Football, FFA, 4H, Photography and a Flippin' Chicken

 I was told by Mathew Blink's mother that his session needed to include his love for all things farm and maybe his football stuff.   A trip to the family farm was originally planned, but when push came to shove, Team Blink decided that instead of having the photographer come to the farm... that they would bring the farm to the photographer.

Enter into the studio... a chicken.

I had photographed a live chicken several years back (Jacob Patterson, East Marshall class of '09... chicken farmer extraordinaire), but this would be our maiden voyage with a chicken IN the studio!

In addition... a myriad of Future Farmers of America stuff made it's way in the door, as well as a whole host of 4H pictures, projects and paraphernalia, and BAM.... The farm was represented.

As I will often do... I waited till the END of the session to do the stuff that means the most to the senior guy (as to keep their attention from waning too early)... so it was a couple "regular" outfits for our fella that I was told just might be kinda.... well.... let's say he wasn't really looking forward to the experience.

The fact that he might have to A) take off his Iowa State cap and B) actually smile... didn't appeal to Mr. Blink.

A funny thing happened on the way... and with Mama Traci and Kid Sis Mallory as my witnesses... I was told he smiled more in outfit ONE of the session than he had in his entire life previously!

No lie!

Another small victory for me!

Once the regular outfits were out of the way... the 45 minute task of setting up all the FFA/4H/Photography stuff was on... and the final piece of the puzzle was the fluffiest chicken I had ever seen.   It was really well behaved actually... even though I couldn't see its eyes do to all the FLUFF.   The best part was when Traci placed our feathered friend on Matt's shoulder like a parrot almost!   PRICELESS!

My job never gets boring, let me tell you.

We polished off the session with a tribute to the area's strongest high school football program as Mathew is a member the we-win-the-district-and-go-to-state annually, West Marshall Trojans.

All in all, I think the best thing was seeing how happy Mother Traci was in KNOWING her son was actually having fun... and the anxiety about getting great images was put to rest early on.

Just like the Trojan football team... we know a thing or two about #winning here.  ;)