{Lucky}

More than just a shoot...

This truly was an experience

I got an email on a Thursday from a women explaining she knew it was last minute but they needed a  photographer for a {BIG} ... I'm talking 38 people family session. I gulped.. those always make me a tad nervous. Then she explained that they had just received not so good news about their dads cancer and wanted to get a "family picture" in. The tears began to fall. Those who know me well know the dad who raised me was diagnosed 7 months ago with stage 4 colon cancer. So to say that I felt those words in that email was an understatement.  I quickly wrapped my brain around Sunday and realized that day already held so many commitments. First and foremost my sons 4th birthday (we're big with birthdays at my house:), tickets to the afternoon session at general conference and quiet possibly a birth story for a client. AH! I knew I needed to make this shoot happen, I felt like it was the right thing to do. So with some twisting, a little fate and an understanding son, I made the schedules work:)

I showed up at the session not really knowing what to expect? Somberness, tears... I just simply didn't know what atmosphere was going to be surrounding the shoot. I guess those are the things that would make sense right?  What I was not expecting was the laughter, joy and memories that were being made all around me from the moment I walked in. I LOVED IT! The love between this family was palpable! You could certainly tell there were those standing back and soaking in those moments and literally taking photographs with their mind to remember him. However their tears didn't override that moment of joy for them. The joy of knowing him and loving him. I learned a lot just by being with them for those 2 hours. It was a beautiful thing to be apart of. The grand kids were going crazy and crawling on their Grandpa's lap. The siblings were bossing each other around {with love}, the adults were jumping around behind the camera to get their own dad to smile:) 

Then there was Lucky.  The man of the hour. You could tell there was some pain involved in walking but he was such a good support. Wherever he was his sweetheart was right there by his side. They have been married for so long that you could feel the years between them had just melted into a wonderful life and prosperity.  I noticed the way she looked at him, and it was something I pray I have when I get to where their at. It filled with so much that words could never say.

I loved being apart of this.

This family was amazing.

Life throws us curve balls sometimes, ones that well...suck

However most of the time there's not a lot we can do

So to see this family love, laugh, be silly and enjoy their husband, dad, father-in-law and grandpa in the face of hurt made my heart smile

Thank you so, so, so much for having me Jane!