I'm not the one that's supposed to do the choking up here...

There's times like this during every busy season that I go through this.   The endless 17 hour days... Super excited seniors waiting not days, but weeks on me to deliver for them.  Many personal sacrifices made in the name of my trade, yet... every time I turn around.  It seems the mountain of work that I've made for myself... has gotten larger.

The biggest blessing in all of this is you... My client.   And your understanding that doing this the way we have chosen to operate does take a little patience.   Sure, two or three weeks isn't like an eternity.   But, dang... it sure seems like it when you're on the edge of your seat with excitement, doesn't it?

I've got news for you.   Even after 3,000 senior... I still get excited for this.   THIS moment.   Showing you what WE did together.   What WE created as a team that day a few weeks back.

Nevertheless, the weight of expectation and the sheer quantity of it is heavy.   I'm human.   There are times, when I'm not sure how I can do another 110 hour week.

And then, as if God put them there just to give me that nudge one more time at 4 a.m. to get up and tackle the day one more time with the same enthusiasm that I've tried to show for the past twenty years... I get this.

"Few months ago Raena and I began discussing where she would like to go for senior pictures. She told me who she thought she wanted and all though we did discuss a few options we went with her first choice. After all her first choice had been recommended by several people. So I called to get info about scheduling an apt. First impression just from taking on phone; "damn I am glad I picked this guy" When I got off the phone all of my questions had been answered even the ones I didn't think to ask! Well Raena has since had her senior session, and it was a truly fantastic, stress free, experience!!!

From the minute we arrived at Stewart Photography, Bryan Stewart was professional yet personable. He took a few minutes for introductions, asked about any ideas and/or preferences we may have, talked with Raena about her outfits and hair ! Then we where off to began shooting. From this point on there was not a detail Bryan did not pay attention to, from a bracelet being placed on the right hand for every shot it was worn in, to the necklace not being placed to far over, that one strand of hair that wasn't in the right place, driving around until he found the perfect shot of the horizon for the perfect dance picture, then rolling around on the ground to capture that perfect shot, googling an image of an idea Raena had and finding the best prop to use for this idea.
 
Then there was the time spent after the shoot, going over all the details of our photo options! I could probably go on and on about what a fantastic job Bryan did! I am so glad we chose Stewart Photography for Raena's senior session, I highly recommend Bryan for not only a senior session but any of your photography needs! Schedule your session with Bryan Stewart today you will not be disappointed!!"

What you just read is the "thank you" that I received from Cindy Perez.... mother of Marshalltown senior, Raena Garcia.

I was in the middle of processing Raena's images that evening after her session and out of nowhere... those three simple paragraphs showed up on my facebook wall.   Fatigued and trying to fight off Mr. Sandman, my eyes welled up.

Part pride from a job well done... part joy from knowing that I made another senior and senior mom happy with their experience, it overwhelmed me as I failed to get through reading it all to my wife.

She just put her hand on the shoulder of her weary husband and said, "that's why you do this."

And she was right.

Cindy and Raena hadn't even seen an image yet, and still felt compelled to tell the world about their time with us.  I couldn't be more flattered... and then buoyed and driven to make SURE that the images matched their experience.

I've watched Raena grow up the last few years as her dance studio photographer for Miss Kimi's Dance Konnection.   And even after the rat race that picture night is... she STILL felt compelled to have me do her senior images (trust me... the pressure of picture night can bring out the worst in all of us sometimes!).

It is with great pride, happiness and yes... even a few tears of my own that I present Raena's senior blog to you.   Thank you to all of our clients for your trust (and yes... most certainly your patience) during this busy time of year... and thank YOU, Cindy Perez... for taking the time to remind me why it is that I do it this way.   It didn't go unnoticed.

Being Mr. Smith...

 Kolton Lee Smith is doing something right.

In the discussion as the area's best high school baseball player, it made for a fun session for me to "interview" a potential Division I athlete, especially one that's got his eye on the University of Iowa.

So, dude can rake it on the ball diamond.  That much we know.

But let's dig a little deeper.

When he's not terrorizing pitchers in the North Iowa Cedar League or during his stints for Perfect Game, he plays a little golf.

As in the conference medalist in NICL golf.

Did I mention he was a state qualifier in wrestling??

