Shelby, shades, sports and a schoolin' with Schossow

One of the best things about my job is getting to know kids that I've watch grow up before my eyes... a little bit better.

Up until a few weeks ago... Drew Schossow was known to me mostly for a couple reasons.

I knew his mom ran Marshalltown's Optical Center, but my experience with HIM was one mostly of a comedic nature.

How so?

As with many East Marshall kids prior to their senior sessions, our exposure to them comes mainly in the form of sports team pictures.

A quick glance around the collection of images at the aforementioned Mama Julie and Papa Gar's home, and it wouldn't take long to figure out that Drew has a one HECK of a sense of humor.

A little twisted... but funny none the less.  ;)

Honestly, some of the antics that Drew and fellow cohort (and future Stewart Photography senior) Ben Terrones have requested had me thinking I may be receiving an angry phone call from the Schossows, but alas... evidently Julie and Gar have an ornery sense of humor themselves... (or maybe they are just resigned to the monster they have created!)

I think it's the former rather than the latter after Julie suggested the image of her son poppin the hundred dollar bill that you see below.

Drew had a few requests of his own.  We crafted another custom sports collage that highlighted one of East Marshall's fine cross-country athletes as well as a couple of SWEET cars.   Papa Gar's "babies" (his 66 Ford Fairlane and a 2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500) were must haves near the end of the session.

But mostly, the session was spent doing what we do at Stewart Photography when an East Marshall senior is in the house.   We talk like old friends do... and if we aren't ALREADY close... we become closer.   I found out that Drew is planning on being a part of our Armed Services that will allow him to attend the University of Virginia.  I don't hear THAT very often around these parts.

Julie and I shared stories that only small business owners can appreciate (what happens with small business owners... STAYS will small business owners).   In addition, Mrs. Schossow is a member of EM's School Board and, predictably, couldn't escape Drew's session without fielding several Mustang related questions from me... but, to be fair... I think I gave her some information that SHE wasn't yet privy to as well.

In the end, it was another great EM senior session with one of their best products.  A day after one of my worst moments as a Mustang fan, it's fitting that even though he wasn't aware he did it... Drew reminded me what it is to be a true fan.  Be there through thick and thin...  Decked out in purple body paint in 100 degree temps, the scoreboard didn't deter the senior SuperFan... and that's the way it should be.

It's not how you start... but how you finish...

 The question came via email the day before her session.

"Could I bring my two dogs to the session?"

While it certainly feels like the dog days of summer THIS week... back in early August... it was actually quite nice that morning and in came thirteen year old Buster and two year old Hank for their time to shine as part of Maddie's session.

Papa Kevin was here... as well as Mama Kim... and Team Nelson was ready to make an awesome image of Maddie and her two pups.

Except that the boys had other ideas.

I told the parties involved that we have pretty good luck with dogs... and we generally do.   But that day was different.

I'd get Hank to look... and Buster wasn't.   Then Buster's ears would pop up... and Hank's weren't.   One would sit up... and the other would lay down wanting to play.  

It was comical to be sure, and you add in the fact that both dogs seemed excited and worked up and the result was an ever-present tongue perma-hanging out.

We did get some good images of them separately with Miss Maddie... but the one together seemed like a losing battle.  Kevin told me a couple of times to just get what I could get... and through the magic of photoshop... you're seeing the eyes forward... ears up... and yes... tongues out on both labs.

So, yeah the session didn't get off to a lightning quick start... but that's ok... it's a marathon, not a sprint, right?

Maddie had some of the cutest outfits planned including one of my personal favorites lately... Little dress... cowboy boots... jean jacket.   Call it my unhealthy obsession with Taylor Swift or what you will, but it works for me.  I informed Maddie that even if she WASN'T a country girl... due to her clothes... we were gonna MAKE her one on this day!  ;)

She wasn't done there though... she also had the seemingly prerequisite pair of bling jeans and fancy heels along with another super cute dress to pair up with the stilettos.   That same dress joined forces with Maddie's tradmark blue Volkswagon Bug.   The car seemed to fit her personality exactly.

Finally... we finished with a flurry as Maddie had requested that she be IN some water to end her session.   Not just STANDING in water... but LAYING DOWN in it.

I told her that it was her laundry (or more accurately, Kim's most likely) so if that's what she wanted to do... I was all for it.

She assured me that it was ok, and after getting some "safer" images in our hip pocket... it was time to put up or shut up.   Complete in her blue jean shorts... grey shirt and adorable pink scarf, Maddie shed her shoes and down she went.... all the way down... into the creek.

Here smile came easy all day long... but never more so than at that moment.  I coulda retouched several of that series... but I picked my favorite and went with it.

So while the session struggled to get off the ground, all's well that ends well.   And I couldn't think of a better way to finish than Maddie and I making a totally fun request come to life.

Thanks for the effort Team Nelson!

Goin' out with a Bangasser...

Not gonna lie... this one scared me a little bit.

From the moment that I started receiving facebook and twitter messages prior to the session from the guy making it seem like we were old buddies from way back... it made me wonder.

A dynamic and engaging personality, I had never met Grundy Center's Lane Bangasser, but somehow... it felt like I had.

