Over the Years: The Harringer Family

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 Harringer Family

I have known the Harringer Family for several years. The Harringer boys played youth baseball with my oldest son. We would visit as parents who had kids playing on the same team in Riesel. In May of 2015 I was finishing up my first year of being in business and I was debuting a senior model program. Eric was one of the senior models for the upcoming school year. Since this first session I have continued to work with members of their family capturing memories during their years in high school. It is truly an honor to be their family photographer.

May 2015 - Eric was one of my first senior models.

September 2015 - Eric loved playing high school football in Mart, Texas.

May 2016 - Eric’s final senior session.

Later that year I had the pleasure of photographing one of their other boys, Mike. He was no enjoying his senior year of high school and also played high school football in Mart, Texas. I photographed Mike for the first time during senior night at a football game in November of 2016.

November 2016 - Mike with his parents at Mart High Senior Night during a football game.

April 2017 - Mike’s senior session took place in Personville, Texas.

A couple of years later in 2019 I was asked to photograph Eric again when he learned that he was going to be a father of a baby girl. During this session we also decided to include some photos of Eric wearing his bull riding gear.

February 2019 - Eric is going to be a daddy!

February 2019 - Eric wearing some of his bull riding gear. He competes in several rodeos throughout the year.

In 2020 COVID swept the area - as well as the rest of the world. This pandemic forced many closures of public gatherings, including schools. With that came the cancellation of school activities, such as prom. Mike’s girlfriend, Scarlett, was a senior and was going to miss out on her senior prom, but the mothers of Mike and Scarlett put their own prom together for the two.

May 2020 - Mike accompanied Scarlett to her senior prom.

November 2020 - Mike and Scarlett had a photo session in Personville - the same location Mike had his senior session.

I have captured many memories for the Harringer Family over the past six years and I LOVE being their family photographer! I am looking forward to capturing many more memories for their family for the years to come.

“We take photographs as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.”

— Katie Thurmes

THIS IS THE THIRTEENTH FEATURED FAMILY IN THE "OVER THE YEARS" SERIES.  CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FEATURED FAMILIES!

1. The Wier Family

2. The Lopez Family

3. Tana and Layla

4. The Dale Family

5. The Craven Family

6. The Carpenter Family

7. The Leonardelli Family

8. The Spence-Waldrop Family

9. The Schmedthorst Family

10. The Milstead Family

11. The Erwin Family

12. The Cardwell Family

Change of Plans

“Sometimes it ends up different and it is better that way.”

— unknown

April 10, 2020 was a day that many were anxiously awaiting. This was the day that Jacob and Hannah would exchange vows in front of their family and friends. The anticipated wedding was originally going to take place at a stunning venue in Axtell, Texas, however something completely unexpected happened - COVID-19. Everyone hoped for the pandemic to be over by this date. But that did not happen. The venue cancelled, along with many of the vendors. This wedding was definitely going to happen on April 10th - no matter what!

There was a change in plans. The wedding would now be small and include a few of their closest family and friends. But where would the wedding take place now since the venue canceled? They considered a friend’s living room and a back yard. After all, rain chances were also moving in and out of the forecast for that day so they needed to take that into consideration. Eventually they decided on a beautiful and secluded piece of property near Axtell, Texas. It seemed as if the new plan was falling into place.

The big day finally arrived and everyone quickly checked the skies and forecast for the day and they were pleasantly surprised. No rain was in the forecast at all! And the temperature was going to be absolutely perfect - not too hot, not too cold. It was a perfect 75 degrees and sunny!

Jacob and Hannah

The two originally met because Jacob was friends with Hannah’s brother. Eventually they went on their first date on October 23, 2017. They ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel and spent the entire day together. He later proposed to her in Dallas at a botanical garden.

Fast forward two and a half years. They spend their date nights going to dinner followed by visiting Sonic for ice cream or drinks before heading home to watch Netflix. They describe their relationship as “definitely not average” with a laughing emoji! When asked what they liked best about each other, Jacob said he likes “everything” about Hannah and Hannah said she likes that Jacob is incredibly patient with her.

The Big Day

The week leading up to the wedding I talked to Hannah’s mother frequently. Plans were changing and Hannah was upset her plans were no longer a reality and instead they were just “winging it.” At some point, the stress seemed to disappear and everything seemed to fall into place perfectly. In fact, I heard many family and friends (including the bride and groom) say they felt this wedding was better than the original one they had planned. It was important that they wed on April 10th and on April 10th that is exactly what happened.

Hannah and Jacob’s Engagement Session

I think Jacob’s mother said it best…

Winter Wonderland in Texas!

Baby it's cold outside!  

In Central Texas, we don't receive much precipitation in the form of snow - IF we receive any snow at all!  But each and every winter (even though I have a strong dislike for the cold), I am a little sad when I see my Facebook news feed and all my Idaho friends and family are outside playing in the snow and enjoying snow days.  I hope one day that my two little girls will get the chance to experience a snow day, snowball fights, building a snowman, or just running through the snow as it's falling.  This is the very reason that I decided to introduce Winter Wonderland Imagination Sessions!

Winter Wonderland Sessions are extremely limited due to the amount of time that goes into planning and editing each image.  Only four sessions are available during the months of December and January.

Families that took advantage of these sessions enjoyed spending time with their family in a fun, imaginative session.  It is amazing to watch every member of the family get so into the session!  We've created snowball fights, campfires in the snow, dancing in the snow, snuggling loved ones under a blanket, saw reindeer and polar bears!  The sky is the limit with these sessions!  

If you're interested in booking one of these sessions in the future, mark your calendars for next Black Friday, as that is when they will once again be available.