Mad about Had

One word: Smile.

The fun thing about my job is getting to know so many people from the area a little better. I've heard about many of our seniors before they get to me whether it may be from a friend that was in... or reading about them in the newspaper... Facebook... or whatever.

So Haddie here, from what I could gather, had a reputation for perhaps the biggest smile. I had been warned by classmates..... "Have fun with Haddie's smile! It's insane big!"

Well, I was NOT disappointed. The smile was everything I had anticipated and more... I only hope I did it justice... I know this... I saw a lot of it Wednesday afternoon, and I THINK it was because of the fun we were having. This kid was a blast... and has a zest for life that kept me going several hours into another 5 outfit session.

Haddie was game for almost anything... and I tip my cap to her as she's a little over a month removed from something that I'm sure has been tough for her to take.

June 15, 2009..... Top-ranked BCLUW was facing South Hardin in what would be yet another North Iowa Cedar League West Division victory for the talented Comets. The girls in Black-n-Gold eventually rambled on to an epic run through the post season that ended with a state championship in Fort Dodge. The only problem was, it was without their starting centerfielder and sparkplug near the top of the order.

For you see, sometimes life deals us crummy hands... and Haddie tore up her knee on that Monday night back in June.

Season over for #20.

I can't pretend to act like I know all the feelings that must have been going through her mind over the past month as she was there to support her awesome teammates as they lived out the kind of season that all athletes dream about. Bittersweet to be sure.

The blessing here is that there's another season to be played for Hadelyn...

A title to be defended....

While that slide into third base took away the rest of her season... it didn't take her smile.

And for that... I'm thankful.

Easy to say Good-Beye

She'd paid her dues.... talked her brother into coming to us last year.... came to the session... took notes... Wednesday, it was her turn.

Anna brought her heels (three pairs, I think) and her pointe shoes and with the help of a friend and Papa Kevin... we got some great stuff....

Anna and I go back a few years as she's a member of Main Street Dance Academy of which we work for annually in the spring. So... Anna is very accomplished at the art... yet she went very simple in her demands for depiction.

Just a leotard and skirt.... pointe shoes..... and take it from there, Mr. Stewart.

So... I did.

I kind of get used to a cornucopia of every dance outfit they've ever worn... but not it Anna's case. Simple.. but solid. The gal nailed several pointe poses and they are blended below. That was awesome... but I love the silent and seriousness of the pose of her in the chair as well. Kudos, Anna!

Marissa to the MAX

Ok folks... this gal couldn't get enough.

First of all, let me just say... I refuse to listen to any whining about 8 a.m. sessions any longer as Marissa here came from over an hour away... alarm was set for 4:30 a.m... dolled up, loaded up and AT Stewart Photography Headquarters by 7:34 a.m. CDT. That's dedication, gang. And, why not? She was on tap for our ROCKSTAR session.

Loyal readers of our blog (Marissa's mom, Carol, being one of our biggest followers, btw) remember just a couple weeks back when we did Jessie's rockstar event. Looking back... Jess took it easy on me. ;-)

Marissa and I got through FIFTEEN outfits before we both cried uncle and collapsed in a heap in the middle of the street. Ok... we didn't collapse... but we were in the middle of the street. The top image in the blog here was right at the very end... and in fact... in the middle of the street. Love it.

Marissa and her mom made it really easy to bend over backwards for. Why? Because I could tell that they had a true love for photography themselves. In fact, Marissa brought in her Nikon D50 (a Nikon girl! WOO HOO!) and we got some super cool stuff from one artist to another.

She does soccer... she does volleyball... she does dance... she does photography... she does straight... she does curly... she shops with the best of 'em... Her boyfriend even spells his Bryan with a Y in the middle. It's all good. Enjoy the plethora of images where ALL 15 outfits are represented. And keep in mind folks... all this and no $400 session fee. In fact... no session fee at any level... at any time.

P.S. Shout out to sister Jennifer (Iowa Valley Marengo, '02) Don't you dare let those pouty lips pout about lil' sis having way more images.... digital is a different era, girl. Your 75 poses back in the day was a TON for film. :-)

Some Joe in the morning...

Friday morning brought us yet another area athlete wanting something more than just the run of the mill sports shot. Joe here was the No.2 gun in the GMG rotation this past season which saw the Wolverines make it to the third round of the postseason for the first time in many years. Joe was pivotal in getting to the District Final as he spun a gem in getting the win in round two of tourney play.

Check out the image that shows off Joe's delivery. We took lots of shots to get the EXACT look I was wanting here. I was probably driving the guy nuts with my anal attention to detail.... but the effort didn't go unrewarded as the sequence shot is SWEET!

Joe is a member of an extended family at GMG that nearly all the cousins from Wolverine country have been very loyal to our studio. Cousin Jami came along with Joe to scout things out for her upcoming August 19 session. I put that girl to work holding reflectors and strobes... I think she should make Joe come back and return the favor! Speaking of cool deliveries... that girl's pitching windup is fun to watch as well... lots of hurlers in the family... stay tuned.