Malachi V.

Meet Malachi…that’s a great name, isn’t it?

I met up with him in the desert scrub land near Goldfield Recreational Area, in Mesa last weekend. He’s a graduating senior at Corona Del Sol High School, headed for ASU this fall. We settled near this craggy tree and as he was having a seat, I noticed a blue Golden State Warriors band around his wrist. Upon further inspection, it was a Steph Curry (30) band. My first question to him was, “So are you a fan of Steph Curry, GSW, or both?” That broke the ice! Malachi is a fount of knowledge about the Warriors and in particular Steph Curry. Little did he know, I too am well versed in all things GSW over their winning streak years from 2015-18. So we kept pace, talking about basketball and players and injuries and trades, all the while seamlessly moving through our portrait session.

But this isn’t about GSW or basketball in general. This is about Malachi, so let me share a little about who this incredible young man is.

Malachi is a new 17 year old, which means he’s young for his graduating class. He lived for 15 years in China, a 5 minute walk from the ocean, so China is more home to him than Arizona. He and his family moved back to the states amidst a pandemic and, like most students this year, has spent the majority of his senior year online. He loves all things NBA, playing chess, swimming and ranch dressing. He wants to visit Australia and loves the ocean, and considers himself curious, practical, low maintenance, intellectual and competitive.

My time with Malachi was very easy. He definitely had some ideas about what kind of setting he wanted to be in and some shots he wanted to try and get. I love it when a client gives me creative input! While I do my best to brainstorm all the details and shots I want to get before a session, sometimes things don’t work or sometimes the client has something better in mind. This is what I want most, to collaborate with my clients. I think this creates something far more authentic and genuine than anything I can come up with on my own.

So we shot a little in the desert, we waded in the Salt River, and then we had just enough time to hang out at a nearby basketball court. And I’m so glad we did! Malachi was game for just about anything I asked him to try…note the pictures of him jumping over me! But most of all, it was so very easy to just follow him around with my camera and watch him do the thing he loves to do.

As I mentioned before, Malachi will be entering ASU this fall in the Barrett Honors College. He will be studying applied math for biology…think math but with the real-life applications of biology. After ASU he’d love to do post grad overseas and work in a research lab in a 2nd or 3rd world country.

“Overseas is definitely where I want to be the majority of my life. That’s where the most need is, that’s where I fit in the best, and that’s just where I love being.”

So Malachi, I want to thank you for allowing me to be just a tiny part of your journey through this life. I know you are bound for greater things and other places. My hope for you is that you would always be a light no matter where you find yourself.

All My Love,