Everything about this photo is right now with my girls. No description needed.

She started school yesterday. Homeschool. It was her choice when to begin. She chose August 15.

And so we say goodbye to summer and begin our K12 online private school journey. So far, she loves it. She says it is “efficient”. I tell her she sounds like she is 90 years old when she says things like that. After her first official day was completed, she painted a beautiful landscape.

I think this year is going to fit well on her. On us.

The first part of the contest includes submitting a photo for critique that demonstrates image quality and memorable impact. This photo is from a recent session I did for a family whose father is being deployed to Afghanistan at the end of this month. I was asked by my client to convey their family story and to photography each of the three daughters with their dad. This photograph is of the oldest daughter in the family with her Dad.

To learn more about the contest, you can visit their website HERE. 

To see more photographs from this series you can visit my BRAVE blog post.

 “I want you to take photos of our family before he deploys at the end of August. I need you to take a picture with him and each of his girls to keep in their rooms while he is gone.”

I was honored and humbled to be asked. I understood the importance and the meaning for these photos and I needed to dig deep to keep it together emotionally while preparing for and photographing this family.

It is the most important work I have ever done with a camera in my hand.

The session was amazing and I tried to make it fun even though it was hard to contain the lump in my throat with every picture I snapped. My job on that day was to stay in the moment, let them do what they do naturally, and keep the camera clicking.

When I left the session I knew what I had on my card. I knew the photos were as they should be; images that conveyed the love, support, and bravery that every member in the family has toward each other and for our country. I was overwhelmed by each one of them. So much so that I cried on the way home. I cried while editing. I cried when pushing “send” on their gallery and I cried when they called me to tell me how much they loved the pictures.

I am humbled by this family and their bravery…his bravery.

They inspire me to be stronger and more brave in my own life. I will never forget the experience.

A special thank you to my CATSH Photography partner Catherine for being an awesome 2nd photographer that day.