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.
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