Add in the fact that he's a good student, and, oh by the way... a chiseled jaw to top off his stunning good looks, I'm wondering how in the world does one guy have so much fortune?

Translation:  It's doesn't suck to be Kole Smith.

So when you put two ballplayers together for a round table discussion (with a few senior images to take in the interim), add in a super cute sister and former client... and Mama Tricia, and what do you have?   A whole lotta sports talk... catchin up with old friends, and something that felt a whole lot like not work.

Oh sure, we had our "regular" images to get done, and even mixed in a few with sis to add to Kole's torture.   But bottom line?  He came here for B.A. baseball images, so it was off to South Tama's field.

Kolton did bring his golf bag and singlet, but in the end... opted to focus on his true love... the diamond.   I had No. 2 all over the yard.   His current home... shortstop.... His future home... the outfield....   The dugout.  Home plate.  Airborne.  Grounded.   Just like when he plays, we covered all the bases.

Did we go a little overboard on hardball?  Perhaps.  But that's where Kole's passion lies.   And that's my job is to capture that.   Sure the dude looks like a male model in his regular stuff... and we have plenty of that.   But that isn't what make him tick.   It's the crack of the bat... the sound of the dirt under his cleats... the smell of the grass.

I wish him all the best of luck in chasing down all his dreams next season... and as he preps for college.   And if he happens to know what exactly is in the water he's drinking over there in Toledo, could he pass that along to the rest of us mere mortals?

Tanner believed in me... his images shall not Parrish

 And you thought YOU had to wait a long time?

As many of our senior clients have learned over the past month or so, quality takes time.  Sure we could crank out images with no effects or art and have them ready for pickup the same day... or even the next day.  But, would that be doing our clients the service they have come to expect from us?

Of course not.

So, as is usually the case... by the time we hit August, the backlog gets substantial.  There a lot lotta you... and one of me.   Not complaining... we are blessed to be this busy.   Nevertheless, it never feels good to make our clients wait... even if we're making 18 hour day sacrifices to keep long from becoming even longer.

Every senior from here on out will most likely wait two weeks plus to get that all important preview book and blog that we're known for.  It's my promise to each and every one of them that we refuse to cut corners to get caught up.   Do I feel the pressure to get images out?  Yes.   Will I compromise?  No.

So while the current seniors that are "in line" waiting for a couple  of weeks are undoubtedly feeling that excruciating anxiousness, none have waited longer than THIS  senior.

Tanner Parrish was originally photographed on June 14.   Do the math... it's over two MONTHS ago.

Granted some of the delay was out of anyone's control... but nevertheless... when Mama Terri asked me if she could see SOME of his images back in mid-June, it pained me to tell her no.

To explain further... the June session for Tanner was supposed to be IT.   Unfortunately... the new football uniforms for East Marshall high school were not in yet.

Sure... the old ones could have been worn.  But, clearly... that wasn't going to work in this case.

New is new.  Who doesn't love something new and different?   Add in the fact that Mr. Parrish was planning on changing positions and, therefore, a new number.  The issue was even a BIGGER one.

So we waited.

And waited.

The unis finally arrived... and between waiting for a captain's "C" to to stitched on, as well as coordinating both of our schedules... and wah-lah... after all that waitng... Tanner's session was finally completed in early August.

The original session consisted of alot of muscle cars (Dad's new Chevy Camero and Tanner's Ford Mustang along with good buddy (and current Stewart Photography senior, who is part of the massive line waiting) Drew Schossow's "same-but-opposite" Mustang.

Obviously... the Parrish's rides are important to them., and it was my job to show that off.

In addition, Tanner's spot as captain of the EM football team isn't taken lightly, either.   When he returned a little over a week ago to complete his session... I knew a stellar image was required.

But even then... just when we thought it was time to put this thing to bed once and for all... another slight delay came up.

After I asked him to grab his helmet, Tanner noticed that his left ear pad was missing.   As luck would have it... tri-captain (and previous blog entry) Trevor Long was just a few miles away with his fully padded helmet.   He was more than happy to help out his captain in need and after a small bump in the road... we were back in action.

It didn't take long after that to make our newest fullback look like the baddest #40 on the planet, and yes... finally... two months later.... the session was complete.

We debated long and hard on how to handle Mr. Parrish's images due to our pile of waiting seniors that have accumulated in the meantime.   In the end, my wife said... "push him to the front... he's waited the longest."

