Every Picture Tells a Story...
Don't you love it when you meet a person and you have that instant connection? You say 'hello' and it's as if you are old friends meeting again. That is how I felt when I first said 'hello' to Wally and her husband Jonathan! I felt as if they were old friends that I hadn't seen in ages!
We celebrated our first year anniversary on Facebook by having a Big Gift-Give-Away! Wally was our lucky winner, and I was the lucky photographer who got the chance to photograph her family. I was more than touched to think that Wally, her husband, and their three kids piled in the car and headed from the North West Coast of Florida all the way down to the Southeast Coast (a 4-5 HOUR DRIVE) just to have their pictures taken by ME! I am honored!!!
The funny thing is that Wally had planned on bringing her family to us months ago for a photo session, but unfortunately the kids got sick and they had to post-pone the trip. At that time, Wally and I got to know each other a little bit through emails. She informed me that she had an 8 year old daughter (beautiful Alannis) and twin 5 year old (adorable) boys who have Autism. The boys are non-verbal (learning sign language - which I think is FANTASTIC!).
We made plans to meet on Delray Beach for a fun picnic photo session. Wally arrived dressed in a pretty white sundress with a dainty white flower in her hair - great contrast to her dark hair, olive complexion, and gorgeous brown eyes! I love that her family was dressed in bright red t-shirts and jeans - great look for the pictures. (Make sure to notice the Autism Puzzle piece pins they all wore to bring awarness to Autism).
From the moment we began the photo session, Nicky and Seby (the twins) were on the go. They were smiling, running, jumping, and keeping Mom and Dad on their toes!!! I joked with Dad as he dashed across the sand (more times than I could count) after his excited twin boys! They took one look at that ocean and that's where they wanted to be! We did distract them for a few minutes, by bringing out a blanket with a basket of red juicy apples to enjoy. A moment later, and off ran Nicky (or was it Seby?). Dad sprinted into high gear as Mom sprinted in the other direction after the brother! Sweet Alannis, big sister to Nicky and Seby, just smiled and posed for a few pics for me. The boys made the decision for all of us... we would now be doing this session fully clothed int the water! The fun was about to begin! So off they all went into the water...splashing, laughing, jumping, smiling! I joked with Jonathan (Dad) that he didn't need to join a gym ~ he was getting quite the work-out out tossing two boys in the water and running and jumping non-stop! He agreed!
Our session only lasted approximately 45 minutes, but I believe I captured the love, and the tenderness, that I saw in this family. I can honestly say that I don't know if I have ever met a more patient and loving couple in my life! They did not get upset when the kids went in a different direction than was planned, they laughed at things that other's might get upset by ~ they just had a sense of calm that truly impressed me. At the end of the shoot, Jonathan realized that he went swimming with is cell phone in his pocket! I cringed and thought 'YIKES...here comes the explosion! He's gonna be furious!!!" But instead, he laughed - said 'Oh well, I wanted to get a new phone anyway." I laughed and thought, that's how I want to look at life. Don't sweat the small things in life. Jonathan, and his family, will remember their mini-trip to a South Florida Beach for a photo session in the sun and no one will remember that Daddy went swimming with his phone in his pocket (unless Wally reminds him :)
In the end, I hope I captured moments that this family will teasure forever! I packed up my car, waved good-bye to an amazing family, and drove away thinking about the saying 'God only gives you what He thinks you can handle'. He chose the perfect family for these 3 beautiful children! It was an absolute pleasure meeting Wally, Jonathan, Alannis, Nicky, and Seby! I hope I will have the opportunity to take your pictures again!
Wally's Family...