Those that know Lane won't be surprised to find out that, brazenly, he was informing the world via twitter that his session, along with my help, was going to be one for all times... winning at the highest level... epic.

I smiled inside thinking... how can someone with this much bravado not be fun to photograph?  

Back and forth we went trading compliments for the days leading up unto the session, and then finally, it was upon us.

Mama Chris, Lane and I exchanged pleasantries upon their arrival that Monday and it didn't take long for Lane to show that he wasn't just bold behind the keyboard at home.

Like many guys, he came with one major passion to pursue (sports), but other than that... he just wanted to look good... I assured him he was in the right place.

One might have felt sorry for Chris Bangasser having to put up with the two dueling wordsmiths.   The exchanges were brisk, clever and centering around sports.  (shocking, I know!)  

Time after time, I found Lane saying things that nearly echoed EXACTLY what I was thinking... or perhaps I thought... I WOULD have said that exact same thing when I was a senior.

Then he put his football uniform on... everything perfectly placed... new shoes... new gloves... and he plays wide receiver... just like his photographer did back in the day.

That's when it dawned on me.   It felt like I was photographing myself... from, well.... let's just say several years ago.

A time warp it was.  Two minds... thinking exactly alike... and that was dangerous.   When I designed Lane's sports images, I thought to myself... how would 18 year old BRYAN want this done... when I usually think, "how would the client want this?"

Even when I looked down at Mama Chris' oversized fountain drink sitting next to her chair in the camera room, I uttered, "BIG GULPS, huh?!?" 

Chris looked at me funny... but not Lane.   He nodded.  Knowingly.  

Of course he knew what I was referencing... and I wasn't surprised.  How could my senior clone NOT know I was quoting Dumb and Dumber?

Mom swore to do her American duty by watching the movie that coming weekend... I've yet to hear if she's followed up on her promise.

Under the circumstances, it was one of the most fun sessions to shoot ever.  Young confident Bryan.... errr Lane getting me up to speed on his accomplisments... dreams, and goals.  

I wouldn't intentionally put the scarlet letter of being JUST LIKE me on anyone unless I really felt that they could handle that kind of punishment... and, yes... Lane... You get the label, brother.

Carry the banner well, my friend.   I'd say something here about having some big shoes to fill, but I only wear a size 10, and if you're not careful where you walk... you might get nailed by the Tama sidewalk police.

Deuces and fist bumps

Escape to the Happy Place...

 I think I need to find this kinda place.

A place to escape... to get away... to find complete bliss.

The Gauthier Family of Gladbrook definitely has theirs.

So when old friend Mama Michele threw out the question a year ago on facebook to me, I was intrigued.

"Would you consider taking Lauren's senior pictures in Dubuque?"

In classic Michele fashion, an offer to make it a weekend and have my wife along for the festivities at her families' epic camp ground getaway was included in the invite.

As fellow small business owners, I understand the need to find an escape.  It sounded like a great time!

"Heck yeah!  We can do that!"

The commitment was made, now we just had to set the session up... but that would come several months later.

Eventually, it was set... for early August.   And while I was still super excited for the opportunity to try something new... I also knew that a weekend away ignoring what was already a mountain of waiting seniors... wasn't practical.  (wah-wah-wah-waaaaaaaaah!!)

Nevertheless... My word is my bond... and I was going to Dubuque... one way or another.

Lauren and sister Alyssa (Stewart Photography and Gladbrook-Reinbeck Alum - 2011) made their return to the studio along with their ever excitable mother, and we did what felt like our 'obligation' to get her a decent amount of indoor and some "rural" outdoor images.   But, make no mistake... the images we were to do along the Mighty Mississippi were what everyone was looking forward to.

After a few hours here at the studio... we were ready to make the 2 hour+ drive to the river.  There was only one problem I could foresee.

Sleep deprivation.

As most of my loyal blog followers know... the days are long and the nights are short this time of year for the studio owner.   Which, under MOST session's circumstances, isn't anything I can't power through.   However... add in the fact that DRIVING an extended distance puts me in insta-need-of-power-nap mode... I had concerns.   Both getting there.... and back.

No problem... Michele to the rescue!

Our senior mom stepped up and volunteered to drive the H3 and all the photo gear to Dubuque (along with its snoozing owner in the backseat).

Refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the session... we arrived at the gorgeous and revitalized Port of Dubuque where we shot around the around an amazing river walk.

Let there be no mistake... we weren't in Central Iowa anymore.   One of the few hilly area's in Iowa, it made for some interesting images to be sure.

The girls and I tootled around town trying to hit some of their favorite spots before the clouds that were moving in quickly stole the last hour of light.

The girls saved the best for last as after winding our way along the river, tucked way back into the backwoods, was this little gem of a campground.   Michele and hubby Chad tried to get me to stay... and as tempting as it was... they knew duty was calling me home.   We still took the time to capture some meaningful images of Lauren as well as some with her sis.   We had finally met up with Chad there and so it was great that he got to take part in the grand finale'.... despite the fact that I nearly blinded the man with our exterior strobe at point blank range.  :)

So, while I missed out on finding out why the owners of Gladbrook's B & G HVac and Day In the Sun TRULY love their getaway happy place with a barefoot bluejean night on the river, I did feel good that I had kept my promise.   It's one I won't ever forget.