Carly Kielman and her mom and sister, Emma were in a while back for the eldest of the six Kielman siblings' senior session.
It was all there out in front of me... Do a good job... Make them feel how Stewart Photography seniors feel... And HOPEFULLY, I'll have earned even MORE business down the road.
Being a small business family themselves (Papa Dirk runs Iowa Bath Systems) they know how this goes. Treat people fairly... give them an honest days work... and never forget the Golden Rule.
So we set out to treat Carly how I would want my own daughter treated. We made great images... had lots of laughs... shared stories getting to know one another... talked family (my youngest son has played Carly's brother Ben alot already in their young sporting lives) talked sports (Carly's senior cross country campaign at West Marshall was drawing to a close) talked even more sports (what is it that makes teams successful?) and even education (public school vs. home schooling).
But most importantly... we talked about God.
It's not always that my senior sessions get this deep. But I knew after a few minutes I had a like-minded audience. So when I was asked HOW it was that I ended up in photography, Carly, Emma and Sarah were then given my how-I-became-who-I-am story. And for those of you who have heard it before... you'll also know it's my testimony.
There's not enough space in this forum to steal Carly's thunder and go into it... but rest assured... God wanted me here in this small town of Montour... doing what I do. Not being the math whiz making copious sums of cash... or even the sports writer that I thought was gonna do when the math thing fell through.
The girls got a blow-by-blow account of how God spun his complicated web around my life that eventually turned a no-grey-area kinda guy who didn't care for art because there wasn't a specific "answer" to a question that could get me an A grade. Yet somehow... I ended up in an art field.
So I encouraged blue-eyed Carly... like I do to most seniors that I photograph... to go into a field that makes them happy... that if they could do ANYTHING... regardless of schooling... costs.... years invested... or earning potential, what would it be?
It's a liberating way to look at your life... especially when you're in your late teens... or early twenties, but what better time is there to look at the world, and hopefully use God's guidance to steer you in a direction based on your heart. I might be just their photographer... but I hope that I've gotten a few seniors over the years to examine things this way.
The bottom line is that I was very impressed with Miss Carly. I found Mama Sarah easy to talk to as well, and anyone that encourages me to blab, takes on the role of "insta-fav" overnight. :)
Luckily for me, the Kielman's weren't done with me after Carly's three outfits. Not long afterwards, Dirk and Sarah set up family pictures where I got to be introduced to Dirk's goatee (thickest one you'll ever see) the three boys... Ben, 11 years; Danny, 9 years; and Joe, 3 years. Of course I can't forget the cutest lil' girl you'll ever see in one year old Ruthie. It may have been COLD that afternoon, but the results were totally worth it. It was clear to me that FAMILY meant a lot to them... and I was honored to document this landmark year in the Kielman's family history for them.
I can't be totally sure that I'll eventually see the remainder of the Kielman kiddos down the road. As we both know... none of us is promised tomorrow (or repeat business for that matter!). But I do know one thing. The Kielmans are rooted in the way, and I'm glad that we got to know each other. Regardless of where Carly's travels take her in the year's to come, her heart is in the right place... and as long as that is her guide, she can't go wrong.
You've done very well, Sarah and Dirk. Just five more to go. :)
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