Nzia almost didn’t book graduation photos.

And honestly? I hear that more often than people probably realize.

When she first reached out to me, she told me she had been on the fence about taking grad photos at all. But after seeing Kristen’s grad photos on Instagram, she decided to just go for it, and I’m so glad she did because this shoot ended up being such a beautiful reminder of why documenting your life actually matters.

Not only is Nzia graduating from UNC School of Medicine, she’s graduating with her doctorate. Like… that is HUGE.

This wasn’t just another graduation session. This was years of hard work, long nights, sacrifice, discipline, and purpose finally meeting a moment worth celebrating.

And the crazy part? We created all of this during her Spotlight Mini Session. Just 30 minutes. One outfit. One campus. Endless magic.

We shot around UNC Chapel Hill at South Building and Wilson Library. We laughed the entire shoot, moved quickly around campus, and honestly it felt more like hanging out than working.

She wanted her photos to be a love letter to the generations before her.

But my favorite part of the entire session was easily the photos honoring her ancestors.

Before the shoot, Nzia told me that she wanted to include framed photos of her ancestors on the steps while wearing her doctoral regalia. Immediately I knew those images were going to mean something deeper. Because those photos weren’t just props. They were legacy.

They were a reminder that none of us get to moments like this alone.

Seeing her standing there in her UNC School of Medicine regalia surrounded by generations of family history honestly gave the entire shoot so much emotional weight in the best way possible. It felt powerful. Intentional. Personal.

And if I’m being real, that’s why I’m always telling people to take the photos. Because one day these images become history too.

One day somebody in her family might pull these same photos back out while preparing for their own graduation. Maybe another doctor. Maybe another future student at UNC. Maybe somebody who simply needs proof that greatness already exists in their bloodline.

Photos outlive us. That’s what makes them important.

Nzia absolutely killed this session from beginning to end, and I’m genuinely so happy she decided to celebrate herself instead of talking herself out of it.

Huge congratulations again to Dr. Nzia. UNC School of Medicine just gained another incredible Black woman doctor, and that deserves to be documented properly.

Thinking About Booking Your Own Graduation Session?

Whether you’re graduating from Duke University, UNC, NC State, or anywhere in the Raleigh Durham area, I’d love to help you create photos that actually feel like you. Let’s chat!