If Tanner has anyone to thank, it's my wife, for the lack of any further delay.   I've been accused of being many things over the years... but one of them isn't being a guy that doesn't realize that who MY boss is... and that she's almost always right.

Good luck this season, No. 40.

No shirt, no shoes... Nothing but service.

 Over my 20 years of shooting high school seniors, I've been asked by clients if they can borrow things.

"Gotta lint roller?"

"How about a bobby pin?"

"Could I take a picture with your Hummer?"

"You wouldn't happen to have a curling iron, would you?"

I've seen and heard it all.   My Oakleys... my Hawkeye helmet and jersey... my belt... all have made cameo appearances in senior sessions.   Hey, I'm here to help.

So when a brother is in need, you do what you gotta do.  More on that later.

Trevor Long and his family and I go way back.   Life long members of the East Marshall community, his folks and I track all the way back to high school.  His mother is a Roseland and between they and the Longs, I think the two families themselves could nearly single-handedly keep Stewart Photography afloat.   Family pictures, childrens sessions, weddings, sports pix for the high school... It seems like everywhere I turn they are there.

With that as your backdrop, you know then, that I was looking forward to hanging out with old friends (and just so happen to capture a few senior pix of Trev while we were at it).

Trevor on the other hand?   He might have needed some convincing.

As laid back and chill of a guy as you'll ever meet, I think Trevor felt like maybe all the fuss that goes into senior pictures maybe wasn't exactly his cup of tea.   That's not unusual.  Sure, he wanted some cool shots with his guitar, and some B.A. football stuff.  But other than that.... ehh.

Well... anyone that knows Trevor's mom, knows that "ehh" was never gonna do.   As energetic and fun as God makes 'em, Jeanne Long knew she had her work cut out for her in convincing her SON to be every bit as excited as she was.

Jeanne had been through the process with her oldest daughter, Karly just two years back, so she knew what to expect.   Awesomesauce, of course.   But, was it realistic to expect an equal amount of epic from her boy?

In classic Jeanne fashion, she wasn't gonna go down without a fight.

Right out of the gate, the two were at each other.

Suggestions left and right coming from Mama... only to be sacked by Trevor just like #55 does to opposing quarterbacks on Friday nights.

"No mom... we're not doing that."

"That's not happening, mom."

Jeanne would look at me with her eyes nearly coming out of her head as if to say, "Bryan, would YOU tell him that I'm not crazy."

On more than one occasion, I came to the defense of Mama Jeanne, and gently suggested to Trevor that maybe we should consider her request.   Somehow, coming from ME, it's ok.   Why it isn't coming from the woman that gave him birth?   Only from the world of high school seniors!  :)

So, we were off and running... getting many of "mom's requests" knocked off... saving the best stuff (guitar and football) for the last.   And, while we were getting into outfit one, it was brought to my attention that they had forgotten Trevor's black shoes at home.   I said, no big deal... we can avoid it for the most part.

And THIS is where the borrowing began.

First outdoor spot... full length shot needed.   Blue shirt... Nike kicks with BRIGHT green trim.

Suddenly, I was eating my words about "for the most part."

I looked down at my black b•o•c's on my feet... glanced at Trevor's clashing tennis shoes.

"Dude, what size you wear?"

The swap was on like Donkey Kong.   Senior in black shoes... photographer in Nikes with green trim.   We got our full length image, and I asked Trev, "wanna switch back?"

"Nope... I'll keep these on if that's ok?"

Go ahead and add Shoe Swapping to our list of services at Stewart Photography.

But it didn't end there.   We made stops at Three Bridges, Casa de Long and the boyhood home of the photographer in Gilman before we got back to the studio for the guitar and football images that Trevor had been patiently waiting for.

He had done his time... putting up with Mom, Aunt Kelley, Grandma and Grandpa, The Girlfriend (also known as the completely fabulous and now Stewart Photography "Alum" Lauren Welton).  Even kid sister Lana (also fab) was along for the duration.  And did I mention that Lauren's mom and Stewart Photography mega fan, Maddie Welton popped in over her lunch break?  (one can never underestimate the amount of good that bringing in a ringer to flatter the owner by incessantly calling him "The Boss" and "A Genius,"  so while having Madaleine there may have added to Trevor's extended torture, it certainly couldn't have hurt the quality of his images.)

