Sports, Portraits and a Funeral––Weeks 6 & 7 of #VirginiaSwift

Whelp, I haven't blogged in two weeks, I think because it has been sports and portrait heavy (or at least that's what I feel like). I can't say I'm a great sports photographer, but I can say I think I'm getting better! I'm far from where I hope to be but progress is important.

One of my first assignments for the Free Lance-Star was to photograph a house that had burned down and killed two people, a 12-year-old girl, Roanna ("RoRo") and her grandmother. The fire was accidentally started by RoRo's six-year-old brother, Tyler, who was playing with matches. Tyler, RoRo and their father escaped from the burning house before realizing that their grandmother was still inside the home. At this time, RoRo ran back into the house to try and save her grandmother. Neither made it out. Today I was assigned to go with another staff photographer to the memorial/funeral of RoRo. It was possibly the most uncomfortable assignment I've ever had but was certainly an important opportunity to learn. The family was very supportive of us being there as were the attendees. Here are a few images from that experience and the rest of these last two weeks.

I took 18 photographs during the memorial service and just two frames of these girls. They said that RoRo was their best friend, that they used to ride the school bus together. 

RoRo's mother, Victoria, her younger brother, Tyler, her father, Andrew, and her older brother, (behind the father) Joshua.

Pallbearers carrying her casket.

Victoria with her sister and her husband, both looking towards the casket.

RoRo's cousin, Sierra.

And then onto something completely different. This is Rebekah, she is an aerialist and generally amazing person. 

This is my roommate, Adrian Elliott, he is amazing and he helped me set up lights for a Valentines Day portrait shoot I did. Check out his website!

Thomas Parsons, a high schooler, stares into your soul when he wrestles. 

Some weeks when I take pictures I feel like the girl on the left.

And sometimes I feel like I'm witnessing "The Little Princess" in real time. The girl on the left wants to be a fashion designer, the girl on the right is showing her all the wedding dresses in her mother's shop.

If I had a nickel for every time a ref walked, stood or laid down in front of my camera... But seriously that Thomas Parson's kid is intense.

And another photo of Rebekah Burke because she is kind of a badass. Check out her reel.