This photo shoot was very special to me.  Kelly, the father has stage 3 melanoma.  This is so close to my heart because I lost my dear, sweet sister to Melanoma almost 3 years ago.  People/families going through cancer will forever have my heart.   When I found out that my friend, Yogie's husband had it, my heart just broke for them!!  I was determined to do the only thing I really CAN do in a situation like this.  Meaningful pictures.  I am so, SO blessed to have the ability to do this- I honestly feel nothing but gratitude to the Lord for enabling me to give this gift to some very special people.  

I wanted these pictures to be very REAL.  My instructions were clear: wear what you normally wear, and do what you normally do when you spend time together as a family.  

Of course we knocked out a few posed-on-the-stairs ones, cuz you have to have a few, especially with these awesome stairs that I love so much!  But after that the rule was try to avoid looking at the camera and ignore me.  I sat back ran around with my cameras and reflectors while they honestly enjoyed each others company.  They read scriptures in their beautiful sitting room, Kelly had a tea party with his littlest princess, Sariah, they sat on the couch talking, played a board game, and he even watched some tv with his big princess, Ciara.  It was awesome.  

I have to say, this photo shoot was definitely divinely assisted.  Kelly is so sick all the time.  He rarely gets out of bed lately.  The chemo just knocks him down and keeps him down.  But look at these pictures.  He was feeling well enough to be genuinely enjoying his family!  This was nothing short of miraculous.  And the interesting thing was that right after I finished and was packing up, he got so sick again.  The color drained from his face and his vitality was pretty much gone.  He was a sick man once again.  The difference was night and day. During these pictures, look at him!  He was feeling pretty well for a good 1.5 hours!  God totally gave him that hour and a half.  I was able to photograph the family as they usually are/were before Kelly got sick.  God is so wonderful.  

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