My client D.s husband had been deployed for over a year serving in the US ARMY. She really wanted me to capture the first few moments of his homecoming along with a first complete (informal) family portrait. You see, her son A. was born while his Daddy was deployed so he had never been held in his fathers arms before, never heard the words "I love you" whispered in his ear. This evening, he would and the B. family would have a photo taken of them all together for the first time....

We waited for a few hours at Ft.Bragg for him to return and talked about family life and the joys and struggles of being a new Mom. Like all of the awesome military wives that I've met, D. has been a rock of strength holding her family together while her husband was deployed. She was the very picture of pulled together despite the nervousness of seeing her husband for the first time in what seemed like forever. 

Her older son R. was a bundle of excitement dashing around the grounds with a small American flag and laughing with group of other children waiting for their parents arrival.

Before we knew it, it was time! The soldiers marched into an annex where a short ( but somehow the longest ever!) formal welcome home ceremony took place. Men and women in uniform stood at attention, the transformation from soldier to father, mother, husband &  wife was but moments away but until the order was given unto their release their gaze was fixed. Then it was bliss. Tears, laughter, hugs and kisses.

There is nothing on earth as amazing to see as the first moments shared by a father meeting his son for the first time and the first embrace given by a loving family when greeting their soldier after a long deployment. 

I thank God every day for the opportunity to provide our nations strong military families with great photos of their loved ones return. I pledge to spend the rest of my life in pursuit of shining the best possible light on your strength and positive attitudes.

Thank you to every member of the United States Military who has served our nation with honor and to their loving families for their support, you are all my heros.

-Sally

Welcome home C. !!!!!!