Kailey's Daddy is in Iraq

Shudderz

I am involved with Operation:Love ReUnited. It is an organization that I volunteer my time/talents with. Photographers volunteering with OpLove provide a free sitting for a family facing a military deployment. An album of the photos is then sent to the deployed soldier free of charge.

This series is of little Kailey. Kailey is 5 weeks old and her daddy is deployed to Iraq. Hopefully he'll be able to come home on leave to meet her during July. Then he'll have to go back.

It has been a joy getting to know these families. Providing these services is only a small way that I am able to say thank you for all of that these soldiers/familes do.

C&C is welcome and encouraged.

1.


2.


3. (mom wasn't expecting to take shots w/ Kailey that day....but I know dad would want some of them together as well)


(a pad was strategically placed under Kailey to keep "anything" from getting on the flag.......)

Qarik

nice capture. dad will love it

Agnieszka

Aw!! Cute photos, the first 2 are my favorites.

(I think the light is a bit too harsh in #3)

joshhuntnm

I don't think it is nice to make a soldier cry, which these surely will!

WOW. Those are some seriously great photos. If I were him my only complaint would be I would want more photos. I assume there are more photos.

Shudderz

joshhuntnm wrote:

I don't think it is nice to make a soldier cry, which these surely will!

WOW. Those are some seriously great photos. If I were him my only complaint would be I would want more photos. I assume there are more photos.

There are more.....wish there were more than there are tho. I got some great shots of mom and baby.....then most of our effort was spent in getting the shots of her with the dog tags and flag. Kailey was one of the most awake newborns I've ever worked with, so it took a while to get the shot.

I'll work on posting more oplove photos in the near future.

Thank you for the compliments.

TPBinKC

Shudderz wrote:

I am involved with Operation:Love ReUnited. It is an organization that I volunteer my time/talents with. Photographers volunteering with OpLove provide a free sitting for a family facing a military deployment. An album of the photos is then sent to the deployed soldier free of charge.

This series is of little Kailey. Kailey is 5 weeks old and her daddy is deployed to Iraq. Hopefully he'll be able to come home on leave to meet her during July. Then he'll have to go back.

It has been a joy getting to know these families. Providing these services is only a small way that I am able to say thank you for all of that these soldiers/familes do.

C&C is welcome and encouraged.

1.


2.


3. (mom wasn't expecting to take shots w/ Kailey that day....but I know dad would want some of them together as well)


(a pad was strategically placed under Kailey to keep "anything" from getting on the flag.......)

Heather, thank you for doing this. As a veteran and a father I thank you.

I love the closer up version with Kailey (#2) and #3 with mom. You are correct that Dad will want that shot.

These shots made did make me cry, I am not too ashamed to admit it. Of course that is the second time today. When I dropped my daughter off at day care this morning there was a sign up on the wall with pictures of a baby (and her parents) that was born on Saturday. Her daddy returned home on Friday from Iraq. Talk about good timing.

Shima

These are great photos!

I went to the website for oplove and clicked on the Interested Photographers but all I get is a black page on both Firefox and IE... so I can't get any information on becoming a photographer...

Shudderz

Shima wrote:

These are great photos!

I went to the website for oplove and clicked on the Interested Photographers but all I get is a black page on both Firefox and IE... so I can't get any information on becoming a photographer...

Did you wait a bit to see if the page would load? It's flash based and takes a minute or two to load. Please try again.

The links to the application can be found HERE

Shima

Shudderz wrote:

Did you wait a bit to see if the page would load? It's flash based and takes a minute or two to load. Please try again.

The links to the application can be found HERE

I waited like 5-10 minutes in both IE and Firefox. Nada came up. I have flash installed for both firefox and ie....

beetle8

wow

Scott_Quier

Shima wrote:

I waited like 5-10 minutes in both IE and Firefox. Nada came up. I have flash installed for both firefox and ie....

I just submitted my application (again, I think it got lost the first time, some time ago) and, from start to finish, I dont' think it took more than 10 minutes.

Now the waiting starts - let's see how long it takes to get a response back from OpLove

Tuna

That's an awesome thing you are doing! I'd really consider doing something like this, but I'm in Iraq myself and I'm not a very good photographer in the first place, lol.

shatch

Heather...You are AWSOME! Not only do you take great photos, but you have a great heart! Thanks for sharing and also for who you are.

Shudderz

shatch wrote:

Heather...You are AWSOME! Not only do you take great photos, but you have a great heart! Thanks for sharing and also for who you are.

Thanks Shatch! Sorry it's taken me a while to respond, but I haven't been on dgrin for a while. I've been swamped.......happy problem, right?

The local news just ran a story on my involvement with OpLove. I have a feeling I'm about to be even more swamped! It started with a small town newspaper article this past week, and an ABC affiliate channel News assignment editor reading it decided it would be a great 4th of July weekend story.

The newspaper article can be found HERE

The story from the evening news is HERE

What a great way to let families around me know about OpLove and hope that it will inspire a few photographers in my area to step up as well!!

jayegirl

Wonderful! Thank you for giving back.

jeffreaux2

I agree with shatch....and the stories both gave me ...shudderz!!!:D

Very inspirational!

cmorganphotography

I did not know about this. I will have to contact the NOSC where my husband is on active duty and talk to them about the sailor and marine families before deployment and getting them all my contact numbers and emails.
Thank you for doing these and sharing. *Worried about diaperlessness on flag... *

Shudderz

cmorganphotography wrote:

*Worried about diaperlessness on flag... *

There was a strategically placed waterproof pad under her. I wasn't about to take that chance:D

Shudderz

Thanks Jeff and Jaye...

It truly is my business "philosophy".....the one quote they decided not to put in the story.....

"God's plan is bigger and better than mine. I will do what I can to stay in His plan.....I will continue to give Him ALL the credit....and I will give back Absolutely everything that I can."

It has been amazing to witness His faithfulness by sticking to this.

I know everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.....that is mine, it is how I live and how I do business.

All the gifts and talents I have, I thank God for everyday.

heatherfeather

Shudderz wrote:

Thanks Jeff and Jaye...

It truly is my business "philosophy".....the one quote they decided not to put in the story.....

"God's plan is bigger and better than mine. I will do what I can to stay in His plan.....I will continue to give Him ALL the credit....and I will give back Absolutely everything that I can."

It has been amazing to witness His faithfulness by sticking to this.

I know everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.....that is mine, it is how I live and how I do business.

All the gifts and talents I have, I thank God for everyday.