Preparing to leave the military is a time of heightened nerves and apprehension about the next adventure. However, it should also be a time for joy, excitement for the future, and pride in one’s accomplishments. When my dear friend, Darcy, reached out and asked if I would come to Albuquerque to photograph her family with the Huey as her husband’s time in the Air Force winds down, I was determined to make it happen. Easier said than done since we’re now stationed on opposite sides of the country, but that was a minor detail. We decided on a work-cation you might say, to capture a beautiful family, in some gorgeous light, for some stunning flight line family photos.

Flight Line Family Photos at Kirtland AFB

You know you’re shooting a helicopter family when all five kids (three of theirs and two of mine) go running to “fly” the “chop-chop” before you even have your camera out of the bag. They’re pros at this point, so getting them to sit in different spots around the aircraft was no problem at all. Getting them to stop peeking out the windows in the background though… well, that was another story! Jokes aside, it has been a joy watching the Seiler family grow and seeing them in their element was such a privilege.

With the beautiful Albuquerque sun low in the sky, we got some amazing flight line family photos. It was evident how much Cody loves sharing his job with his family, even as his time in the Air Force comes to a close. Getting to capture little Jesse, sneaky Elliot, and big-kid Micah admiring their dad and his aircraft will be a lasting memory for me, as I’m sure it will be for them too.

Whether you’re in the military or not, I’m sure you know the feeling of change on its way. Sometimes it’s scary, sometimes it’s exciting, oftentimes it’s both, but it’s always a reason to reflect and remember. I love being there for families in their seasons of change. Being able to capture their memories, so they can always reflect back on the good times they had. So, if you have some change coming up in your life, let’s chat about it! It would be an honor to capture this fleeting season for you.

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