The 2016 group of seniors got off to a great start last week as familiar face, Katie Gassman, was our ice breaker.
Miss Katie and I go way back as I've been her dance photographer for the past decade... and even further back as her family photographer for two decades.
And if there's ONE thing I can always count on at Miss Kimi's Dance Konnection picture day, it's that Katie will undoubtedly end up in a pose at some point that puts a pretzel to shame. Quite literally, I usually end up wincing out of sympathy pain for her spine. Just WATCHING her makes me want to go see my chiropractor!
I made her wait until the last outfit of the day to crack out her acrobatics, but as the images show... she did not disappoint.
Flexibility was not only a key component physically on this day, but it also came in handy in our figurative approach to the session.
Right out of the gate, Mama Crystal and former Gassman family exchange student, Tessy, arrived at 8 a.m., fully expecting our guest of honor and her friend Tori to already be at the studio.
"Aren't the girls already here," Katie's mom asked.
Negative.
A five minute panic ensued that was on the verge of escalating into a two county manhunt before the girls finally did show up (with the elusive hairspray that caused the delay in the first place).
Our slow start, sped up quickly, once I had a senior to actually photograph. First on the docket was a trip to Quakerdale Ranch west of LeGrand to make some images with a couple horses that Katie volunteers with regularly. Unfortunately... the mares were not quite ready... so the aforementioned flexibility came into play with an outfit and locale change in mid-trip to the ranch.
As soon as the horses had been prepped, Katie soon found out that she had to once again be flexible (or patient at the very least) in attempting to get our animals to cooperate. It seems like it's never easy to get a horses ears to come forward... but we got it... eventually. :)
Nothing much ever seemed to throw our cool customer, Katie. Easy goin' and full of smiles, she was exactly as I've always remembered her... which is a testament to her upbringing and inner strength.
Most of those that are close to the Gassman's know that Katie lost her wonderful father, Paul when she was just 11 years old. Paul worked with my father at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for many years, and due to our many sessions with the Gassman's over the years (including one of my very first engagement sessions ever back in the day) I can confidently say that to know Katie's Dad was to like Katie's Dad. While I'm sure it hasn't been easy going through the teen years without him, the great news is that your father would be extremely proud of the young lady you've become just two days beyond your 17th birthday, Miss Katie. I'm blessed to know you and your family, and I appreciate you choosing Stewart Photography once again after all these years. Best wishes in your upcoming senior year and as you head off to Iowa State the following year.
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