Long wait ends for the Longs...

The wait is finally over...

Team Karly SAID they would be patient. It would all be worth it. Take your time... We understand.

Pffffff.

If you would've been here 11 days ago and experienced the carnival that is Jeanne Long, Kelley Roseland and their two daughters, Karly and Sami... you would KNOW this.

They've been DYING a slow death for a week and a half. :)

Wait no more ladies! Now you and the entire world can see how much fun we had that morning as Karly Long FINALLY got her senior pictures taken.

Originally scheduled on what was a completely dead week right after the July 4th holiday, the Long's weren't ready as East Marshall softball kept the gang of ladies from doing their prerequisite shopping.

No big deal... just reschedule, right? Right.

Plopped smack dab into the busiest time of the year this go around... the "punishment" has been waiting on Yours Truly to climb out of a PILE of JPEGs.

I knew I was in for a CRAZY morning from the moment the four ladies walked in the door that Thursday morning. For those that know this quartet... you are aware that I, for once, wasn't the entertainment for the day. For those of you who are in the dark on this.... think VOLUME... think LAUGHTER... think DANCING LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING.

If I wanted to let my sleep deprived body get the best of me on this day... there would be nothing of the sort as they simply would not allow it with the non-stop jokes, giggling and razzing.

Let me just say this... whatever these girls are taking... I'll take a full prescription. :)

Up until this point, I had two assumptions about Karly.

1) A quiet girl.

2) Kind of a Tom-boy.

Usually a girl of few words and a pony tail and athletic gear is the picture I recall in my mind's eye.

I can now throw THAT out the window.

Get her with her family and put her on a day when she's supposed to look her very best and...

BAYUM...

I looked through the lens and could only retort... "KARLY LONG! When did you go and get HOT on me??!?!"

Karly smiled shyly like she does... and looked down at the floor... but it was the truth... and judging from the excitement that all the WHOOP WHOOPs and YEAH-AHHs that were ringing out everytime I let them peek at the back of the camera, they knew it, too.

One can get away with such a statement when you go all the way back to high school with the two moms that were present... I was being honest... these gals couldn't be BS'ed anyway. It was time to shine, and Karly flat out killed it all morning long.

Oh we had to get her in her trademark ponytail for a trip to the EM softball diamond and gymnasium, and I thoroughly enjoyed Karl's complaining about her mom's "ability" to set up a volleyball spike opportunity . (we're old, Jeanne... I guess that's what we get for letting a couple decades pass) ;)

I told the ladies this morning that I'm considering hiring them to serve as session "cheerleaders" of sorts on a full-time basis. I know I couldn't afford them, but I do know this...

The Fun Factor couldn't help but go off the charts on a daily basis.

Thanks for the crazy session gang... you're the best.

E.S.

Jacked about Dak...

I always kinda hoped we'd land this guy.

Turns out, we did.

I've been doing Dakotah's baseball pictures since the time he was in t-ball. And every year, without fail.. it's been the biggest order.

Dude's family likes pictures.

And in the business I'm in... that's a very good thing.

So when his session was booked this summer, not only was I excited to photograph another one that I watched grow up from the time he was knee-high... but I know they appreciate my work... BIG time.

There was really three main areas of focus with Dak's session.

Baseball... given.

The family pond... naturally.

And we talked Hawks... sweetness.

Dakotah is coming off another fine season for Denny Allen's Mustang baseball squad. A Times-Republican all-area performer, there could be no doubt that the tributes to hardball were gonna be done up.

Often imitated... never duplicated.... just another 20 layer sports collage for Mr. Wolken to commemorate a four year career that has one more season to go. Don't be surprised if next season ends at Principal Park.

He's slight of build... but don't let that fool ya... dude has a whip. His honors were gathered in the outfield.. but Dak packs the heat on the mound as well. I was at several games this summer in which Dakotah took the hill for the Mustangs, and no one was better for a team that came within a couple innings of making the state tournament.

I had been to the Wolken family pond a couple of times over the past decade to photograph cousins of Dakotah... but it was his turn to be shot around the locale that he spends alot of his free time relaxing at. We had our work cut out for us with a high sky and barely a cloud to be found, but with the skilful help of his Aunt Darla, we overcame.

