After months of waiting, it is official... the adoption of Skye, Cayla and Preston by Katie and Joel Longanecker is now complete!
I have been blessed to photograph several families and children of adoption over the years. Some I call my own, others I have come to know as family and delight in watching them grow and change over the years from session to session.
But, this one... was different.
This was the first time I was part of the process before it was finalized. As Katie, Joel and I planned and executed the session, we were working to document their new family and have ready images for the adoption finalization announcement. It would be the first time they could share online images of their children and we wanted it to be fun and special.
What we didn't plan, was how much the children would want to document their new family themselves. Over the course of the 2 hour session, I would find my camera in the hands of the children nearly as much as it was in my own. Instead of battling them to pose for me, we went with the flow and let them design the things they wanted to capture that day. I held the camera and helped with exposure, but the poses and the captured moments were all their own as they looked through my viewfinder and found their own memories at the press of the shutter.
One day, I will post my images from the session. But today, you will find below the images that Skye, Cayla and Preston captured. I think it is more beautiful than anything I could have ever dreamed. Seeing their family through their eyes and their eyes alone.
Yes! Mommy and Daddy are purposely holding 3 flowers, picked by the kids!
Beautiful Skye - This girl has a wonderfully creative eye. She is destined to be a photographer one day!
Spirited Cayla - this fun girl is ALL personality and spirit. She will be a handful, but in all the good ways!
Darling Preston - still a young heart, but oh... such a darling!
Okay... I technically took this one, but the set up was the planning and idea of Skye and Cayla. (Preston simply added to it!)
The Longanecker's took part it the fundraising campaign to help another adoptive couple - Tony and Tara Cormican. Their session fee went towards this couple as they prepare to adopt a child from Uganda. Want to be a part of this great campaign? Go to 'Giving Back' and learn more!