Bellies
Brand New
Babies
Posted on April 30, 2012
These adorable boys have been missing their Daddy for over a YEAR now – I was planning to hold out and post these images with their homecoming photos, but I was unable to be there for the big day. Luckily a fellow OpLove photographer, Sarah Lee Williams Photography, was able to be there! Can’t wait to see what she captured. For now, enjoy these portraits of their ‘already gone’ session!
Posted on January 18, 2012
I was so excited when one of my clients-turned-friend approached me with the idea of photographing the Sunliners Wives’ Club in their flight suit dresses! They wanted to send some beautiful photos to their husbands who are serving our country overseas. And these ladies did not disappoint – every single one of them was dressed to the nines and very natural models! I could have posted at least three favorites of each one here…it was crazy hard to choose! Enjoy a peek into the gorgeous wives of these heroic pilots. Godspeed, Sunliners and thanks to not only them, but their wives and children for their sacrifices.
My favorite group shot:
Posted on December 30, 2011
My work with the organization Operation: Love ReUnited is one of the most rewarding things that photography has allowed me to pursue. I am honored to be giving back to the servicemembers and their families who support and defend our country. I also had the pleasure of photographing two very special couples this year – one who I met through OpLove (and photographed their homecoming in 2010) and the other a friend from high school whose boyfriend contacted me to propose to her during our portrait session! Enjoy the LOVE below – these are my faves from the year 2011!
Posted on June 15, 2011
It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day today as we welcomed home the heroes of the VFA-81. The skies were blue, the sun was shining and the temperatures cooled just enough to make it picture perfect!
Remember this little sweetheart? One of my favorite newborn photos ever!
Well, she’s 7 months old now, and her Daddy came home today after being gone for most of her little life! And she was so excited to see him!
Posted on December 20, 2010
Today, I’d like to share with you two homecomings from this past weekend….and I’d like to take this opportunity to talk with my fellow photographer friends who might be reading this blog about why I am involved in Operation: Love ReUnited and why I urge them to get involved, too.
If you are a photographer (or an aspiring photographer!) and you live in the Hampton Roads area, we need you! We are overwhelmed with requests for homecoming sessions when the aircraft carrier groups arrive back from their long deployments. Unfortunately, there are less than 15 participating photographers listed in the finder for this area and thousands of families awaiting their loved one.
I have heard a few photographers explain why they don’t participate. Some have had bad experiences – families who have not thanked them, families who have expected too much or taken advantage of the program, or specific circumstances which were less than ideal. But I would challenge those who have had not-so-great experiences to give it another try in the New Year. Personally, I have had wonderful experiences this year with OpLove. Nearly all of my families have shown me great appreciation – and I try not to let those not-so-great experiences I’ve had take away from my overall perception of OpLove. Yes, it’s inconvenient at times (I really could have used these past few days to finish up Christmas shopping or get my house ready for the 15 relatives coming over for Christmas Eve dinner {what AM I planing to cook for that many people??}. Yes, schedules change at the last minute with homecoming sessions. Yes, it can be cold (my feet were FROZEN this morning!) or hot (in VaBch in July it’s sweltering out on the pier!). But it is also incredibly rewarding to see those happy tears in the eyes of a mom or wife…the daddies hold their child for the first time…the proud parents coming to welcome back their child from serving overseas. To capture those memories for a family is truly priceless.
If you have participated in the past and have given up, PLEASE consider giving it a try again. Take one family, one homecoming, one more time in 2011 and just see what happens. You may be surprised!
Our sailors give up so much for us and for our freedom. They live on big, gray, floating cities…they sleep in teeny, tiny racks….they eat less than gourmet meals…and have little in the way of entertainment choices for their long deployments overseas. As an American, I support our troops and as a citizen, I thank them. But as a woman, I feel especially for the wives of these sailors. The mothers who are left behind to play the part of Mommy AND Daddy for 6 months.
6 months
Anyone who has endured a deployment knows how long 6 months really is.
For a mother, 6 months is:
-180 bedtime/bathtime routines
-540 meals to prepare and clean up after
-900 diaper changes
-entire seasons of soccer practices and early morning games, school plays, dance performances, gymnastics practice, etc.
-fixing cars, appliances, (or your children’s broken bones)
-celebrating birthdays, holidays, and family occasions as a partial family
-18,392 (or so!) answers to “When is Daddy coming home?”
-4,320 hours of being a single parent
-259,200 minutes missing the love of your life
So I donate my time and talents as much for the mothers, fathers, and children left behind as I do for the sailors and soldiers who serve our country. It is the least I can do – and the hugs, the kisses, the joy, plain and simple, on their faces at their homecomings give back to me just as much. I hope you enjoy these two Homecoming Stories. If so, please leave me some love at the bottom of this post in the comment section! Thank you and Merry Christmas to all!
http://kimberlingray.myshowit.com/homecomingd