Meeting Max, Morgan, Mad Wasps, Midwest Machine, Muscle Cars and one Mega Mustang...

What a mouthful!  ;)

Friday's session was none other than East Marshall's Jay Reisetter.

Up until Friday morning at 7 a.m... Jay, to me... was "the brother of my former employee."

His older sister worked several summers for me at the studio... and to say that she's special to me... would be an understatement.

The stories are endless... Inside jokes aplenty, and all the laughs were ones that would make your ribs hurt... and they still do.

But Friday was little bro's day... but I was tickled to see Morgz as soon as I pulled in the gravel drive of the Reisetter's at the crack of dawn at week's end.

She had taken the day off from Wolfe Eye Clinic to help Back Door Friend (a.k.a. Mama Jodi) and Papa Dave with the festivities...

I was warned in advance that Jay had lots of toys to highlight.   A crotch rocket... a 57-Chevy, a vintage Camaro SS and his 1984 Silverado pickup.

So the first hour of the session was all about highlighting all the vehicles while the sun was barely up.   Jay took total ownership of these images... as guys often do with stuff they are passionate about.  Not even the usual Morgan mockery was gonna slow down our senior guy when it came to his rides.

After all the transportation shots were completed... the show got stolen.

No... not by my former employee... it was the four-legged variety this time.

Name... Max....  breed... Yellow Labrador.


Seems as though every Lab I've ran into over the years at the studio have been the friendliest and most loyal dogs a guy will ever meet... and Max was no different.

The series of images that we got in the next hour with Max were truly priceless... and had us all laughing.   I was informed that Max sleeps in Jay's bed every night (and usually leaves little room for Jay).   So, in addition to all the shots of Max showing off his obedience and playing fetch like it was his job, we HAD to get a shot of Max sprawled out where Jay lays his head nightly... hogging the bed, per usual!  ;)

We then busted it into Marshalltown for some urban looks... and THAT's when things got weird... and a little painful.

I stopped at a few abandoned buildings on the north side of the viaduct that crosses the tracks on 3rd Avenue.  We circled onto the south side of the first building where there was a neat old doorway with some vines around it.

Jay stepped up the broken stairs and into the doorway... and turned to face me.

And that was a mistake.

Neither one of us saw the wasp's nest that was at the top of the door... and unfortunately... we BOTH paid for it.

Jodi and Morgan didn't know what had happened.... but both the senior and photographer were suddenly scrambling and swatting like mad men... and then both holding our aching heads.   Jay on the top of his head... the photographer right in the right eyebrow.

Time to scratch THAT idea.   Moving on.

So we shuttled to the north to the next building... hoping that it might have a few less ticked off bugs with stingers... and I'm happy to say... the remainder of the session was sting-free.

What I DID stumble into, however... was an unintended coincidence.

Two buildings to the north, sits a red brick building that says, "Midwest Machine and Welding" at the top.   Turns out... Jay's great grandfather started that business.... a few generations ago.   Naturally... we HAD to use that building then... but the REALLY cool thing to me?   Our senior guy just so happens to be named after the former owner of Midwest Machine... that's right... the original Jay Reisetter... is the namesake to Dave and Jodi's only son.

Talk about a blind squirrel getting a nut.  ;)

We then returned to the studio to get our fill of indoor, work in some Mustang athletics (Jay starts at linebacker and will be a returning state qualifier in wrestling) and, of course, we had to let Morgan catch up in her old stomping grounds... That being said... we weren't done yet.   I wasn't gonna let things end until I took Team Reisetter home to get one more shot.

Before we left the house the first time... I suggested that at the very end... we come back and get Jay in his home and away from home...

Under the hood of a vehicle.

Of course... getting all greasy wouldn't be a good idea until we were done with the rest of the images... so it was back to the Reisetter garage to get what i feel is Jay's trademark image... the first image of this blog... and the main image now on his montage.  Part of my job is to tell senior's stories and bring out their personalities by figuring out what makes them tick... and this image is Jay to a T.   That image is the very last shot I took on this day.


Talk about saving the best for the last.  :)

And then there was the only boy...

Cindy DeBrower gave me her fourth call in five years this summer... but this time, things were different.

For three straight senior seasons, I was blessed with seeing a DeBrower daughter.

Starting with fabulous Randi as part of the HLV Class of 2009... follow by the eclectic Reed in 2010 and then one of my favorite blogs of all time with Cheyenne in 2011... we had certainly taken care of the female side of things in spades.

This time around, however?   We had a different challenge.

A young fella.

Greg and Cindy's only son, Mr. Tanner DeBrower was due and he was just so kind to give the family a one-year opportunity to catch their breath before coming back for more!

