In mid-September of 2011 I photographed the older sis. And Mother Micah warned me then.
Be ready for daughter number two.
I was introduced and bumped into #2 on a couple of occasions at East Marshall/BCLUW athletic tilts, so I had an idea of what I was up against.
Or did I?
Micah Gorder called just about a month ago and was the lucky mom that picked up the very LAST spot we had available at the time prior to school starting. She was relieved. Why? Because she has a busy kid, that's why.
A multi-sport athlete for BCLUW High School in Conrad, Haley Veldhouse took Monday May 11th as it was the only spot we had left before her senior year of classes begin on the 19th. As many of your know that have football, volleyball or cross-country runners around the state of Iowa... that was the first day of official practices in preparation for season openers just a couple weeks away.
And in an ultimate sign of respect and clout for either Haley or Stewart Photography... or both... BCLUW's first volleyball practice got moved from the A.M. to the P.M. so that senior leader, and Monday's guest of honor at Stewart Photography could get her senior images captured AND also make practice in the same day.
I asked Haley several times if that was indeed true. A good reporter doesn't run with a story until he has it confirmed from two independent sources... so I'm still skeptical... but Miss Veldhouse most assuredly confirmed it was true.
So to any Comets that were hoping to get it over early on Monday.... we're sorry?
Haley also made me do a double take when she confidently informed me that she and her gang of BlackNgold girls from BCLUW have every intention of winning the NICL West Volleyball title this fall. Any claims like that in a league that includes perennial state power Grundy Center certainly shows a high level of confidence... but hey... belief is half the battle sometimes... so I applaud her preseason hopes.
With our schedule at the studio, I don't get to see much area volleyball, so I can't speak as much of an authority on the topic ever since I turned in my sports writer cap while covering the Marshalltown Bobcats on their way to a state title twenty-one years ago, for a life with a camera instead. But if they gave out awards based on appearance alone... Haley passes the eye test for sure.
Rock solid legs with a pair of pipes to match, Miss Veldhouse not only rocked the volleyball uni, but take one glance at the Rembrandt lighting on her head and shoulder profile image in her dress. Girl is put together to play volleyball... and that's undoubtedly why she chose to focus on that sport for her special day.
We had other areas to cover, to be sure. I was told on their way in the door that Haley was still recovering from a long motorcycle trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin and back in honor of her boyfriend's beloved family member Mike Koch who was taken from us way too soon. Haley had wanted to go on the tribute ride for Mr. Koch dubbed "Crusin' for Mike" for the past couple years, and finally, Mama Micah relented and said she could go as long as she wore her helmet. The image below is Haley's tribute to Mike who was a former truck driver for Green Products.
The day wouldn't have been complete without me learning a few things. I normally consider myself to be a pretty smart guy most of the time, but I guess Micah and Haley taught me a thing or two about ghost chasing and pigeon houses. All I had to offer was telling Haley old football stories about her uncle Josh and I back in the day when her mom and I were seniors at LDF-SEMCO back in the day.
Lame, I know.
Hopefully the images we created are a better offering than glory days reminiscing. I told the girls at least a couple of times on Monday that I appreciated their loyalty to our studio... and I'll say it again here. Thanks for coming back.
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