Senior Portraits of Athletic Resilience – Dallas Frisco Family Photographer – FIORIA by Me Ra Koh
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share Noah’s Senior Portrait Experience with you!
THE FIORIA DIFFERENCE – SENIOR PORTRAITS
Senior Portraits at FIORIA are not your typical experience.
Before the photo shoot, we do a call with each person in the family to hear what they love most about the graduating senior. This huge milestone is something the whole family is experiencing. Doesn’t it deserve a powerful, meaningful experience where everyone gets a voice?
I also find that parents don’t realize they need to know what their graduating senior has taken from them. It’s like the thing we didn’t know we needed. And so we do a special call with the senior too that draws the whole family closer.
On the day of the shoot, we share all these amazing words of life with the senior. The confidence, joy and pride that surfaces is transformational and amazing to photograph.
Noah’s older brother came a couple years ago. And his mom posted the most AMAZING review!
“They SAW themselves!”
We had the privilege of having Me Ra Koh & Brian Tausend capture both of our boys Senior photos. But it was more than a photo session. It changed their VISION. It changed their countenance. I believe it will change their destiny as they prepare to leave the nest!
“The family interviews gave each family member a chance to speak life over each senior.
“They heard words of affirmation that we all take for granted. As each entered into their senior year, they had a reminder each day to SEE who they were, and how it was bigger and greater than any limited views placed on them by others or themselves.”
“It has changed the trajectory of their belief system, therefore their paths. I would recommend anyone to utilize this opportunity to show your young person WHO they are, so they believe it. Thank you FIORIA for the amazing LIFE work you do!” #nextgen
When we see a post like this from a parent…so many HAPPY tears! THIS is what it’s all about!
WHAT ATHLETIC RESILIENCE MEANS TO NOAH
We asked Noah what 3 words he feels describes him best and his answers were mature beyond his years! He may have ‘laid back energy’, but on the court or track, he’s always a leader.
COURAGE
He’s always had a competitive streak, but courage takes on a whole new meaning as an underclassman. Noah has always gone after the opportunity and willingness to compete with the older crew. He said, “I knew who I was. I was confident. I knew what I was capable of.”
CONFIDENCE
“When I step out on the football field, I know what I’m made of. I do not back down.”
Noah shared with us the importance of ‘knowing yourself’. This skill is often not mastered or even approached until well-into adulthood. To have this kind of self-awareness and authenticity at such a young age is truly awe-inspiring and we know it will lend itself to Noah in ways that will have him finding success in all aspects of his life – far sooner than his peers.
Noah’s words shook us to the core during our discovery call – “Knowing who I was emotionally, mentally, especially physically – I was always the smallest person and had to let my performance speak for itself. I was made to compete, despite my size or age, I am made to fight adversity.”
Man, if we could instill this sense of self-awareness and confidence in all youth today, the next generation would be unstoppable! Our world is infinitely better with Noah in it.
HUMILITY
Along with the courage Noah shows on a daily basis and the confidence he brings into every situation, there is real and present humility in his tone and speech. He is #GOALS for the balance he seems to naturally find between staying humble and staying true to himself and his strengths.
All of this is true resilience. As an athlete, he understands the hardships and challenges he must face every single day. He meets them with such grace kindness.
YOU, Noah, are what athletic resilience looks like and it is what makes you such a great leader!
Believe us when we tell you how Noah kept us laughing and smiling throughout his entire Senior Portrait Experience. His energy is palpable and FUN! We hope you can truly FEEL it through these portraits!
As much as Noah exudes leadership qualities and strength, we love that he also sits back and takes it all in. He’s keenly observant and is listening to everything. He steps into leadership with wisdom and grace.
R&B, hip hop.. Drake and Bruno – this kid also LOVES to dance and have fun!
WHAT HIS MOM LOVES ABOUT HIM
His mom shared with us that Noah has the bravest soul! He is truly courageous and shows grit in all aspects of life.
She gives examples of his grit and courage. “He was strong-willed as a toddler! He had me wrapped around his finger and could do no wrong.”, she muses. Then she said, “This last year we’ve seen such a balance between his strong-willed spirit and his kindness and thoughtfulness. Noah is ‘David with Goliath’.” We could not love this analogy more!
This may be one of our favorite stories ever! She tells us that when Noah was 8 years old he set an alarm and camped outside of his aunt’s bedroom door because she was going to be running a 5k the next morning and he so desperately wanted to go with her. After much trepidation and hesitation, she finally caved and allowed him to run the race. They were all shocked to find that not only did Noah finish the race, he came in second place – second only to a marathoner! If that is not an example of his tenacity and athletic resilience, we don’t know what is.
