Hoppin on the Kalan train...

Almost three weeks ago, I was in Vinton, Iowa watching my twelve year old play baseball like I have most Saturdays for the past two or three months. 

In between games, we made a trip around town looking for a place to eat and as we rambled down a cobble stone street and crossed some train tracks, I glanced to my right and, like a photographer will do, I noticed a totally cool old vintage railroad station.

"Oh look at that," I said to my wife.

By the time she and my son had looked, we were already past it.   Little did I know... I would return.    And sooner than later.

The baseball tourney came and went... and a week and a half later, my second senior of the 2016 class requested a trip to.... you guessed it.... Vinton, Iowa.

With a special affinity for trains (he's looking into making it his livelihood) and a long history of doing most of their business in the town, the Deke's of Traer requested that we make a trip to Vinton to capture senior images.

I was up to the challenge, just as their family members Sterling Formanek (Belle Plaine, Class of 2013) and her father, Rob had promised them I would be.

I couldn't let any of them down... so off to Traer, and Vinton we went.

There was just one problem.

Rain.

Just like many of these early sessions, (or postponed sessions, as the case may be) we were battling mother nature from the get-go.    A fine mist to a steady rain plagued Kalan Deke's session for much of the morning.   Undaunted, Mr. Deke and his mom, Kelly were up for anything.   So, armed with an umbrella and bailed out by train station overhangs and good ol' toughness, we managed to plow our way through.

Mama Kelly and I looked like wet rats by the end of the day when we were back at Casa de Deke in Traer shooting the relatively dry Kalan and his "best friend," Whitey. 

Whitey is the 10 year old schnauzer that is depicted in the images here.   Before we started, Kelly showed me a candid of a toddler, Kalan and the puppy version of Whitey.   Both had changed much over the years, but it was apparent how important these images would be for the Deke's on this day... so it was a perfect way to end the session after all the trains, towers and trips around Tama and Benton Counties.

Thanks for choosing Stewart Photography, Team Deke.  (And thanks for any arm twisting that you had to do, Sterling and Rob!)  :)