylen’s younger sister. We had the most beautiful conversation about her big brother. She described him as hardworking, really smart, and pretty caring. With hardworking, she says “He’s done so much to be where he’s at with basketball. He can be in the big leagues!…And he wants to do pre-dental! He’s so smart.”
She says that when he goes to college, she will miss his overall presence. “He makes everyone happy, he makes everyone laugh, especially our grandma.” From Jaylen’s video testimonial, I realized that hearing these words of life from his sister had the most impact of all.
I believe our kids want to say these words to each other but there isn’t always a setting for it. And siblings are siblings. To be able to share these words during the photo shoot was so powerful for Jaylen to hear and their relationship as he prepares to leave for college.
Jaylen loves that Jada is always “keeping me in check”. And when he’s away at college, he never wants to forget that they can always laugh and have a good time.
Jaylen’s Words for Himself
I loved my call with Jaylen. I got to share some of the words his family shared and then hear what he appreciates about himself. It can be an awkward question…”What three things do you like most about yourself?” But our team asks this important question in a layered way because we know it’s powerful for each of us to say out loud the gifts and strengths we see in who we are.
PERSEVERANCE was one of his first words. He’s proud of how he persevered through the tough transition of going from a public to private school his last year–walking on to a new basketball team. He didn’t know in the fall that these would be senior portraits of a basketball state champ!
CONFIDENCE was his second word. “Like when I walk into the gym with confidence so the opposing team can see it. I stand out.”
HUMOR was the last one. “I love making people laugh. I never want anyone to feel left out, especially other kids.”
Carry Yourself Like a Johnson
At FIORIA, our Senior Portrait Experience involves the whole family from phone calls before to the photo shoot. Every person is feeling the major shift that is going to happen this fall when Jaylen goes off to college. That’s why each family member gets to have a voice in celebrating this huge milestone.
When I ask Jaylen what he loves most about his family, he says “We’re all unique with our own styles, but we come together as one…since we were little our dad has always told us to “Carry yourself like a Johnson” to walk with confidence, and I love that.”
Congratulations Jaylen!
Brian and I have LOVED getting to know you, your family, and especially see you in action at your basketball games. We are total fans of you, your spirit and HUGE heart! Thank you for the honor of capturing your senior portraits of a basketball state champ! Your story of rising above all the odds!
I had to Add These Two!
We will always be in your corner cheering you on!
And Brian will ALWAYS try to be as tall as you! LOL!
Begin Your FIORIA Senior Portrait Experience
Are you looking for a meaningful way to celebrate your graduating senior as a family? When they go to college, what do you want them to never forget about who they are? What challenges has your senior overcome? What resilience lives within them and your family? That is what FIORIA captures–the Rising Phoenix within. This is unlike any other type of senior portraits you’ve heard of. This is a sacred, meaningful experience that starts with a Discovery Call.
Schedule Your First Discovery Call by Filling Out Our Contact Form. We are so excited to take you on an unforgettable journey.
still we rise, Me Ra
*CLICK HERE to see another inspiring Senior Portrait Experience with FIORIA!
GEAR USED
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