Bellies
Brand New
Babies
Homecoming {Sneak Peek} | Norfolk, Virginia OpLove Photographer
Posted on May 6, 2010
I have been overwhelmed by the response to my participation with Operation: Love ReUnited. Overwhelmed in a good way (I love giving back to these families who give so much to our country!) and overwhelmed in a not-so-good way (Because I just can’t take them all!). I am totally booked with Pre-Deployment Sessions and Homecomings until well into August! But, I have been chatting with a couple other OpLove photographers in the area and hope to be able to refer anyone that I am unable to help to someone else so that their special moments are captured, too.
This family captured my heart when the mother first contacted me. She told me that their first child was born while Daddy was deployed and she’s currently pregnant with her second baby — and her husband has never seen her “this pregnant”! Baby #2 is due in a few weeks (I know, she looks AMAZING, doesn’t she?) and Daddy will be there for his/her delivery, which is so special for them!
We met right inside the parking garage at Norfolk International Airport and one of my first photos is of this window decal that she had specially made:
Then, the waiting began! It was great that they allowed the families to go through security (with special passes, of course) so that they could wait at the gate for the plane to arrive. As it taxied toward the gate, I could feel the atmosphere change. Everyone’s nerves began to show and all of the families started to get WAY excited!
Finally, it was the moment they’d all been waiting for. As the guys started to file out, things got very crowded and very noisy! I couldn’t help but get a bit teary-eyed myself as all the Daddies hugged their children and wives again. Those who were meeting their itty bitty babies for the first time EVER especially got me a bit choked up. As a photographer, these images may not be my best work (some are slightly out-of-focus, the lighting was tough, etc.) but as a person – a woman, a wife, a mother – they are absolute perfection.
I am so glad I was able to be there to capture this special moment for you, Sara and Geoff. Enjoy each other and I can’t wait to meet that new baby!
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16 Comments so far
Ugh, I am dying!! They are all so wonderful Amanda! I really can’t thank you enough for volunteering your time to all of us. We can’t do it without support from people like you. It was nice to not have to worry about capturing the special moments myself and to just be able to enjoy! Thank you thank you thank you!
Amanda, once again the pictures are amazing! I always love reading the “bloggy” parts of the site that accompany your work. I definitely was teary eyed looking at these. Great job!
Beautiful. Perfect images. Beautiful family. THANK YOU to those amazing families who sacrifice so much. God bless all of you!
These pictures brought tears to my eyes. Thank you to all our military families as well as the Operation: Love ReUnited photographers that capture these moments. Awesome work Amanda!!!
These are beautiful. The emotion of a family being reunited is captured perfectly. Brought a tear to my eye!
What beautiful images! And THANK YOU to the family for what they do!
That is just so emotional.. beautiful pictures
Beautiful pics! Welcome home boys (and girls)!!
And thank you for participating with op:love, it is an awsome group!
Just love this!!!!
Beautiful! What a happy moment for them!
I just cried looking at these images. So beautiful!
I don’t think our servicemen and women get enough support from us…what an amazing gift that you’re giving! Beautiful photos…really touched my heart.
Wow…you got some really sweet shots…brought tears to my eyes!
Aw!!!! These are awesome!! Great work!
These images are amazing. I’ve got tears in my eyes, and idk how in the world I’ll be able to see through the viewfinder…I signed up and got my approval TODAY to become an OpLove photographer. So special…thank you for sharing with us.
These are wonderful! My heart just sings for photos like these. I cannot WAIT to do my first session!