Solider

A Hero's Homecoming

I was sooo nervous about this shoot. One of my clients Lauren asked me to come and shoot her husbands Military Homecoming. He's been overseas for a year and wanted to have this moment captured. I was honored. I wanted to do it justice. I was so nervous because every photographer likes to scout out the location where they'll be shooting to get a feel for the light, space, etc... This was not an option, so I just prayed it wouldn't fumble:)

I pulled up to the base, go through the gates and Soldiers are all along the way directing you where to go. There is a different feel on base. Everyone is uniform.. kind of gets ya! I found Lauren and her family who all came to welcome him home! Lauren looked beautiful, she was just a bundle of nervous. It was sweet. We found Adam's family inside and sat down. The atmosphere gave me goose bumps. Women all dressed up for their men, children running wildly with excitement through the rows, moms already crying before the plane even lands... The entire thing was moving. I was honored to be there. It was hard to even capture what it was like.

As the time got closer, I saw Laurens nerves shift into overdrive. I can't imagine waiting for that moment for over a year and then having it seconds away from actually happening. I was nervous and it wasn't even my husband;) It was crowded, everyone had an energy of impatience and finally the word comes that the plane is five minutes away. We make our way to the opening of the hanger, stake out our front row spot which was quickly crammed with everyone else having the same thought. Sweet Lauren tried to keep her kids focused and inline, I'm sure they felt the energy too:)

I watched the people around me and took all their emotion and excitement in. The plane finally comes into view and the crowd full of waiting families irrupts into applause and cheering. It lands. They start to unload and that year of not seeing that loved one just bursts and families going running to their Soldiers.

It was a photographers nightmare in the fact that it was SO crowed that getting the right angle was nearly impossible and the light was direct sun where they were coming out. However I just had to let it all go and knew that at least for this session that's not what was important.  Their solider being home made the picture and I needed to just make sure I got that:)

I spot Adam and tell Lauren he's coming and I take off to catch the reunion, I look behind me to see why Lauren isn't full out running and she's looking back holding her hand out for someone else who has missed him with her whole heart, their sweet daughter Libby (short for Liberty). While I would have imagined I would not share that moment with another soul, I saw a mom give the first moment to her daughter. That is where my real tears of the day came. Selfless. She held Jacob who was just 10 months old when his dad left and held Libby's hand and guided her to her dad.

It was moving

I hope I did that moment justice for them

I feel so privileged that my clients bring me for such incredible moments

I'm so grateful he's home safe!

I loved seeing this family complete again:)