Live life like a 3-1 count

It takes a certain kind of person to play baseball. And I don't mean just to "play" the sport, but to live, eat, and breathe the sport. You have to be determined, patient, level-headed, confidant, athletic, and most of all, mature. Garrett is all of these things and more. I was blown away by how incredibly photogenic he was from the very beginning. He even suggested different shots and angles during the shoot that were absolute genius. Every single one of his shots were little pieces to his puzzle. On the field he is a determined player; one that takes no inning for granted and pushes himself to be better every game. Off the field, he is a true gentleman and he makes his mother so proud. You could see it in her eyes when we were shooting.

Close to the end of our shoot, I snapped a picture of his hands resting on the fence that surrounds the ball field. That's when he started to share why he wears a faded, rubber bracelet every single game. Eight years ago his family had to say goodbye to his cousin, Hannah Raye Kukuk, entirely too soon. She was called to heaven and left the family wondering why God would need her more than they did. Not only did it impact their family greatly, it impacted the entire community. This precious child has not and will never be forgotten, and Garrett has made sure of that by wearing a remembrance bracelet with "Hannah's Hope" written on it.

Even when an umpire told him to take it off, he refused. Garrett continued to remember his cousin at the place he called "home" and she watches over him during each game.

It was such a gift to be a part of his photo shoot and capture such an incredible young man. It will forever stay in my heart as one of my most favorite and I will always looks back at his pictures with pride.