Trinity Park Senior Session Fort Worth, TX // Kendra

Introducing Kendra! I had such a cool time shooting this Trinity Park senior session in Fort Worth, TX. Kendra is a senior at Flower Mound high school. She is Native American, so she and her mother integrated some of their heritage into this session. They brought in sage, which is used as a sacred ceremonial herb. It is used as a purifier to drive away negative/evil influences and bad luck. It symbolizes protection and healing. Kendra and her mother smudged the sage, and they let me do so as well. It was truly such a cool and humbling experience to experience such an important part of their culture. I was honored! This senior session is definitely a memorable one.

It was so humbling to be part of such a sacred cultural practice. Smudging sage helps one to get centered, release negative energy and replace it with positive energy. It purifies the space around you and has healing properties. Sage symbolizes a peaceful and positive energy. To smudge, let the sage burn (don’t blow on it) and waft it onto yourself for cleansing. As you smudge, you want to think good thoughts and pray. Smudge “your mouth, to speak good things. Your eyes, to see good things. Your ears- to hear good things, and your heart-to feel good things.” The practice ends in gratitude and thanks. It truly was such a cool experience!