Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Kayla!

I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this photography journey. Having you with me as a second shooter has been the single very best thing that happened to this business. I’m so glad you sent that little email a year and a half ago.

To those of my blog readers who aren’t familiar with Kayla, she’s the right-hand-man, the ShootSac-holder, the water-bottle-provider, the laughter-at-the-right-time-kind-of-girl. She’s the one who helps me take the pretty pictures, in the back ground holding that reflector so I can find the good light. She’s the one with the long list of bridal party photo requests, pen in hand keeping us on task. She’s the fellow commuter, the GPS-provider, the granola-bar-carrier, the nurturer, reminding me to eat on a long wedding day. She’s the safety-pin provider when the bustle needs some help, the mint-gum-carrier, the Chap-Stick-at-the-ready-kind-of-girl. She’s the friendly face, the helping hand, the one who gets little kids to smile and laugh on cue. She’s the one that when you meet her, you like her. That’s that. She’s sometimes in the background, and usually doesn’t get the credit she deserves. If you’ve enjoyed a photo on this blog over the past year or so, Kayla probably had a part of making that picture what it was as she worked just over my shoulder shuffling CF cards, grabbing a few photos as second shooter, and giving that huge, straight-white-teeth smile through it all. She’s an encourager, a positive presence, the kind of person that is easy to be around– the kind of person that you want to take note of, because you have a feeling she’s going to do big things someday. To top it all off, she’s a senior in nursing school. So she gets to listen and commiserate with me when our days are challenging, when clinicals are exhausting, and finals are looming. She shares and listens about the good days, the special patients, the interesting procedures that make us feel like a real nurse. She gets it. She’s the best second shooter/assistant I know. But more than all of that, she’s a true and loyal friend.

“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act… And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”

-Dr. Seuss, from his book, ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’

You’re a blessing to our family, Kayla, and we wish you the very happiest of birthdays.

-Paul, Betsy, Joel, Connor & Nora

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