Portraits in Words...Stories From Our "Studio Family"

As most of you know, we consider our clients more than "just another portrait session". While we do appreciate their business, we are truly honored that they have chosen us to of photograph their families, their memories and their lives. We have made so many friends and they become part of our studio family.
Over the next few months, we will focus on some of their stories to touch your heart, encourage you, bring awareness to other people's causes or maybe just bring you a smile.
This first story about a beautiful princess named Olivia is a little long because there are many chapters, some yet to be told.
We use the word "Princess" often around here, but Olivia had no doubt about her "princess" status. The bumper sticker on her mom's van even read, "Yield To The Princess"!

The first portrait (on right) we made of Princess Olivia was in 2004 at her school when I was creating images for my Special Kids Photography certification.
Later in 2005, she came for a high fashion black & white session at the studio (shown here with her mommy, Karen). They were both DIVAS!

Even though we had a chance to visit her in 2007, the last portrait session in 2008 was her most "princess" session ever...she was soon to be leaving this earth to live with the King of Kings. This time when we went to visit her, all of her "adoring subjects" had gathered around making her feel very special. Again, she was getting in touch with her Princess-ness with everything princess from her blanket and pillow to her watch and her ring while wearing a princess dress and even holding a princess toy puppy. Oh, so much pink surrounding her..and so much love. Her Daddy is holding her hand here while he hugs her close to him.

As I write this, it still seems so sad that her life here was so short, but fast forward to 2010... I see her mom again, making a life for herself after enduring over 2 years of coping with overwhelming grief. She says it is "only within the last few months that she is more than a shell and learning to experience happiness again". After reading Elizabeth Edwards' book, Resilience, she wrote Elizabeth a note telling her how much the book had meant to her. That led to a series of events that ended up with Olivia's story being told on the Nate Berkus Show.  The production crew came to the studio to get permission to use Olivia's images on the show and ended up filming Karen by our pond for part of the show  (pictured above)....

and if you could read VERY fast we were even in the credits at the end of the show!
It was exciting for us, but mostly we were glad to see an uplifting tribute to a sweet little angel princess and those who love her.
On the show, it was fun to see Nate give Karen a special gift of new living room furniture and Elizabeth Edwards speaking with her.
As an update: just today Elizabeth's sister surprised Karen with a little gift!
Olivia's life still matters so very much...