TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
little-kid joy we all used to have. Sometimes, it’s good to get a little messy. March 2022—My Gangsta Leprechaun Era This one lives in my Hall of Fame with its massive gold chain, orange beard, and a grill that made my gums feel like they were being punished. Matt gave this shoot the full Y2K treatment. Think early 2000s music video vibes, so of course, I was living for it. Painful? Absolutely. Iconic? Even more so. June 2022—Olan Mills Throwback… But Make It Camp We recreated an Olan Mills-style glamour shot with Zoey the wonder dog. I had never even heard of Olan Mills. It ended up being one of the cutest shoots I have ever done. Zoey sadly passed away in April, but I am so grateful I got to love on her and now have this sweet photo to remember her by. RIP, sweet Zoey! July 2022—Making a Splash After about six plunges and some synchronized breath-holding, we nailed this shot! Matt was submerged with his camera, full scuba mode. That shoot took longer than expected, but I would do it again in a heartbeat! June 2023—Chicken Run Me Holding chickens. That is the whole story. Except they wouldn’t stay still. They clawed me. They screamed. I screamed. It was slightly traumatic, but I can now say, with confidence, I have wrestled poultry. April/May 2024—Fire and Forgiveness These two were different. April’s shoot featured a burning paper covered in words people have said about me—labels I no longer wear. The fire fell in my lap mid-shoot, and it almost turned into a real problem, but that chaos was also kind of beautiful. That ripped-paper effect for May’s photo, revealing my dad’s face inside my chest, felt raw, honest, and I would probably say it was the most meaningful photo I have taken. Healing takes many shapes. Sometimes it looks like a tear down the middle. Each month brings something new. Working with Matt, Kara, and Alana on these pictures is creative brainstorming at its finest, and this team lets me show every side of myself. That is what photos do. They freeze the moment but let the meaning breathe. Pictures really are worth a thousand words—and then some.
GOOD EVENING TXK COLUMN BY BAILEY GRAVITT
Every month, when a new issue of Texarkana Magazine hits the stands, I hear the same thing…
shoot of my first full year with the magazine felt symbolic—like lighting the fuse on something new. It was the beginning of this entire journey, and I will always remember the feeling of that night—excitement, hope, and a little bit of nerves. February 2021—The Bachelor... of Texarkana The flowers I was surrounded by in this picture were located in the back room of a funeral home. Yep—a funeral home. I thought the irony was hilarious. It was my unofficial Bachelor promo and maybe one of the most absurdly fun shoots we have ever done. November 2021—Turkey Hands & Nostalgia We painted my hands like you do in kindergarten and pressed them into paper to make a Thanksgiving turkey. It was silly, playful, and reminded me to hold on to that
“Bailey, the article was great—but that picture, though!” Hey… fair enough! I mean, have you seen the photos? Each month, I get to work with the one and only Matt Cornelius, who is equal parts photographer and magician. Somehow, every single time, we walk away with a photo that is fun, bold, and completely different from the month before. And, most of the time, the photo ends up saying more than I ever could. So, in honor of this month’s Texarkana Magazine photo competition, I thought it was only fitting to celebrate some of my favorite photoshoot memories—complete with grillz, chickens, and a flaming crotch. January 2021—Spark the New Year Holding sparklers to kick off the first
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