Full Circle on the Sand

A Serendipitous Morning at Eagle Beach

This morning, something truly special happened.

I was at a session with a remarkable woman celebrating her 60th birthday. A cancer survivor, she had come to Aruba with her daughters to mark this milestone moment and as she stepped onto the sand, wrapped in one of our flowing dresses, her strength and spirit filled the entire beach.

She was glowing.

There’s something incredibly powerful about photographing women like her. You can feel their stories; the highs, the battles, the triumphs, all captured in the way they hold themselves, the way they move with the wind. For her, this wasn’t just a photoshoot. It was a celebration of life, of resilience, of making it to sixty and still dancing barefoot in the sand. And I felt so honored to be a small part of that.

But just when I thought the morning couldn’t get more beautiful... it did!

As we were midway through the photoshoot, I spotted two women walking by the beach who had then stopped to cheer us on and my heart skipped a beat. I knew those faces. It had been over three years, but I remembered them clearly — they were among the very first women to book with me when Flying Dress Aruba was just starting out.

One had worn a royal blue dress and brought a bottle of champagne, full of laughter and joy. The other, a dance teacher, had chosen fuchsia and twirled on the beach like the world was her stage. Back then I remember being nervous, excited, and just hoping I could deliver something they’d love and give them an experience to remember.

When I saw them again today (totally unexpected) I ran over, and they couldn’t believe I remembered them. But how could I forget?

I told them exactly what dresses they wore and which beach they had their sessions, how one of them was a dancer and I could tell because of the graceful and elegant way she moved and the other came with her husband who brought a royal blue bottle of bubbly with him to match her royal blue flying dress. The look on their faces when I recalled all those little details was priceless. We shared a moment, laughed a little, and stood there reminiscing like old friends, and for a minute it felt like no time had passed at all.

But deep inside, I felt something stir.

Nostalgia. Gratitude. Pride.

Because in that moment, I was reminded of how far this journey has come and how, against all odds and despite some real challenges behind the scenes, Flying Dress Aruba is still here. Still thriving. Still capturing memories that matter.

This business… it’s not just a job for me.

It’s my purpose. My creative outlet. My anchor. My legacy.

It’s a living, breathing community made up of women from all walks of life, showing up for themselves, cheering each other on, stepping into their power, and letting their stories unfold through a lens.

And when I see familiar faces come back years later, when clients become part of the Flying Dress Aruba family, it reminds me why I started this in the first place.

Not for the photos. Not for the Instagram likes. But for the memories. For the moments that linger long after the sand has been brushed from our feet. For the connection. The joy. The empowerment. The feeling. All of this matters.

So to the beautiful birthday queen this morning, thank you for letting me share in your story.

And to my original royal blue and fuchsia goddesses, Terry and Durene, thank you for reminding me how it all began.

Here’s to many more mornings like this. ✨

With love & gratitude,

Stacy

xo