This was not a planned shoot in the sense that we had arranged to go out and take pictures. On the other hand, there has been a half dozen or so killer sunsets, and each one that goes by without me having a person to photograph breaks my heart.

And I’ve been trying to get a grad in full regalia in front of a sunset for … wow, longer than I care mention.

But, back to the unplanned grad shoot. I was at the Tumbler Ridge grad with my portable studio taking shots of anyone who wanted photographs. The dance had started, and most of the parents had cleared out, so I grabbed my portable flash on a stick, and went down to take pictures of the teens dancing.

I had barely done two test shots when I looked out the door and saw the sky was aflame. And the door opens away from the sunset, so I knew that what was happening on the other side was going to be even more spectacular. I grabbed my flash, and grabbed the closest grad I could, and we ran out to get some shots.

Fortunately for me, the closest grad happened to be Danielle, who, in addition to being whip smart (class valedictorian, dontchaknow), is also drop dead gorgeous.