GENERATION ONE.
A PORTRAIT GIFT FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS
About the program
You’re about to go somewhere no one in your family has gone before. Getting in counts. Staying in counts. Finishing counts. That deserves to be documented, not with a phone camera, but with intention.
Generation One is a complimentary portrait session offered each year to first-generation college students in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia): accepted, enrolled, or recently graduated from a four-year college or university as the first in their family to do so. This isn’t a graduation photo. It’s a professional portrait, made with the same care I bring to every client, and it’s yours to use right now. For LinkedIn, for applications, for internships, for the wall at home. At whatever stage you’re in. This is not a scholarship. Not a contest. It’s a gift.
Not for a line on a résumé. For you. For your family. For the record.
If you want to know why this program exists, that story is here.
How it works
Fill out the application below. You will hear from me within seven days.
Sessions are up to 60 minutes.
Afterward, you’ll receive edited portraits delivered within 10 business days. Yours to keep, share, or simply hold onto.
Twelve sessions are offered each year. Once they are filled, your application moves to next year’s list automatically. You do not need to reapply.
If you work with first-generation students, there's a place for you here too. →
Who is eligible
The criteria are simple and they’re meant to be. You’ve already done the hard part.
To apply, students must meet all of the following:
• You have been accepted to a college or university.
• You will be the first person in your immediate family (parents or legal guardians) to earn a four-year college degree.
• You live in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia) and can travel to a session location.
• If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian will receive a short consent form after acceptance – simple, quick, and just part of how we take care of everyone involved.
How I verify eligibility
This is built on trust, not documentation. Here is how you can confirm you qualify. Choose one of the following:
Option A
A personal statement (150–300 words) in your own words describing your background as a first-generation student. No specific format required.
Option B
Proof of current college enrollment or acceptance (acceptance letter, student ID, enrollment confirmation) plus a self-attestation checkbox during the application.
Option C
A short referral note from a school counselor, college advisor, TRIO coordinator, or similar education professional confirming first-generation status.
All applications
include a self-attestation: “I confirm that I am a first-generation college student as defined by this program.” This program is built on trust. Submitting a false application disqualifies you from this year’s cycle and any future cycle.
Now accepting 2026 applications.
Program rules
A few things to keep in mind. These guidelines keep the program fair and sustainable for everyone.
1. One session per student, per lifetime of the program.
2. Sessions are non-transferable and cannot be given to another person.
3. Sessions must be completed within 60 days of acceptance or the spot is forfeited.
4. Students must complete a brief 10-minute pre-session call so we can talk through what you want, what to wear, and where we’re shooting.
5. One rescheduling is permitted with at least 48 hours’ notice; no-shows forfeit the session.
6. Images are delivered digitally. Print products are not included in the gift.
After you apply
You’ll receive a confirmation email after submission. You’ll hear from me within 7 business days.
Accepted students receive:
• A welcome email with next steps and a scheduling link.
• A short pre-session form so we know what you’re after, where we’re shooting, and how you want to show up.
• A portrait prep guide written specifically for first-time subjects.
Students not selected in the current year are added to the waitlist and notified when spots open — no need to reapply.
GENERATION ONE.
This One's Yours.
FOR ORGANIZATIONS & PARTNERS
Generation One runs entirely on referrals. No ads. No campaigns. Just people who work with first-generation students pointing them somewhere that can help.
If your organization serves this community: whether you’re a university advising office, a TRIO program, a non-profit, a workforce development org, or a community foundation, that is a standing invitation.
Nothing to manage, Just a referral.
The students you're thinking of right now, the ones carrying something most people don't see, deserve to have this moment documented. That's what this partnership does. You identify them and send them here. I handle everything from there. No formal agreement, no fee, nothing to coordinate on your end.
What your students receive.
A professional portrait is one of the few milestone gifts that doesn't require a budget line. It's something your students can use immediately. For LinkedIn, for applications, for internships, for the frame on their parent's wall. Something they'll carry for years.
Let's connect.
I'm happy to connect directly. Whether you want to understand the program better, coordinate a group of referrals, or explore whether there's a way to bring Generation One closer to your students.