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...

Myles away...

Wednesday brought us the second Bartlett brother from East Marshall in two years as Myles dropped in for his senior session.

Myles' dad, Darrell admitted to me on the initial phone call a couple weeks back that Mr. Myles had to be convinced that this was even worth doing... so I knew I had my work cut out for me! ;-)

I had seen Myles around a bunch over the past few years... let's be honest... it's hard to miss that hair, right my man?

Regardless, it was a fun session getting to know the guy a little better... I found out that Myles will someday be protecting us all from computer viruses and the like as he's planning on going into cyber-defense at ITT upon graduation. I usually ask seniors what they are wanting to do with their lives during the session... and I can't recall anyone ever saying that they were planning on defending my computer's honor. Someone's gotta do it, right?

My email, blog and website thank you in advance, Myles.

Horsin' around with Linz...

We had ourselves an honest to goodness cowgirl in on Tuesday afternoon.

Lindsey (which morphs into Linz or Linzy) had the plaid, the jeans, the belt buckles... the boots, the spurs, the saddles... and, of course... the horse.

Three of them.

I got the opportunity to meet Scooby, Taz and Yogi, and as challenging as horses can be sometimes, they actually did very well in the behavior department. Perhaps Mama Lee would argue as she was doing most of the "discipline" with our four-legged friends... but overall, I thought it went as smooth as one could expect. Check out the shot below with all three horses (and more importantly... all six ears pointed forward!)

Not that I would expect anything less from a tough gal like Linzy, but she REALLY impressed me with her desire to get in our creek at this late time in the season. Most gals for the past couple of weeks have opted to just "get close" to the water... but Linz was not satisfied with that. So our senior gal starts to wade out into the frigid water and what we both didn't realize is how DEEP the creek had gotten. Check out the water mark on Lindsey's pants! So much for a babbling brook!

All the country girl aside, Linzy proved she's not just a one-trick pony (pun intended). I totally didn't expect the zebra striped heels and what she called the shortest skirt ever! She didn't stop there however, as she busted out the heels for a little black dress as well.

Bottom line... Linzy kept me hoppin' with a session that hit all ends of the spectrum.