On a day like today when it is at least 50 or 60 degrees outside, it’s hard to remember what is feels like when you are constantly being hit by arctic gusts of wind.  The day we headed out for Michelle and Brian’s engagement shoot was one of those days.

Michelle & Brian had on the coolest set of trench coats– which reminds me I still need to add one of those to my wardrobe! These guys were fun!  They didn’t even flinch at the chill in the air. They were so accommodating to all my silly ideas for poses that they even came up with several of their own ideas and locations.

This was the second shoot in a month where water was involved or someone falling into water was involved.  This time it was my beloved flash unit taking a digger right after we finished shooting.  I was breaking everything down and launched that baby up into the air for a splashdown completely underwater.   Brian leapt to my rescue and, of course, landed in the water.   He did, however, save my flash from certain death!  I am happy to announce it has now made a full recovery and I think Brian survived unscathed as well!

Brian & Michelle, thank you for your patience in the chilling winds of fall!  I had no idea how cold it was until the drive home so I know you guys must have been freezing!

Congratulations on your engagement!

Operation Love Reunited (www.oplove.org) is an organization that I only recently found out about.  At it’s core, it appears to be a moral booster to military families and the soldiers they have deployed overseas.  OpLove hooks up families with photographers in their area who agree to donate their time doing photo shoots for the family and then creating and mailing a small portrait book to the soldier’s military post overseas.  The photos can be taken before the soldier leaves, after the soldier is deployed, or even as a reunion shoot upon return at the airport.  After having experienced the constant emails from my husband, Dave, the last time he was deployed for “more pictures, more pictures, more pictures”, this seemed like a no brainer for me!

Although this is my first official shoot for the organization, I’ve spoken with several family members regarding the program. Everyone I’ve talked with is dealing with deployments of a year or greater.  I am in complete awe of how these families are able to hold down the fort and get the kids to all their designated activities.  When Dave deploys it’s usually only for about three months because of the nature of the Air National Guard.  That sounds so easy now!  I totally feel like a whimp for taking the kids to my folks place for help!  I promise that the next time – I will be stronger!

So, I have been in touch with the family in these photos since we started our journey back from Idaho.  I immediately connected with their mom because her cellular phone number began with an Alabama area code!  It’s a southern thing!   We had scheduled an outdoor fall session and then realized that we were probably going to get pelted with rain so we bumped it up a few days.  I ended up taking my boys along because of the reschedule and that added a new element of chaos to the adventure!  My youngest, Sid, kept getting in the shots and posing everytime I asked one of the girls, also named Sidney, to stand next to her sister.  It was soooo cute but needless to say my Sid was a bit exasperated with me before it was all over and he sulked off by himself and sat on a rock to pout.

The girls were awesome!  They seemed to have a blast playing on the rocks and hamming it up for the camera.  Their brother, however, was not at all thrilled at having some crazy lady stalking him with a camera.  By the end of the evening when they were playing in the leaves he decided he might be having just a little bit of fun and started cracking a few smiles.  Yay!

I am so looking forward to getting the book together and shipped out!  What a great treat to have when you’ve been away from your family for so long!  Kudo’s to Operation Love Reunited for coming up with such a great idea!

(**Note:  The photos and other content of this publication do not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.**)

For more information, check out their website at www.oplove.org.

Every few years I get the opportunity to do something I don’t normally do and that is photographing seniors.  I am fortunate enough to live next door to a house full of young men.  One by one they’ve been going off to college and one by one I’ve had the opportunity to photograph them.  Now there is only one left but luckily he has a few more years until graduation.

The most recent of the boys to hit senior status is Nolan.  We ventured out to Kincaid Park on a gorgeous evening that just happened to be a wee bit freezing.  Nolan looked like he survived the cold alright, though, and we captured some photographs that I just love!  My favorites were of Nolan next to a gnarled old tree right as the sun was setting.  Very cool light and great fall colors!

Congratulations, Nolan, on your senior year!

Amy & Andy are engaged! They will be tying the knot next summer out in the valley. I am excited about photographing their wedding and really enjoyed the opportunity to spend a few hours with them on a gorgeous day prior to the hustle and bustle of the big day!

We traipsed over rocks and outcroppings and played in dirt and water. At one point, Amy even went sliding and splashing into the water as we tried to inch near a waterfall! I fell in a few minutes later as payback for even suggesting such a thing. Luckily it was gorgeous and hot outside. Amy’s jeans never quite dried off but she looked like she was having fun throughout the soak filled latter half of the day.

Congratulations Amy & Andy! I’m looking forward to your wedding next summer.