Since today is Thursday, I figured I'd post for Throwback Thursday (#TBT). And the fact that we just celebrated Veterans Day and the USS Bush will be home soon, why not post about a homecoming from 2011? On the USS Bush's maiden deployment in 2011, I had the opportunity to shoot the homecoming for Christina and Chad. Chad is an F-18 pilot and was flying back in at NAS Oceana with the Tomcatters. Christina was 9 months pregnant and ready to pop when Chad came home. We all thought Hudson would make his debut before his daddy came home. But we were lucky enough that he waited a few more weeks after.
It was a cold December day. We all patiently waited as the boys flew over us to prepare for landing. Now if you have been to a homecoming before, you know that emotions run high, especially as loved ones see the ship/sub/jet for the first time in months. I have to admit, even as I see them come into view, I get caught up in the emotions too and find myself wiping tears away. Needless to say, with Christina being pregnant the entire deployment, and she and Brady seeing Chad as he emerged from his jet, emotions were in super high drive. As soon as Christina reached Chad, his hands went straight for Christina's belly.
Then there is the homecoming kiss.
This kiss just says it all! In fact, the emotion behind this photo actually caught the attention of the editors at Glamour magazine!! They contacted Christina and I to see if they could use her story and my photo in a feature about six wives, girlfriends and soldiers reuniting with their loved ones when they came home from a deployment. Needless to say, we were over the moon!!! And come to find out, they wanted to use my photo for a FULL page spread, AND another one of my photos. I mean, how COOL IS THAT?!?!?!?
Having your photo(s) featured in a magazine is a HUGE accomplishment. I may never have another photo featured in a magazine or on a website again, but knowing that my photo is still being seen, even 3 years AFTER, it still is an amazing feeling!
To Christina and Chad, like I always told you, ya'll are famous!! ;)