Q: What is the story behind this picture?

A: Courtney and I were taking a walk in her neighborhood last summer, and I thought the sun/lighting looked really nice, so I picked a couple flowers from the grass and took her picture.

Q: What was your inspiration to take it?

A: It was a spur of the moment picture, and I just thought it would turn out cute with the flowers in Courtney’s hair and the sunlight shining in.

Q: How did you decide to submit that picture?

A: I decided to submit the portrait when I saw a poster about the contest and asked Amanda Bartolovic about it.

Q: What is your experience with photography? 

A: I love photography, and it makes me so happy to be able to spend time with family and friends and truly collect moments, whether they’re small or monumental. Photography is more of a hobby or interest than anything else, but I would like to continue to get better at it and focus on it more. I have been really interested in photography since I was young, and my parents took us on family trips to new or exciting places. I started taking pictures because I wanted to remember the trips and capture the energy there.

Q: How long have you been friends?

A: We have been friends since middle school.

Q: How did you meet?

A: We initially met in math class in 7th grade and grew closer later in the year because we had art together; [we] spent a majority of that class talking to each other.

Q: What do you enjoy doing together?

A: We enjoy hanging out and getting ice cream or food and just talking. Sometimes we’ll just chill out at Courtney’s house and bake or watch TV. We also like to play tennis together and bike around during the summer.