Portland Senior Photographer | Marques.

I don't do a lot of senior portrait sessions these days, as I've started focusing more on weddings and boudoir, but when Marques's mom called me and asked about doing his senior photos, I immediately said yes. I first met Marques when he was just a toddler. He's always been the sweetest boy, despite his disabilities. Our session was great. Marques did better than most young men his age.

This is what his mother had to say:

These are my son, Marques's, senior pictures. Yay, he is a senior! He looks so handsome. To some, it may just be senior pictures, but to this mom, it is so much more. It's our blessed journey that we have had the privilege to witness. He was born with a pretty severe heart condition. He underwent four open heart surgeries and seven minor heart surgeries as a newborn, baby, and toddler. The fourth open heart surgery left him with a traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and no insight to the future. We knew better. We're so proud of the sweet natured, happy-go-lucky, innocent, and handsome young man that he is today. Thank you Kel Ward Photography for capturing every wonderful attribute of Marques!

Doesn't he have a wonderful smile?

When he was no longer in the mood to smile, though, his mom came to the rescue!

I asked Marques's mom if he had any special interests or hobbies. Turns out he is a big time animal lover, so we took some photos at his home with his favorite animals. This rabbit was seriously gigantic… and so cute that I came home that day insisting that we get one of our own. My husband, however, was not in agreement. 

Just hanging out in the leaves with his three pups. They sure did love the attention (and treats)!