One of the neat parts of working with East Marshall seniors for me is the little inside jokes that we develop over the years of doing sports pictures... proms... homecomings... or just seeing each other in the community and knowing what makes each other tick.
So when I looked at the weather forecast the day before Haley Long's senior session... I was looking at one thing, and one thing only.
The forecasted WIND speed.
Let me explain.
It goes all the way back to when Haley was in junior high. Long before she was ever an all-state softball player... or a homecoming queen candidate.
I was prepping to go to the middle school to do track pictures and, like many spring days in Iowa... it was windy. Like WAY windy. It was one of those sustained 30 mph days that threaten to leave your face red with wind burn if you're out in it for any length of time.
I know you're probably thinking... no big deal... it's just sports pictures, right? What's the problem?
The problem? Hair.
For the fellas, it's usually not a big deal. And while the gals who compete in athletics normally wear their hair up in a pony... or do a french braid or something of the kind to make them "game ready" my experience with picture day has told me this with the gals... Picture Day does not equal Game Day...
Translation? It might be "just track pictures," but I'll be darned if the gals don't wanna look like they just stepped out of a salon anyway!
Which is fine... I don't look good unless THEY look good... so normally I'm all for it. The exception? When picture day feels like a minor HURRICANE has swept in!
Some gals had taken precautions... used the ponytail holder... dropped in a headband... extra hair pins... you name it. One that didn't? You guessed it. Eighth grader Haley Long.
As the case would be, the strong wind was at her back (because we HAD to face the the kids away from the direct sun) which, of course... blew her hair consistently, persistently and annoyingly in her face.
After a couple of minutes of fighting with it, trying to be patient and realizing that we simply weren't gonna get that lull that we needed, young Miss Long snapped.
"CAN'T YOU JUST TURN US THE OTHER WAY!?!?"
Naturally, I refused to take subpar images with the kids looking right into the midday sun... so we were stuck.
The fallout was... that THAT encounter became our joke for the next four years. Inevitably, and sadly... it seemed to reoccur more often than not. I can't say how many times softball pictures brought gale force winds with them, but it seemed like you could almost set your watch to it.
Heck, even when I would show up to volleyball pictures in the gymnasium.... Haley and I would joke around about it. "At least we don't have to deal with wind in here!!!"
So, when Haley booked her senior pictures with Stewart Photography, I was just SURE that I was going to be blessed with a breezier than normal day.
That being said, when I checked the Weather Channel app on my phone the day before Haley's session, to my disbelief it said - "sunny with winds at 2 mph."
Praise the Lord!
If anyone deserved a calm day for her day, It was her.
The only wind she faced on this day was generated in the studio... by my Stanley brand three gear shop fan to make things more dramatic. (in addition to the hot air that ALL seniors have to put up with once they get their "windy" photographer talking about things he's passionate about!) But other than that? It was THANKFULLY not a factor!
So we went where we wished with no fear of wind direction. We were all over Marshall County... hitting bridges, train tracks and even making an appearance at Grandma Bev's, but my favorite spot was going to her place were we shot with her puppy... worked in a couple places they NEVER thought would make a good picture... and then even made time to take some images by the side of grandpa's old rusted 55 Chevy. We got really unique stuff for Hales, which felt particularly good to me, because I consider her folks, Todd and Darla, personal friends... Papa Todd has come thru for us time and time again with construction projects at our home... doors, windows... our amazing deck. It was only fair that I return the favor this time!
We saved the best for last however, as we usually leave sports images to the very end. Haley had told me the day before her session that she was very nervous about the whole deal. I suppose that's natural. But I assured her, that she was just hanging out with her old friend, Bryan... and heck... this was NOTHING compared to auditioning for All-State Choir (one of her loves) and taking pictures flat out PALES in comparison to getting the starting pitching assignment with the first state softball tournament bid for your school in seventeen years on the line.
Yet... she got that assignment... and just like her senior session... she came through with flying colors.
And that's anything but a lot of hot air.
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