The other day I was talking to my favorite person (my grandma Jo) on the phone and we ended up talking about the career paths we chose. She was a nurse for most of her adult working years and I was an elementary school teacher for five years until I decided to resign and begin my photography business. She told me there have been times when she thought about doing something besides nursing, but looking back now she couldn't imagine doing anything else. She LOVED nursing! Then she asked me what I career I would have chosen if I could start all over again. As I thought, I honestly couldn't think of any other career choices I would have made.
I loved teaching, but I didn't love the confines of teaching. I loved that no two days were ever the same. I loved having to adapt and be flexible throughout the day as different situations arose. I loved the students and coworkers. But I did not love the schedule. I felt very confined. When I decided to resign I immediately felt a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could now breathe freely.
I absolutely LOVE being a photographer! I love nearly everything about it - besides paying taxes. I love making my own schedule. I love creating wall art for families that will be treasured for years to come. I love it when clients tell me that my work captures so many emotions. But most of all I love meeting new people and connecting with them! I love to capture them year after year and create beautiful wall art that showcases their family! For this reason I have decided to begin a series which focuses on my loyal clients over the years titled, "Over the Years."
The Dale Family
Meet the Dale Family! This family is filled with so much love…so much in fact that they have fostered several kiddos over the past few years. The Dale Family is truly generous and always willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed. In fact, several years ago my vehicle broke down on the way to drop my kids off at school. Michelle saw us and stopped to ask how she could help. She actually took our kids to school for us so we could figure out to do with our vehicle! I photographed their family for the first time in 2014 at Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place in Cameron Park, Waco, Texas. Since that time I have photographed members of their family four more times and I have photographed seven of their foster children as well. Looking back at the photographs from their sessions over the years it is hard to believe how much their children have grown! I absolutely love being their family photographer! I love meeting the little ones that they foster and treat as their own! I look forward to many more years of capturing the memories of their family, as well as the little ones that feel safe and secure during their time with the Dale Family!
2014 - Family Session at Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place. Look how little those two kiddos are!
2016 - Imagination Session. A young Ashley - she has always been super animated and creative!
2017 - Family Session. And just like that the Dale Family grew by one!
2017 - One Year/Cake Smash Combo Session. Caleb is ONE!
2018 - Family Session. Look how much those adorable kids have grown! This session was bittersweet. It was the first “family session” they had in which they included their foster children (not pictured).
The Dale Family are among my favorite clients! The are genuinely caring and absolutely selfless. Within a few months after their latest family session, the foster children they included in the session would leave their home. This was incredibly tough for the entire family, including the foster children. On the very day the foster children left, they were asked to take new foster children into their home. On this particular day Michelle wrote, “The need never stops. There's always another kid that needs you, that needs a safe place to land for a little while. Today my heart hurts for the ones that just left us, but I also wonder what happened to the ones that needed someone yesterday. We didn't have it to give and I pray that someone else was ready and willing.” And THAT is why they are among my favorite clients.
“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.”
THIS IS THE FOURTH FEATURED FAMILY IN THE "OVER THE YEARS" SERIES. CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FEATURED FAMILIES!