Brandi + Tony = Looooove

Have you ever met somebody that you just hit it off with right away? That’s what happened with Brandi and I, although I didn’t actually meet her until about 6 weeks later. Back in December, Brandi sent me an email asking me about doing a homecoming session for her and her boyfriend because I volunteer for an organization called “Operation Love Reunited.” (I’ve mentioned it before). Well I wasn’t going to be able to do the homecoming session, but I told her that I’d be happy to do a session here in Wilmington for them in January. So over the next couple of weeks, she and I emailed and chatted on Facebook (a lot!) We couldn’t wait to meet! We got together last Friday for a fantastic photo session which I can’t wait to share with you, but first let me give you some background on how Brandi and Tony met.

Brandi is a flight attendant. Tony is a marine. Last January, Brandi was working on a flight that was dropping some Marines off in Kuwait and long story short…Brandi and Tony met and exchanged email addresses…as he was getting off the plane! They corresponded for months and in late August, he came home for his 2 week R&R and he spent the whole time with her. They are now in loooove and so cute!

It was only appropriate that for their photo session, Brandi wore her flight attendant uniform and Tony wore his Dress Blues.

I made sure to take pics of each of them individually, since Tony is in NC and Brandi splits her time between Texas (her home) and Minnesota (where she flys out of) and around the world. That way they will each have some pics of their honey to stare at..haha.

This next picture was Tony’s idea…I love it!

After our time downtown, we went back to their hotel for them to change clothes and then we headed over to Mayfaire.

  So Brandi love love loves to read and there’s a story about a certain book that she sent to Tony in Iraq that he started reading and didn’t realize it was a girly book (OK, it was Twilight..haha)..I thought it would be cute to take a couple of pics incorporating that book, so we went to Barnes and Noble. And promptly got kicked out. They said we couldn’t take pics in there, so we had to settle for pics outside of the store..haha. It wouldn’t have been so bad except the young woman who kicked us out was kinda rude and demeaning, but whatever.

Brandi and Tony.. I had so much fun with you and can’t wait to see you again. I wish you both much love and happiness. And of course, Tony, thank you for your service to our country!

If you want to see more pics from their session, I made a little slideshow here.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

TGIF

So it’s Friday night and I’m about to fall asleep, but since I’ve done so good with blogging daily, I just had to pop on here and do a quick post. I’m almost caught up with sharing all of my 2009 sessions – yay! I should be able to wrap them up next week. In the meantime, I had such a fun session today with 2 super sweet people. Some of you may have seen this on facebook already and I will give the full story later, but a year ago tomorrow…

Flight attendant & handsome marine…meet on a flight to IRAQ! After a year together via email, phone and a 2 week R&R..they are in loooove….

Here’s a quick pic with many more to follow…

I have a shoot in the a.m. so I’m going to bed..night!

A Hero's Homecoming

I am so blessed to be a part of an organization called Operation Love Reunited. Photographers around the country volunteer their time and talent to photograph the departure of a soldier and his/her family or the homecoming. This past weekend, I was able to capture the memories for a beautiful family. Their son, husband, uncle, and brother got to come home from Iraq for his R&R. He's been in Iraq since April and has to go back until July, but in the meantime they get to spend Christmas together. His wife was so excited to see him that she ran past the security checkpoint and jumped into his arms! His nieces were there dressed up so pretty and waiting patiently. Too cute. My own brother came home for his R&R from Iraq exactly 5 years ago. We were lucky enough for him to come home at Christmastime too and to meet my son for the first time.

So, to Schuyler, my brother, Dave and all the other men and women who are serving or have served this country....THANK YOU & God Bless You!