This one’s a special one.

Saige is Caleb’s sister and she and her boyfriend, Pat, just recently graduated from the Naval Academy. Caleb’s family would never brag, but I’ll brag on them while they be humble. Caleb and his brother and sister all graduated from the Naval Academy…what a feat! I am so proud of them and the legacy they have created there. When Caleb and I dated in college, we spent a lot of time in Annapolis and I fell in love with the city. There’s something romantic about with the military, the sailboats and water, and the overall atmosphere.

It has always been my dream to shoot “on the yard,” and throughout all of our time stationed at Quantico, no inquiry every came in that allowed me to do so! So I asked if she and Pat would be willing to model for me…the only catch is that it would probably have to be at sunrise!

Commissioning Week is one of the busiest weeks in Annapolis. All of the graduates and their families are there for the entire week to enjoy festivities to celebrate the culmination of their four years at the Academy. So we knew the campus would be busy, but we got up early enough and lucked out to feel almost totally alone while we were doing our session.

The Naval Academy has a few key locations–Bancroft Hall (the dormitory where the entire Brigade of Midshipmen live), the Chapel (where so many gorgeous services and ceremonies are held), and the waterfront. We did one big loop around the yard to capture all of these iconic places.

One of my favorite images from their session was a purely candid image. Saige and Pat finally, after four years, were able to pass through the center doors of Bancroft Hall, which is only allowed once you graduate. It was such a fun moment to be a part of, and I even captured it on camera. You’ll have to scroll down to see this pivotal moment!

While our time in Annapolis has now come to an end, we will be back to the place that holds such a special place in our hearts!

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