Noah wrote in the back of his closet with a permanent marker at 9 years old, “I promise one day, I’ll make it to NBA, love Noah”, and we have no doubt he’ll fulfill his dreams with his GRIT.
WHAT HIS MOM GAVE HIM
We asked Noah what his mom has given him, Noah said ‘ spiritual leadership’. “Her walk and faith are so influential in our home – What she says and how she lives…keeping me in line, making sure I’m the person God created me to be – spiritually and emotionally.”
The love in this family is tangible and unmistakable!
WHAT HIS DAD LOVES ABOUT HIM
Noah’s dad describes him as a fierce competitor, a caring, loving friend, and an amazing worshiper. He said, Noah never backs down. He’s reliable. He wants to be the best and competes with the best in him.
“Noah has overcome so many odds – weight, height, criticism, being the underdog. He is intense and dedicated.”
One of the things his dad said about him, blew us away – “Noah understands the art of love. He cares about what people and his family think.” Secondly, he also said he loves the way Noah worships – raises his hands and is truly in the moment.
When asked what he hopes Noah sees in these portraits, he said, “Joy. I hope he has the time of his life. He is God’s creation; God only made ONE of him.”
WHAT HIS DAD GAVE HIM
“My dad has always been on me about being a leader, on and off the court.” Noah shared with us how both of his parents have modeled and encouraged leadership in and outside of their home. He shared how his 8th grade year was his breakout year athletically with football, when he realized he could be good at the sport. His father’s encouragement only strengthened with each sport and Noah found he has a love for leadership.
WHAT JALEN LOVES ABOUT NOAH
We had the honor of doing Noah’s brother, Jalen’s senior portraits as well. It was such a joy getting to speak with Jalen about Noah. Not just brothers, they are best friends, and we adore how they love, admire and respect each other!
Jalen describes his brother (whose nickname “NoNo”, apparently) as loving, athletic and caring.
Jalen gave an example of Noah being caring, by sharing with us that when they first moved into their current house, Noah ran up and picked his room, declaring it ‘his’. After, Jalen said he also wanted that room and the debate was on. Eventually, Noah stopped arguing and said, “You know what, you’re my older brother and I’m going to let you have this room.”
He describes Noah’s superpower as LEADERSHIP. “Even as a junior, everyone looked up to him. He has a great sense of humor too. He’s always making everybody laugh.” We can attest to the awesome sense of humor. Undeniably, he certainly had us laughing through our session!
Additionally, when we asked Jalen what he hopes Noah gets from these portraits he said, “Being away from authority figures changes people. When he goes to college, I hope he doesn’t lose himself with the limits he goes through in college and I hope he develops a home life like he had before college.”
We also hope these portraits give him a sense of ‘home’ when he’s away experiencing life in college!
WHAT NOAH HOPES TO SEE
We we asked Noah what he hopes to see when he looks at his senior portraits, his honesty was heart-stopping – “Hope and bravery”. Echoing your sentiment, Noah, we pray that every time you look at these portraits or you need to re-center yourself with a reminder of who you are, we hope you will see hope and bravery. We see it in you so clearly!
Brian and I had SO MUCH FUN with you while capturing these portraits.
CONGRATULATIONS NOAH!
We hope you enjoy every minute of your senior year and we cannot wait to watch you soar after high school! With your grit, loving nature, humor and tenacity, we know you will accomplish whatever you set your mind to, regardless of obstacles! Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your journey and high school story.
Before our kids graduated from high school, I searched for meaningful ways to acknowledge this huge change and milestone for our family. Our Senior Portrait Experience was birthed from it. I had a need to speak life over my kids and hear what they’re taking with them.
Give Yourself a Rising Senior Portrait Experience
This experience has been LIFE CHANGING for so many seniors! (Especially the ones who hate photos!)
Are you looking for a meaningful way to celebrate your rising 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 rising senior overcome? What resilience lives within them and your family? That is what FIORIA captures–the Rising Phoenix within them. This experience is unlike any other type of senior portraits you’ve heard of. It starts with a Discovery Call.
Schedule Your First Discovery Call by Filling Out Our Contact Form. We are so excited to take you and your graduating senior on an unforgettable journey.
still we rise, Me Ra
*CLICK HERE to see Halle’s Rising Senior Portrait Experience with FIORIA!
*CLICK HERE to see another inspiring Rising Senior Portrait Experience with FIORIA!
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