Emily Harper grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, mesmerized by her father’s photography. As a child, she watched him turn their bathroom into a darkroom, where images slowly emerged under red light—magic, as far as Emily was concerned. Inspired, she became a skilled photographer, clinging to her vintage Canon AE-1 even in the digital age.
Their bond deepened into late-summer hikes, porch talks, and a first kiss by the French Broad River. Emily began planning a photo series about Grace’s journey and, perhaps unknowingly, her own. As fall approached, Ethan invited her back to Lake Junaluska for “a sunset.” Emily, camera in hand and heart full, had a feeling it would be a day to remember.
