A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine was bringing her new daughter home from China. She asked me to photograph the homecoming at DFW Airport as the rest of family (including Dad and brothers) met her for the first time. I was very nervous about this session because it was so important and a once a lifetime type deal. There are no re-shoots if I screwed it up! What an honor it was to be trusted with such a momentous occasion. I was able to document the excited vibes as family and friends anxiously waited, checking their phone for arrival updates. I witnessed raw emotion of a father meeting his daughter after months of waiting. I fought back tears as Ashley immediately broke into tears when she was embraced by her husband. Everyone went through all kinds of emotions in the span of an hour at the baggage claim. :) What struck me was how similar this was to a family waiting at the hospital for the birth of a newborn. Family members wait impatiently to love a precious newborn that no one has met yet.  It didn't matter that Morrissey wasn't a newborn- she had a whole group of family and friends in matching shirts impatiently waiting for her arrival so they could love on her as soon as they set eyes on her. What a lucky girl she is to be in this family surrounded but such supportive loved ones.  Congrats to Ashley & Matt on their new baby girl!

I have been photographing these kiddos for the past three years. Well, the littlest wasn't born yet but you get my point. This year's photos are by far my favorite as I took them back to my 'hidden gem' behind a church in Flower Mound, Texas. One of the most interesting things I have found from photographing other families is to observe different family dynamics. Spending even just a short amount of time with people is fascinating, as well as what happens when I share their photos on social media (ie what comments they get from family members). This group of kids are just so sweet, loving, and joyful and they are certainly lucky to have each other as best friends.