One more — super cute — Operation Love Reunited Session! April 22, 2009

After our full day of OpLove sessions (by the way, a huge thank you goes out to Ryan Edick for driving all the way from Manhattan to help out!!), I headed over to visit one last family while I was in Leavenworth. And I love how these turned out.

These photos are all taken in their living room, backyard or front porch area. I absolutely love capturing kids being kids… and it helps when they’re in a place that’s familiar to them. Add in two beautiful blue-eyed kiddos and we have the makings of an awesome photo shoot. :)

Their dad is coming home soon, and I can’t imagine how excited he must be to get back to his beautiful wife and kids.

Look at this face! I couldn’t help but say “awwww!” out loud at every photo. I couldn’t decide which expression is cutest (seriously, a baby boy who smiles right into the camera?!), so I’m giving you three to view. :)

And big sister with her super cute ponytails was just as adorable:

Making handprints:

And the whole family, ready for a certain soldier’s arrival home… :)

Sally, thank you so much for letting me meet your family and capture some images for your soldier. I’m so excited for you to be reunited soon. :)

 

Blog readers, stay tuned. I have an awesome senior portrait session, a newborn, several engagements, some more great seniors and a wedding (yes — it’s officially wedding season!) coming your way in the next few weeks. :) Get excited!

 

The photos and other content of this publication do not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.

Calling All Photographers! April 1, 2009

 

Yes, that’s right. I need your help!

If you’ve followed the ericamay photography blog for very long, you’ve heard about my involvement with Operation: Love Reunited, an organization comprised of volunteer photographers who provide portrait sessions to the families of deployed soldiers at no charge.

I have been doing quite a number of these free sessions for the families of members of our Armed Forces lately, which I’m very excited about. I love giving back. It’s just engrained in who I am. If I could’ve been a professional volunteer, I would have been. You think I’m kidding. :) So since I can’t do that, I do use my profession and my craft to volunteer in a way that blesses families, their deployed loved ones and helps to boost the spirits of people going through really tough times. I’ve met some great people, made friends and have become a part of people’s lives through my participating in OpLove. It’s amazing.

 

So why do I need your help?

I was recently asked to plan an entire day of portrait sessions for families at Fort Leavenworth who are part of the Waiting Families organization (meaning they have immediate family members currently serving overseas). I am so excited about the chance to serve a large group of families by hanging out at Fort Leavenworth all day and shooting 30 minute sessions for these families. Alone, I can do about 15 sessions. As a group, the organization serves 200 families. Yes, 200.

So I’m only able to scratch the surface with photographing 15 families. That’s where you come in. If you’re currently an OpLove photographer, wonderful. If you’re not, that’s okay too… as long as you’re okay with working within the guidelines of the organization. We’re looking for professional photographers who can give all day or even just a few hours of their time to the families at Fort Leavenworth!

I have all sorts of details for you if you’re available and interested, so please send me an e-mail (me[@]ericamay[dot]com) or a message through the contact form at www.ericamay.com, or a comment with your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you! 

The basics of what I’m looking for:

1. Professional photographers

2. At least 3-4 hours of time on April 18th in Leavenworth

3. The willingness to provide free portrait sessions

4. The ability to send 4×6 albums of prints directly overseas to soldiers at no cost

5. The availability of all the images online to the family members for additional ordering (optional)

6. A fun attitude, a giving heart, and a desire to help! :D

If you’re interested, please get in touch with me. The response has already been huge… so the more, the better! :)I’d love to share more details about this exciting way to give back something to the families who are sacrificing sooo much so their husbands/wives/moms/dads can serve our country overseas.

I’m headed out to do an OpLove session this evening, so watch for those photos later!!