As 2014 slowly comes to an end, I look back at all the sessions I had a pleasure of shooting. From a retirement ceremony for a dear friend, to my niece's second birthday party, to a homecoming for two dear friends of mine. All in all, 2014 was a good year! But, I am hoping that 2015 will bring even more greatness!!! Thank you to all of my clients that allowed me to capture memories for them this year. Here is a glimpse into all the great memories I was able to capture this year.... And here's to making more memories in 2015!
Welcome Home USS Bush! | Norfolk Homecoming Photographer
It has been quite a while since I have been in attendance of a carrier homecoming. In fact, I couldn't even remember when the last ship homecoming I attended was. But being that I had not one but two friends whose loved one was returning with the Bush Carrier Strike Group, I had to be there!
It was exactly how I remember; people everywhere! But nevertheless, the emotions swirling around at homecomings definitely were high. Just as at any homecoming that I have attended, I definitely had tears in my eyes, especially knowing that both of my friends were getting their spouses back after a long nine months. Their families were whole once again.
Taking It Back to 2011 | Hampton Roads MIlitary Photographer
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!! ;)
Miss Briyleigh is TWO! | Virginia Beach Children's Photographer
Little miss Briyleigh is too adorable. Her momma is currently deployed on the USS Bush, so she is missing out on Briyleigh's second birthday. So Briyleigh's daddy and I talked about doing some photos in her birthday outfit and send them out to momma. The day of the session, the sky literally dropped outta nowhere. It was raining cats and dogs and then some. While we patiently waited for it to finally die down, we did some in home photos. Once we saw that it had stopped, we then made our way to Red Wing Park. Of course, when we got there, it was still drizzling a little. But we jumped on the opportunity before the weather decided to turn again.
Needless to say, miss Briyleigh definitely had me running around and kept me on my toes!
