This year, my birthday came with a very different kind of energy. A big life shift had just taken place — one that may prove to be for the best in the long run, even if it didn’t soften the immediate impact. But in the midst of that transition, my birthday gave me something unexpected: a sense of freedom and a night to truly remember.
For years, I’ve wanted to see Tracy Byrd perform “The Watermelon Crawl” live — and this year, I finally got to check that off my list!
The concert was part of The Dutton Ranch’s Second Annual Ranch BBQ Night, and Tracy Byrd was the headliner. As a birthday gift, my sister bought me a ticket to go with her, her husband, and my niece — who, fun fact, got to attend her first-ever concert! Although she wasn’t as into the show (understandably, since these songs are way before her generation’s time), it was still special to experience it together.
The day itself was a little uncertain — off-and-on rain, stormy skies, and the ever-present concern that standing in a field during potential thunderstorms isn’t exactly ideal. We ended up skipping the earlier acts, hoping to dodge bad weather and timing our arrival carefully. And it worked.
We got incredibly lucky — the weather held off, we had great stage views, and the show? Absolutely amazing. More importantly, we had fun. Pure, unfiltered, dance-and-sing-in-the-field kind of fun. And the real cherry on top? The storm didn’t roll in until we were already heading home. Win.
Since then, life has been moving at breakneck speed. I haven’t had much time to process everything — but such is the reality of life as a busy, working photographer. Still, this night deserved a moment to be shared and celebrated.
Check out a few cell phone snaps and a fun little TikTok video I posted from the concert — because memories like this are worth holding onto.
Note: These are cell phone photos of a moving performer, taken in the dark with stage lighting — they won’t rival what I can do with professional gear and the right lenses. But that wasn’t the point. This night was about making memories, having fun, and learning to simply be present as a professional who wasn’t there to capture the event. I love these images not because they’re technically perfect — but because they remind me of a truly great night.