Nobue and her family
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Recently, I had the honor of photographing a truly inspiring graduation and family session at UCLA. The graduate was a remarkable woman who completed a dual-degree MBA program after 18 months of intense study. What made this session even more special was the presence of her husband and three young children, who flew all the way from Japan to celebrate her big day.
As we chatted during the shoot, I was amazed to learn that she lived in Japan throughout the program, attending her courses online and flying to Los Angeles once a month for in-person classes. She juggled her demanding studies with caring for her family, which includes three little ones! When I asked her how she managed, she smiled and said, "It’s crazy, right? Before I started school, I used to wake up at 6 a.m. to take care of the family, but once I entered the program, I began waking up at 4 a.m. every day to fit it all in. My husband and family have been incredibly supportive, but I still needed those extra early mornings!"
Her dedication, discipline, and love for her family were truly inspiring to witness. We captured beautiful moments of her and her family on campus, marking not only her academic achievement but also the immense strength and support it took to get there. It was a celebration of both her personal and family milestones.