I was trying to think tonight as I author this blog of how many times over a 19 year career that we've had the chance to photograph four or more kids from the same family.  Perhaps our blog followers can help me out here... but, I'm not sure it's happened more than a handful of times.

That kinda loyalty is few and far between nowadays... so i owe a debt of gratitude to Cindy and the family.

All that being said... the one and only DeBrower son waited all this time... and then had to wait some more.

Originally he was scheduled on Tuesday afternoon the 24th.   And with actual temperatures set for all time highs of 104 degrees... I made contact with Cindy... and said... "There ain't no way on God's green Earth we're shooting Tuesday afternoon."

After discussing the options, and getting permission to take the morning of my wife's birthday to work... we settled in on Thursday.

Temps in the mere 80s seemed like a meat cooler after what we've been through... and to add to my blessings... Tanner was a guy that was right up my alley.

Conversational and athletic... I knew this was gonna be a fun one.

Mama Cindy could barely get in two words between the two sports fanatics... but after three sessions with the ladies... that was okay.   She learned my "guy theory" on posing for the first time four trips to Montour... and for the first time... we had a focus on Warrior athletics, too. 

Tanner's outfits required something else new for Cindy as well... a road trip.   The girls' relative rural or country look to their attire lent us to a hometown session.   But with young Tanner... small town was not gonna do.

So, it was off to the city to get him some bricks and mortar... and all that meant was more talk about the upcoming 8-man schedule... Tanner's recovery from knee-surgery and all things black and red Warrior style.

After getting our urban looks... we made our way back to the studio for the sports stuff that Tanner was really there for in the first place.

Most guys don't get THAT pumped up for this... but Tanner wasn't like most guys.

For you see... Tanner.... since March 25, 2009... has been the man of the house.

I can't pretend to know what it feels like to have your father taken away from you at a young age... but the fact is... even Randi... the FIRST senior in line from the DeBrower family... didn't get to have Daddy there on graduation day.

Greg DeBrower was taken from us far too early at the young age of 42 that spring.  Since then... all three girls have walked across and gotten their diplomas in Victor... and are all working towards their degrees in college as we speak.

Each and every one of the DeBrower kids are as unique and different as you'll ever find.   While I found myself having the most natural connections with the last of four... they have all been special to me in some way.   Randi's orneryness, Reed's mysterious smile... The wow-factor Cheyenne's blog created... and then finally... the only boy.

Tanner was so easy to talk to... I found myself thinking... if i could subtract 20..... err 25 years.... he'd be my best friend in high school.  No lie.

It was just another experience that our studio seems to have due to taking the time to get to know people.   Sure it might be "just taking pictures" to some.... but to me... it's more than that.

Tanner... I have no doubt... Your Dad would be proud of the young man you've become... and I can tell... your Mom is, too.

Tyler's toys...

Another Comet... and another advanced scouting report.

It wasn't only maybe five minutes into the session that I had both then senior and his mom beaming.

"Everyone I talk to, Tyler... says the same thing... without fail."

Really?  What's that?

"I like that guy."

Toss in a few great-kids and nice fellas along with an occasional, "Awww, I LOVE Tyler," and it was clear to me, even before the session that one of BCLUW's favorite sons was on his way.

I had a little bit of a hit of what was to come, despite my army of Comet Informants, because I had photographed older brother Jacob, just last year... and even had a brief handshake with Tyler last year when Mama Kelley picked up Jake's order.

The neat thing was to see Kelley's smile when I told Tyler his advanced reputation.  Tyler just looked down and smiled as he leaned up against the barn board we were about to photograph by... but Mom was looking at her son... beaming the smile of a parent that knows that she's done something right.

I was told a long time ago that our job as parents is to make sure that our children behave in such a way that OTHERS enjoy their presence.   Clearly that was the case here... and like all prime-time-players... Tyler didn't disappoint... he delivered on that rep.

And why not, it's easy when you're just being yourself.... and what better way for this country boy to be in his element than to bring in some of his favorite toys.

After seeing a HUGE jacked up pickup the year prior, I fully expected to see something similar this go-around, and when the cherry red Dodge Ram parked out front with a shine that could blind a guy... I nodded and thought... yep... called it.

In the back of the Dodge was his four-wheeler, and I knew then what our first hour of the session would be spent doing.   A jacked up truck... tailgates... four wheelers... talk of big green tractors.   Is this a Jason Aldean video or real life?

