Lights, Camera... Aaron!

It was two days before Christmas and what was I doing? Well... senior pictures, of course!

Aaron came our way by way of South Carolina and was back visiting family for just a week and it just so happened that we could squeeze him into our Christmas preparation!

We had photographed Aaron's sister, Elisha (MHS-'06) a few years ago, and Mama Kim insisted on having us once again. Only difference is, instead of a beautiful fall session... we were bustin' it out in deep snow this time around.

It proved to be quite a culture shock for Aaron as he told me he had been wearing shorts around in nearly 60-degree temps a day or two before. He was a trooper while we were trudging around in the snow (he wasn't wearing socks, gang)... but, man... I could tell dude was COLD.

In my process of getting to know Aaron... I found out that he had a deep interest in photography. He's taken 3 or 4 semesters of photography back home and so we got some cool angles with a camera in his hand... even more impressive is the fact that Aaron's a NIKON guy. Kudos, my friend. ;-)

Even though he enjoys the still format of photography, it sounded like to me that he is ultimately interested in studying motion pictures in college, perhaps. So... don't kid yourself... I'll be name droppin' when Aaron becomes the next Spielberg.

This looks like it'll be the last blog entry for 2009. It's been a fantastic year for Stewart Photography. Thank you to all of our wonderful clients and fans of our blog. Merry Christmas and we're looking forward to an awesome New Year in 2010!

I'll take a Miltenberger with a side of guitar to go...

Just when I thought that perhaps we had seen the last Class of 2010 senior for the calendar year 2009, in comes Matt.

It's early December, but it's never too late to get rockin' images and that's just what we did Thursday afternoon just before our first dusting of snow caused a slew of rides in the ditch in the area. ;-)

My relationship with Matt and his family goes way back to 1996 when I photographed the Miltenbergers family portrait on a warm August day. A few years later I shot Matt's sister, Bethany as part of East Marshall's class of 2002... which interestingly, became part of the last senior class to ever be photographed with film at Stewart Photography. A year later, we went digital and have never looked back.

If Miltenberger sounds familiar to those in the area... it could be because many have visited Matt's father, Mike, at Mike's Bike and Fitness in Marshalltown. I would be remiss if I didn't give another area small business a shameless plug! Need a last minute Christmas idea? How about a bike? www.marshalltownmainstreet.com/members/mikesbikes/ The Stewart family picked up three new Trek bikes a year ago... and just like the way I despise the flood of people running to the "photographer" at the department store, people would be wise to support a local guy that really knows bikes instead. (End of infomercial)

So, it had been 13 years or since the last time Matt was on the other end of my lens... and what I discovered Thursday was that they guy plays a mean guitar. He mentioned that he is inspired by listening to some really old school punk bands... and he has a Fall Out Boy sticker emblazoned on his sweet Washburn axe, but I also noticed a Bible verse that was hand written on the facing of the guitar as well. I took the liberty to look up the verse and blend it in on the first image you see here. I like it.

Finally, I wanted to just take a minute to ask for prayer for Matt's mother, Pat. She was recently diagnosed with a form of lung cancer and could use a boost this Christmas season. Keep up the fight, Pat. God bless.

K-Dub and Co.

We don't blog every family session we do... however, when you WORK for the photographer... let's just say that membership has it's privileges.

Kristin Wacha (who i have affectionately renamed K-Dub) has been a part-time employee for us over the past year. Handling everything from the phone, the computer... the masses at sports team shoots, K-Dub has been a rock for us... and we're lucky to have her.

And so, after editing and adjusting and pretouching thousands of images over the summer and fall, it was HER turn to go on the other side of the camera... and she brought along some friends.

Well... family members to be exact. (at least she CLAIMS them for a little bit anyway).

