On a picture-perfect day at the iconic Jefferson Memorial, I had the pleasure of documenting the Andrew family. I first met them back in the spring during my cherry blossom mini sessions. Despite Everly getting sick on the way to that session, our families hit it off. The vibrant energy their boys brought that day was memorable, making me extra excited when Miranda inquired about a full session for their family. And this wasn’t going to be just a regular full session. Jon is wrapping up a 20-year career in the Air Force and their family decided to forgo the traditional retirement festivities and celebrate with an epic family photo session instead. To say I was honored to be chosen for such an occasion would be an understatement. With their vision in mind, I recommended Jefferson Memorial family photos without hesitation.
After we both endured Tuesday morning rush hour traffic, we were greeted by an empty Jefferson Memorial. We took advantage of the lack of crowds and started with some family portraits in front of the memorial. The neutral marble backdrop made Jon’s blues pop and I was immediately impressed by how cooperative all the kids were. