📸 I Thought I Was Capturing the Moment… Turns Out, I Missed It! 😱

😱 A Hard Lesson from a Photographer Who Thought She Needed to Photograph Everything 😉

Let me tell you a story. A story about how I, a photographer who captures everything all the time, (or maybe I should say, used to 😅), missed a once-in-a-lifetime moment because I was too busy… well, capturing everything.

A few years ago, my husband got us 4th-row tickets to see Matchbox 20 at Red Rocks—our favorite band, at the most epic venue hands down. I was beyond excited. We arrived early to soak it all in, but instead of just enjoying the moment, I did what I always do—take photos. Lots of photos. Then videos. Then more photos. The lighting, the stage, the crowd—I was determined to document it all.

And then it happened.

📱💀 My phone died.

And as if fate was laughing at me… Rob Thomas came down from the stage—straight to our row. And where did he stop? Yep. Right in front of us.  🤯 

The moment I had been waiting for.

And what did I do? I panicked. I begged my husband to take pictures. I fussed over the fact that my phone was dead. I was so caught up in trying to "capture" the moment that I completely forgot to experience it.

It was over in seconds. And guess what? I barely remember it. Because I wasn’t actually present...

🎓 Seniors, this is my lesson for you!

Yes, take the photos. Yes, capture memories with your friends. But do not live this milestone through a screen. Your graduation, your celebrations—they’re happening NOW. So, soak it all in because, unlike my concert fail, you don’t get an encore. 😉

🎓 Graduation Day Tips for Seniors

✅ Dress Smart (No, Seriously) – Your cap and gown are the stars, but what’s underneath? Try it all on first. No one wants a “surprise wardrobe malfunction” on the big day. And shoes? New, uncomfortable ones are a bad idea—unless you want your victory strut to turn into a victory limp.

✅ Cap & Gown Prep 101 – That cap? It has ONE job: Stay on your head. Bobby pins. Use them. Your gown? Give it a good steam or iron—unless you want to look like you just unwrapped a graduation burrito. 🌯🎓

✅ Survival Kit = Sanity Saver – Bring the essentials: bobby pins, safety pins, oil blotting sheets (no one likes forehead shine 😅), a charger, and tissues (because someone, Mom, 😉 is going to cry).

✅ Eat Something! (No, Energy Drinks Don’t Count) – Graduation ceremonies are long. If you show up hangry, you’ll be making memories for the wrong reasons. Eat. Hydrate. Maybe not right before walking though—nobody wants a mid-aisle snack mishap. 😆

✅ AND THE FINAL GRAD DAY TIP…🥳 Soak It All In – You made it. This day? It’s about YOU. Take a deep breath. Look around. Laugh. Cry. And yes, take photos—but don’t forget to just be YOU, THERE, IN, the moment! 😉

🎉 Fun Graduation Party Ideas

🎞 The Memory Wall – Dig up your cutest baby pics, cringey middle school photos, and senior shots. Bonus: Let guests write funny (or sweet) notes next to them.

📸 DIY Photo Booth – Get a backdrop, goofy props, and let your guests become Instagram models for the night.

🌮 Snack Stations – Taco bar? Sundae bar? Popcorn station? Yes, yes, and yes. No one turns down free food.

🖊 Guest Book… But Cool – Skip the boring book and have guests sign a framed photo, a grad cap, or even leave video messages. Future-you will thank you.

🎯 Games & Fun Activities – Cornhole, a “Guess the Age” photo game, or a memory jar where guests leave life advice. (Spoiler: Most of it will be about laundry and taxes, and call your mom more often... 🤣)