Having Trevor and his girlfriend there left me just a Blake Roseland, Trevor Parrish and Ben Terrones short of having one heck of a jam session with the band Minor Night, rather than a senior session.... but no worries there were good tunes blasting in the camera room regardless.  I popped on the Guns N Roses channel on my Pandora and I was thoroughly impressed with Trevor's mental catalog of songs and artists.   Dude has mad game with a guitar in his hands... Let's just get that straight right now.

Speaking of game... we were finally down to the finale'... The football stuff.

As we sit here just a mere five days from the season opener, the excitement is palpable.   Add in some new threads and facility upgrades, and I couldn't be more pumped to get this thing kicked off.   Now we just had to make some images worthy of our senior captain.

Trevor did actually have some input for this part as he asked if the center image of his football collage could be just him in his jeans and purple jersey.  I said that was no problem and we were set to get our pigskin portraits goin.

Or were we?

Trevor was taking a little longer than normal to change when Mama Jeanne came back with one more request.

"Hey, Bryan... are you wearing a white t-shirt today?"

As it turned out, evidently Team Long had forgotten to pack a white tee to go under the jersey for this image.   And just as Jeanne was ready to bolt out the door and dash home to get one, Sister Lana had an epiphany.

Her hunch was right.  Not only did her big brother's photographer have a white t-shirt on... but he was also willing to let his senior client borrow it for those few images.

If anyone has ever told you that I'd give you the shirt off my back to help you out... Now you have proof!

The new uniforms looked sleek and sharp and we completed the session doing what we do.   Killer sports images.  I leaked one image out a couple of days ago to promote the Mustangs upcoming intersquad scrimmage.  Flying #55 is an image for all time.   There we were... photographer rolling around on the gridiron grass... Trevor launching himself in mid air time and time again until I had him perfectly placed.   He didn't land on me... and nothing was broken or sprained in the process.

Best of all, rumor has it that our once malcontent senior guy actually admitted that he had fun... and in fact... just may have told mom that he wished he could do it all over again the next day.

It's that kinda appreciation that makes it worth giving the shirt off your back for your clients.

Literally, and figuratively.

Hala back, young'n...

 After a extremely long week in which my wife and I laid her beloved father to rest, I'm back to the blog... and while the mountain of work is now more daunting than ever... life must go on.

It's fitting then that my first entry back in the saddle is South Tama's Nate Hala.

It's come to my attention that Nate's mother, Karla, cared for my father-in-law during his last few weeks at home as part of her job as a nurse for Tama County.   We appreciate all the acts and words of kindness from Karla (and many, many others) as we've continued through this process, but now it's time for me to give back to the Halas.

I'm not so sure that Nate didn't come our way due to a simple act of kindness during track season.... to his kid sister, Kallie.

Kallie was a freshman on the STC Girls Track team and was going to miss the team photograph by a mere 30 minutes.   When it was brought to my attention, a little hustle... a little planning... a little photoshop... and BAM.   Kallie suddenly was IN the team picture.

Now maybe brother Nate was headed my way anyway... it's hard to say for sure.   But, I'm guessing the "no good deed goes unpunished" axiom was WRONG, just this once.

So, Mama Karla, Sister Kallie AND Senior Nate all made their appearance for the senior session, finally... and much to Karla's surprise... it seemed as if her son was actually ENJOYING himself.

Nate and I talked mostly Trojan athletics.  (I know... shocking).   With a new hoops coach in place, our senior swingman is looking forward to his last year of basketball with renewed vigor.

Anytime I get a senior guy in here that smiles readily and with ease... it feels like a blessing to be sure.  Sometimes it's angst.   Or maybe they had to get up too early in the summer for something they deemed unnecessary.  Or perhaps being held at gunpoint my their mother and being told that they HAVE to do this isn't exactly gonna elicit the genuine smile that we all hope for.   Regardless, Nate had a relaxed demeanor that brought out the pearly whites with little effort, and with maximum results.

Karla made sure to thank me for going above and beyond with Nate's session.  I assured her that it's just what we do here at Stewart Photography.   And even though the Halas (and about 13 other seniors that we have in the can as we speak) had to be patient longer than they normally would have... I hope I made it worth the wait.