**note: this is a re-post after a portion of my blog posts were lost**
Rachel contacted me way back in August about scheduling a senior session. She was waiting to get her braces off in the spring. After a number of talks and emails trying to decide on the *perfect* locations for her session, we had it all ironed out. We planned on mixing up with some downtown urban shots and some shots in an overgrown field. We almost had to reschedule due to the weather, but as luck would have it the storms mostly missed us and we were able too proceed as scheduled. Everything went according to plan and we hurried to a local overgrown field to finish the session before the last bit of daylight was gone.
As soon as I saw Rachel’s deep purple prom dress, I knew it would really pop against the drab, dead brush and the overgrown, green weed and trees. We mostly were shooting on the flattened-down dry brush area and had been there about 15 minutes or so. We were almost finished when we decided to move to the edge of the area, but still on the flattened-down part. Rachel was twirling in her dress for some shots, lost her balance and fell. None of us expected there to be a snake!! Rachel was bit on the leg and had to leave immediately for the ER. Luckily her mom was along and stayed calm. I stayed behind to take a photograph of the snake (to assist the doctors in identifying the snake bite). The snake turned out to be a poisonous Copperhead! The doctors were able to quickly administer a dose of anti-venom and kept Rachel overnight for observation. I’m relieved to report that she is doing well and no permanent damage was done. Through the whole thing Rachel has held on to a positive attitude and her sense of humor.
I can’t even begin to describe how horrified I was by this whole event! I’m terrified of snakes and don’t go near these fields during the hot summer months. None of us expected to find a snake in this location (next to a busy highway and a small strip mall) this time of year. The main reason I wanted to share this story is to warn everyone to be aware that you CAN stumble on a snake this time of year, in a populated and busy area.
And now for Rachel’s sneak peek (already on Facebook), which she was has already informed me that she LOVES. And I’m adding one extra image because she deserves it. 
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