Meet The Simpsons...

And to think, it ALMOST didn't happen.  ;)

I did get to meet Mac Simpson Wednesday morning... along with Papa Stacy and Mama Tambra... and while there hasn't been any drought of BCLUW seniors in recent years, we nearly let this one get away.

Of course I'm laughing about it now, but... according to a very good friend of mine, I won't mention any names (Chris Rhinehart), I almost blew it.

Long story short, as it often is the case, one mom talks to another... says we're the place to go... former senior mom convinces current senior mom of our merit... current senior mom does her homework... isn't COMPLETELY sold right away... former senior mom tries to "help out" by tipping me off that current senior mom may be slipping thru my proverbial fingers... former senior mom insists I break studio policy to reel her in...  epic texting argument ensues between former senior mom and current studio owner.... current studio owner sticks to his guns... former senior mom throws up her hands figuring current studio owner is one giant bullheaded horses behind.

And while the very last statement there is most certainly true, somehow no studio policies were broken... current studio owner and current senior mom finally actually TALKED on the phone... and what do you know?  Mac was on his way to Montour!  :)

#winning.

The best part is that all three parties have had good laughs about  it all now... and I think if you ask current senior mom if she's glad she listened to former senior mom's initial advice, I'm confident that she's actually kinda angry about taking that advice...

Why you ask?

Because current senior mom, Tambra... has got one excruciating set of decisions to now make in the next week!  ;)

#sorrynotsorry

With all of that "pregame" story out of the way... there WAS an actual session to be photographed... and what a day it was!

We've been blessed by insanely awesomeriffic weather this week... and you package that with a senior guy that looks like he was yanked right out of a Calvin Klein black and white magazine ad (seriously dude... not gonna lie... jealous of the hair) and it was fish-in-a-barrel time for this shooter.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I did enjoy chattin' it up with Tambra and Stacy for several hours as well (you've got cool 'rents, Mac).  In between discussing my life story and the meeting of the minds over the Firepit Builders Club, it's a wonder that we got any pictures taken... but we did... and I hope that Mac enjoyed a day away from separating male and female plants in the field... I know I did.  And I know this... if this photography gig doesn't work out... I think I'm just gonna go work at BCLUW Middle School in Union.  ;)

Thanks for seeing past all my policies, Tambra!   You ol' pal Chris would never steer ya wrong.  ;)

Ready and Wilkening

We had our first senior gal last Friday, and representin' first for the Class of 2013 fellas is West Marshall Senior Hunter Wilkening.

Sure, Mama Kristy was savvy enough to take advantage of our earlybird special via the WM afterprom... but make no mistake, Hunter not only WANTED to go in early June... but he almost HAD to.

Between work at State Center's "Scoreboard Sports Grill," and showin' cattle like nobody's business... and then mix in a trip to Colorado for a family wedding... Hunter's options were slim and June 4, and slim was on his way outta town.

So, in rolled Hunter flanked by his mom and his sis, Savannah... and right out of the gate... they cut me a break.

I was warned in advance that we might be takin a roadie to get ourselves some images with some cattle...  and just as I was ready to gameplan with Team Wilkening as to how we were gonna attack that, they let me off the hook...

Or did they let themselves off the hook?

Far be it for me to know the FIRST thing about how to handle cattle, but apparently, a 4 a.m. wake up call woulda been in order for the animals to be prepped for this photo shoot.  (and I thought senior GIRLS took a long time to get ready!)  ;)

Instead we were just given the assignment to make our senior look fine in his jeans and boots... and get the Trojan student council president at his best in a pair of casual outfit... mix in sis for a few... and BAM... senior session #2 was in the books.

Oh there was plenty of discussion along the way.  How we're gonna singlehandedly reform how homecoming is done... the small world connection with Abbey Sheer's cat... and while there was plenty of wedding talk with their upcoming trip to Colorado looming and Savannah planning her own... I thought for just a SECOND that it wouldn't be bad to get back into the fold in the wedding game... but then I thought better of it after breaking out into hives and cold sweat.  (*sarcasm*)

So there will be no return to doing weddings any time soon... but I can tell you this... if I were to do one... I would hope that the folks would be serving would be as nice as this group.  Thanks for a fun morning, gang.   Your book is ready.  ;)

OH SNAP! We're BAAACK!

Senior season v.2013 got off to an AMAZING start Friday, and what a fitting way to kick it off as GMG's Cheyenne Wurr made a return to our studio.

Not only had her brother (Blaze, '10) and sister (Autumn, '06) been our way already, but we had done family pics a few times AND it was just over a year ago when Chey job shadowed me for a day her sophomore year.

So... needless to say... Miss Wurr and I go way back!   So the pressure was on since she had already seen things from behind the curtain several times...  How does one keep a Stewart Photography-know-it-all guessing then?  I did what I always try to do...

Go above and beyond.

Even though Team Cheyenne (Chey, Mama Kris, Sis Autumn) all insisted that they had no demands and "weren't picky," I made sure they were rewarded for their loyalty and just overall awesomeness!

The result ended with the session lasting longer than they had planned (i know... SHOCKING).... babysitting had to be rearranged... dinner and dates had to be rescheduled... but no matter... it was Cheyenne's turn, and I wasn't gonna let her be disappointed.

So we hit the H3 for a roadie adventure that included being a spectacle on M-town's Center Street, being checked out by some creepers under the viaduct and I got an education on the "bend-and-snap."   Not sure where I missed THAT one... but I did.  #lookitup.

The bar was set high right out of the gate, so Class of 2013... you'd better be ready... it's your time to be Unique... be Original... be Different... be YOU. 

The Rarest...

This one had several layers...

Like an onion that you kept on peeling away, it was always something new and different. But, then again, for those of you that know Claire Rogers, you're probably not surprised.

Starting with what I like to call a "yearbook meltdown," Claire rushed in in late December to ensure that she was included in the Marshalltown High School Yearbook... with plans to get the rest of the story told some time during the winter.

Our mild winter turned to spring, yet there was still no Claire to be found.

Until last Thursday.

In walked Claire with a room full of props and ideas of her own... and a surprise return guest in good friend Alyxia, who we saw in late October. So... it was a double reunion of sorts!

So the three of us took advantage of the early greenery and got outside, despite the now seemingly chilly morning temps (after being spoiled for a few weeks of insanely high mercury readings) as well as high winds. It wouldn't stop the girls... or their fearless shooter. Miss Rogers even showed remarkable toughness in jumping into a tiny spring dress for her last outfit.

I had overheard the girls talking about superimposing the first letters of their first and last names... in one of MANY quirky conversations they had while their "out of the loop" photographer labored in the background. (i felt horribly inept on this one by not being down with the Lord of Rings and Dungeons and Dragons discussions... but hey... can't win 'em all!) So when Claire's initials were superimposed... she morphed into "Raire Cogers." It has kind of a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Mix in a plethora of books, a legit accordian (she ROCKED the accordian like a boss), a FILM camera, a directors chair, a harmonica, some DnD dice, a myriad of hats, and 99 luft balloons (it really WAS ninety-nine... we counted 'em and blew 'em all up one-by-one... about passed out a couple times, actually), you can see that this was indeed the rarest of sessions... or is it "Rairest?"

Just ask Miss "Cogers"... she'll tell ya... she is the Rairest of the rare. :)