Probably the person that can really be credited for getting her only daughter the position at Stewart Photography would be mother of K-Dub, Cherie! Most will recognize Cherie from her position as guru at Bath and Body Works in the Marshalltown Mall. Cherie did some serious lobbying and arm twisting to put her daughter's best foot forward when it came time to hire our most recent part-timer a year ago... but it was really never in doubt as K-Dub was far and away our best applicant. ;-)

So... the Wacha Clan was in for family portraits on Wednesday... and in the meantime, we just HAD to get K-Dub and her mother new Facebook profile images! In addition, we somehow found a way to eek out perhaps our last outdoor family portrait of the calender year. I'll spare Kristin and her brother, Nic, their sibling shots in this arena.... one should never be forced against their will to stand THAT close to their sibling... but, hey... it's for mom, right?

Before I go, it should be mentioned that the Wacha's live across the street from my boyhood home in Gilman. I'm thankful that they are there to keep an eye out for my parents now and then. Or maybe it's the other way around? Regardless, in the season of Thanksgiving... I, for one, am thankful for the Wacha family.

The apple of my eye

She was very patient...

And Sunday... I made an exception. And it was only because she's a special young lady.

I don't normally take any pictures on Sunday... but for a couple of months... I was begged.. prodded... and pleaded with by my one and only daughter.

"Daddy... when are you gonna do MY pictures?"

Full disclosure... I'm not gonna lie... i'm the plumber with bad pipes at home. The LAST thing I wanna do in my free time is take more PICTURES. So... my family suffers and waits... patiently.

Sunday morning... I finally caved in.

Needless to say... the world's second most beautiful woman made my job easy... and I'm really thankful that she's a spitting image of the world's first place finisher... rather than her dopey lookin' father.

Bottom line... I just wanted to take a minute to tell the apple of my eye that I love her and that she's very special... and you make me very proud.

Miller Time - Jesse

So it was encore time for the Miller family Thursday afternoon as Jesse returned to us (after making a cameo appearance at David's session) after a morning of classes at South Tama. Jesse had warned me that tennis gear was forthcoming... so I had my game face on.

As it turns out, Stewart Photography got to photograph the Trojan's top two fellas on the tennis team. Earlier, we had seen Jeff Yanda, who takes the No. 1 slot for STC... followed by Jesse here. They make a solid doubles team and spend free time challenging each other to get better. Now you can add Stewart Photography Karma to the reasons why both guys will succeed in the upcoming season. ;-)

We ended up being fortunate with our scheduling on this day because it was WINDY in the afternoon. What's fortunate about that? Well.. take a look at the previous blog with twin brother David's hair and then look at Jesse's close cropped lid.... E'nuff said.

I asked the brothers in the morning who was born first... the answer was Jesse by one minute. I always find it funny how MUCH the firstborn twin LOVES to carry that banner. HA!

In addition... I had asked David during the morning session what the "rumor on the street" was when folks from Tama/Toledo heard the names David/Jesse Miller.

David proudly proclaimed... "I'm the good twin."

I told David that Jesse might have a different take on things... so I asked him... and it was funny how Jess smiled and shook his head as if maybe, just maybe... he had heard that before?!?

Bottom line... both solid guys in my book... Thanks fellas!

Miller Time - David...

Thursday was Miller Time...

David and Jesse Miller, of course.

The twin senior boys from South Tama took back-to-back slots on what was yet another abnormally warm mid-November day (where was this weather back in October?). The other set of twins I photographed back in August, I had to ask the mother when they arrived for something tangible to tell the difference between the seniors.

Thursday? Not so much.

You'll have to wait for Jesse's upcoming blog to see the difference... but there could be no mistaking the difference between the fellas on this day.

Those of you that KNOW the Miller boys know exactly what I'm talking about, but for those of you that don't... think HAIR. ;-)

I give a big thumbs up to any guy with the guts to wear his locks in the fashion that David does... He told me that it's been his trademark since 5th grade or so. I liked it simply because it made it clearly obvious which one was David and which was was Jesse! In addition to the unique hair... I take my hat off to any senior guy that insists on having his image taken with a less than pristine Ford LTD Crown Victoria. SWEET.

During the session I got low down on one of Dave's passions... his bass guitar. We got some cool stuff with his axe, but I also found out that his band The Greatest Action is having their first gig in just a week or so. I could tell he was totally pumped for that... no wonder the guy has to have rockstar hair!

Stay tuned... Miller Twin Jesse to follow...