Daddy is FINALLY Home! | Personal

The day has FINALLY come!!! We have waited 7 months for this moment. Well, Joseph has waited his entire life to finally meet his daddy in person.  Seeing my husband and my son finally meet face to face instead of via a computer screen brought me to tears. It made me remember the day I checked in to Chesapeake General for my induction, to the emergency c-section I had to have because of a cord prolapse, to all those sleeplessness nights and half awake days trying to finish homework assignments.  All I knew was that I was finally getting the other half of my heart back and I wasn't letting him go. 

The morning of, all I could think about was getting to work, keeping myself busy until I got to leave to head over to the base.  Of course, they flew into the AMC terminal, which meant their plane was going to fly RIGHT over my office.  Every plane that flew over, I'd excited, thinking that it was him.  But once it got closer, I KNEW it was their plane based on the sound alone (thanks to my husband that is obsessed with naval aviation and has rubbed off on me).  The moment I heard their plane, I immediately starting running through the office, trying to look out the window to watch it make its way to the AMC Terminal and started to tear. But of course, my girls Stacey and Liza, would took time out on their lunch break to give me a mini makeover, I couldn't start bawling like I wanted to! Hearing that plane fly over was definitely a sigh of relief. No more sleeping alone, no more late night and early morning chats, no more!

Video captured by Langley Public Affairs:

So glad that daddy is finally home and he is finally able to meet and play with Joseph. 

WELCOME HOME RED HORSE!!!

TO THE HORSE!

Garcia Family | Virginia Beach Maternity Photographer

Kathryn contacted me for her maternity photos, just in time before their bundle of joy, little Mr. Ezekiel arrived in the wee morning hours of August 31st. Kathryn is a fellow military spouse and It Works! Distributor in the area.  We originally met several months ago while participating in a photo project for our friend Angel Whisenant, who photographed us for I Am Her Voice, that was part of a campaign to help bring awareness to Sex Trafficking (http://www.angelwhisenant.com/nopriceisworthmyvoice).

We met up on the trail side of First Landing Park to capture some photos along the wooden walkways, then headed across the street to the beach side and captured some awesome sunset photos as well. I tell ya, just something about that golden hour.... I can't get enough of it!  

I've Waiting My Whole Life to Meet You Daddy! | Norfolk Navy Homecoming Photographer

It all started with an email from my fellow homecoming photographer friend, Tricia of Teal Tree Studios.  As homecoming photographer, we all know that the date we're initially provided at first contact with a client is not set in stone.  Dates in the military are NEVER set in stone!  Well, Tricia emailed me asking if I could take on her homecoming client due to the new time and date conflicting with a personal matter.  As I have been shooting homecomings for the past six years, I absolutely LOVE shooting them, so I couldn't say no!  I then received an email from Sarah to touch bases about the date and tentative time.  And of course, as expected, the time changed. Again.  But let me tell you, I am glad the time changed! The warmth of the sun setting as the friends and families of the sailors aboard the USS Mitscher provided the perfect backdrop.  

Sarah mentioned that this is the first time in 16 years that she will have a photographer present at a homecoming.  But this was a special occasion.  Baby Mia was born while daddy was deployed.  The first meeting between daddy and baby NEEDED to be documented! And boy, the feels.  Seeing daddy holding his baby girl for the first time gave me goosebumps. And yes, teary eyes.  Thank you Sarah and family for allowing me to capture your special day.  

Welcome home to Randy and his fellow Mitscher crew!

Celebrating Momma and Grayson | Virginia Beach Photographer

Before the Clark family left Hampton Roads for their big move to GA, Sarah and I met up one last time at California Pizza Kitchen to partake in lunch and our favorite ending to a great meal, the DELISH butter cake.  We never leave California Pizza Kitchen without having one!  While waiting for our noms, she shared a little secret with me; another was joining the Clark clan!  Of course, we drooled over the thought that it could be a girl, but talked about how awesome it would be if baby Clark was a boy.  A little while later, they announced their soon to be addition and that it's a BOY! 

Fast forward to last month.  The Clark clan made their way back to the Hampton Roads area to attend a friend's retirement ceremony.  Sarah's partner in crime, Jill, threw her a baby shower while the Clark clan were here.  Needless to say, all the ladies that adored Sarah and her family were present and ready to mingle.  Mind you, it was not your typical baby shower. There were no games. There were no "what's in the diaper" nor the clothespin game.  It was full of catching up, chit chatting, and eating the delicious food that Jill made.  I'd must say though, the highlight of the day was during the book reading..... You'll see which book it was!

Congrats Clark clan, and can't wait to meet little Mr. Grayson when he makes his appearance in a few more months!!

Ladies, to see all the photos from the day, here is the link:

http://kiyomiphotography.pass.us/sarahs-hampton-roads-baby-shower

A Beautiful Baby Bump | Virginia Beach Maternity Photographer

You may recognize Ms. Gina.  A few months ago, we did a gender reveal session where she found out she was having another baby girl.  We discussed our options for the maternity session and determined that the 64th Street entrance of First Landing Park was exactly what we needed.  Of course, being that it is the summer time, we arrived and there were a number of people there, to include a group of SUP boarders.  We got a few shots on the beach, then located a little more secluded spot on the other side of a family fishing down the beach.

Now, trying to change wardrobes at a beach that does NOT have a bathroom facility is a challenge.  Add in baby bump and it's twice as difficult! But Ms. Gina rocked it and successfully changed at least four times! We realized how quickly we were loosing our lighting, adding to the fact that we all were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and other critters. 

Can't wait til little miss finally makes her debut!

Is It a Boy or Is It a Girl? | Virginia Beach Portrait Photographer

You'll recognize my friend Gina and her adorable kiddos.  They were my last session of 2013.  Well, it was at that session that Gina told me she was preggo and wanted me to help her announce the gender when it was time.  Now with gender reveals, usually only a few people know. This time it was just me and the sonographer.  But on the day of the sonogram to find out the gender, Gina felt a little unsure that they did it correctly; I have heard about a sonogram being done incorrectly and the baby turning out to be a boy instead of a girl! So, we waited another week, for her anatomy check up to get a "second" opinion. I was already bursting at the seams as Gina posted on Facebook that we were going to do a gender reveal and asked everyone what their guesses were. But I promised to keep it a secret until the gender reveal session!

We met up at Red Wing Park in Virginia Beach.  And of course, when we showed up, everyone and their mother were there.  The cherry blossoms were abundant, so everyone was taking the small opportunity to capture them in the background of their photos. So did we!  A few nights prior, Gina made some blue and pink colored powders for the kiddos to throw at her.  I got them ready, let's just say that they had WAY too much fun throwing the powder on her!

Keep an eye out for more of that beautiful belly! In a few more months we will be doing some maternity photos and I CAN'T WAIT! But until then, you get to oogle over these photos!