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.
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