CAPTURING BAILEY: The Crowns and Gowns Series Continues

Bailey’s Crowns & Gowns session felt different from the very beginning, and that was exactly the point. Bailey wanted her look to feel authentically her. So instead of choosing between a crown or a cowboy hat, we did what felt right—she wore both.

Meet Bailey Baldasare, a sophomore from Southeast High School. Bailey has a quiet, steady strength about her—the kind that doesn’t demand attention but naturally draws people in.

She leads with kindness.

She is bright, driven, and deeply connected to the people around her.

She is the kind of girl others trust, lean on, and want to stand beside.

Bailey is an athlete in more ways than one. She plays lacrosse, showing up with focus, discipline, and determination. But some of her greatest strength has been built far outside of any stadium or field.

Bailey loves her horses, and being with them is where she finds her peace. It’s where the noise quiets and she feels most herself—especially with her horse, Gracie. Gracie wasn’t just a horse; she was Bailey’s best friend. It was with Gracie that Bailey truly discovered who she was. Losing her has been deeply painful and learning how to step forward without her has been one of Bailey’s hardest challenges. But she’s doing it with courage, heart, and resilience—just like Gracie would want.

That same courage showed up when Bailey stepped far outside her comfort zone and played football for two years—one of the hardest things she’s ever done. Those seasons were tough, but they proved something important to her: that she was capable of more than she ever imagined. And in the end, that was the only opinion that mattered.

The reasons we choose to do things in our lives don’t have to make sense to anyone else. What matters is that they feed a purpose within us, help us grow, and teach us who we are becoming. Bailey understands that. She moves forward with intention, even when the path isn’t easy or obvious.

Bailey’s love for her family runs deep, especially for her two older sisters, but so does her determination to grow, rise, and define her own future. She is thoughtful about the legacy she’s creating—one built on compassion, respect, and purpose. That kind of self-awareness doesn’t come easily. It’s chosen. And Bailey chooses it every day.

Watching her in this season of life feels a lot like watching a horse find its stride. Confident. Steady. Not rushed. Not uncertain. Just moving forward with grace and strength.

Her look for this shoot wasn’t just a style choice—it was a reflection of who she is at her core. Rooted. Independent. Strong. Grounded. Unapologetically herself. The crown resting on her cowboy hat became symbolic of everything this series stands for: that softness and strength can coexist, and that power doesn’t have to look one specific way.

Bailey is the kind of girl we look for on our teen team—leaders and role models, even when they don’t realize that’s who they are. Girls who choose growth. Girls who listen to their inner compass. Girls who step into their power simply by being themselves.

Bailey, this chapter is yours.

Your crown fits perfectly.

And the path ahead is entirely your own.

Happy Sweet 16.

Xoxo, Aunt Vin