;)

My job was made easier because, as some of you may know... Tyler's mom does some photography of her own back home.  It's an honor that she has deferred to me for her kids' senior images... but she has been a great help both times... not only with right hand-gal type assistance... but also with providing candid images of her boys at play with the John Deere that would be too much work to get to Montour...  So hats definitely go off to Kelley's efforts.  (Tyler KNEW she was good for SOMETHING, right?)  :)

I was told by Kelley at both sessions that somehow I had better luck at getting the boys to really SMILE than she could get herself.   Perhaps it's the... c'mon-seriously-mom factor... or having to take pictures in sweatshirts in 100-degree heat prior to coming to the session... but I've found it easy to coax a genuine grin out of the fellas... My guess is that it has little to do with me... and a lot to do with the perceived relative importance of the images...

When you've got a most-likable reputation to uphold... it's my job to portray that... and I think we did.

Thanks Team Smith... great to see you all again.

Spotlight on the record holder...

There's dedication... and then there's DEDICATION!

News flash... we've been having some hot days recently.  I've mentioned that I've had some seniors making sacrifices of taking the normal way-to-early start time of 8 a.m. and moving it to 7 a.m.... in order to beat the heat.

So when life long friend, Sheila Bowers called last Wednesday to ask what their options for her son Austin were... I threw it out there....

"We've had alot coming early... I know it might be unrealistic to get him here any earlier than 7 a.m., even.... but honestly... we can shoot anytime after 6 a.m.... and I'll be here either way if you wanna come early.

I figured I'd see Austin and his mom at about 7:50 a.m.... per usual.  :)


Then comes the text on Thursday... only hours before the session....

"Talked to Austin... we'll be there at 6 a.m."

Whoa.

I've been doing this for 19 years now... and I can unequivocally say that one thing I've NEVER seen, is a senior pulling up to my studio at 6 a.m.

Forgive me when I tell you that I thought that I would believe it when I saw it.

Well over 3,000 seniors into this career... and if you check my personal facebook site from last Friday... you'll see a photograph of Shelia pulling up to the front of the studio with Austin riding shotty at 5:58 a.m.

Double whoa.

I can't tell you how impressed I was with this kind of effort... and if THEY were this into the process... how in the world could I not return the favor?

All of the record setting alarm clock time aside... the session itself was equally as impressive as we got after it right out of the gate.

It was yet another East Marshall football player... with another trip to the field in LeGrand to capture something unique.   I've admitted that I've been pushed to the wall with such a quantity of Mustangs in such a short amount of time.  It didn't take long for Austin to take care of my little problem, however.

I got all my gear out on the track... took one more look at the the scoreboard on the south end of the facility and then the answers to prayer came.

"I can get up there."

WHAT?

"Just give me a boost... I can get up there."

Creative artistic block solved.

I gave Mr. Kingrey a shoulder to lean on and within a couple seconds, he was up on the platform that frames the scoreboard, and we had our second "first ever occurrence" in studio history, within about a half hour.

The result we got was pretty cool, I thought.

In addition, once I got him safely down from his perch... we got lots of other things accomplished at the field that I would normally not have been able to get if he woulda "slept in" and been there at the normal 8 a.m. time.   The early bird gets the worm, indeed.  :)

So we nailed the football thing... But it was after that, that we perhaps got his MOST unique images.

Austin has been the main man at East Marshall theatrical productions in recent years when it comes to making sure the crowd SEES and HEARS the stage stars properly.   He wanted to find a way to highlight his running of the spotlights.... and the soundboard in the back of the old gym that has been there since the 1950s.   It was a challenge to be sure to get what I had envisioned... and I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't accidentally fall into a couple amazing images... but overall... I was tickled and got goosebumps from some of the shots we got that morning in the old barn.

I think it's really cool with a senior guy that would normally take a real hands off I-don't-care approach to their session... and will turn it around to complete and total ownership of the moment.   Austin did that... and you know what?   That makes my job so much more exciting when it's a collaborative effort.  :)

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my long-time connection to mom and step dad in this case.   When i mentioned life-long friend... that doesn't mean a flippant few years.... It means... sharing preschool... kindergarten... elementary school... junior high... and high school... and for the most part... with just around 20 classmates that made up our class.... TWENTY??  that's right... if consolidation never happened... it woulda been just 22 of us walking across the stage in Gilman.

As it were... it ended up being around 75 of us in LeGrand walking across the stage for graduation...  but you don't forget those you grew up with and shared every step of the way...  Of those 22... I would count Sheila as one my very closest friends growing up.

To say that I am honored that she brought her son to me to capture these most important images for them, would be an understatement.  Add in the fact that she's married to my life long buddy, Jason "Spud" Bowers... the layers of the onion just keep peeling back.

I don't take these things lightly.

I hope your images prove my thanks for your choice. 

;)