Finally... I learned that Dak is a HUGE Hawkeye fan. In fact... he and I will be sitting just one section apart at all the games at Kinnick this fall. He's in section 109... I'm in 110. How cool is that? I'm not so sure we might not have to tailgate together at some point in what will be our first ever Big 10 Legends Division Championship season. Right, Dak?

It's great to be a Hawkeye.... and your photographer.

Thanks, Brutha.

A tip of the hat to Team Benda...

They can all just keep coming back... as much as they want...

Even if it's not their session.

I photographed my second senior from Carolyn and Brad Benda's family recently, and I'm not gonna lie... I'm a big fan.

Leading the charge for the fourth time now was the sweetest of all sweethearts, Lauren Benda.

Lauren (now a student at UNI) has been to the studio in FOUR consecutive senior seasons. Her own session in 2008. Melissa Mossman's in 2009. Bethany Hall's turn a year ago... and now... her brother's turn.

Joshua.

Before I get to Josh... let me just say that if I'm gonna get paid a visit by Lauren annually for the rest of my career, that's ok with me. Anyone who knows Lauren would agree... to know the girl, is to like her. In addition, the apple didn't fall far from the tree because her sensational mother, Carolyn (who is my Central College "sister") couldn't be more friendly and easy to talk to. I've spent time with Josh's mom on just a couple of occasions, but it seems like she's an old friend from way back that you could say about anything to.... and I have.

I read something this week as kids were leaving for college that a good friend of mine told one of last year's seniors as she embarked on a new chapter of her life. This friend told the freshman-to-be that her job was to get educated so that she may provide more for her future children than she had herself.

A noble thought, to be sure. Honorable. Decent. Responsible. Upstanding.

(*soap box alert*) However. If I may respectfully disagree... If we're gonna look ahead as to what our duties are as parents... I may contend that it's our duty to ensure that our children are God fearing, and enjoyable for OTHERS to be around.

My point? If my theory is correct, somewhere along the line, Brad and Carolyn have done something right.

If Lauren is the sweetest of the sweet.... then Josh is the male counterpart.

It's rare for me to find a young fella that was as excited about his session and images as this guy was. A guitarist, a mallet player, an AUTHOR (yep... already gettin' published) and a servant of the Lord, Josh was SO into the session. I bet he coulda stayed all day... and let me tell you... that's rare. Most guys are wondering why things have to take more than 30 minutes! :)

It was just neat to see a guy's wheels churning like that... I could tell that he was just tickled to be there because he KNEW he was gonna get cool stuff. So when we were putting our heads together and pushing towards the same goal in tandem (with the wonderful support of two of the finest ladies you will EVER meet), it just made the creativity surge forward that morning.

Everyone knows by now that my schedule has really caught up to me and that while physically and mentally this is a grind that I've seen before every August, that doesn't make it any easier when you're in the middle of the storm.

Special thanks to Team Benda for being a breath of fresh air when I needed it most.

A Brave New World...

Unless the sleep deprivation is clouding my memory... I think it's been over 15 years since I've seen one.

A Montezuma senior.

I know we photographed a couple Braves early on in my career in the mid to late 90s, but it has certainly been awhile.

That all came to an end about 10 days ago.

Brady Losure found his way to Montour for his senior session. I have to give credit where credit is due... long time friend of Stewart Photography, Mindy Finders, did some coaxing of her family member, Dede... (who is also known as Brady's mother). One thing leads to another and, bam.... here comes Brady's bunch.

With his folks and his kid brother, Carson along for the ride we systematically put Brady through the torture test.

:)

A self-admitted non-smiler, Brady refused to allow his dear mom even one "payoff" for all that money spent on orthodontics. We had many fella like that over the years... some just refuse because they don't like their teeth... some are just angry at the world...

Neither of those were the case on this day... Brady was a quiet guy... and nice enough... just wanted to do his trademark smirk instead.

We had four tasks at hand, despite failing to trick Mr. Losure into even ONE toothy grin. One was his Montezuma basketball stuff... the second was his love of all things Playstation 3 (and specifically Call of Duty)... third... his 2006 Ford Mustang (sweetness).... and fourth... (gasp), he had to take a few images with his little brother! OH the HORROR! :)

We got it all worked in, and it probably took longer than what Brady woulda preferred... but he survived. Hopefully I lived up to the hype that Mindy surely led Dede to believe. ;)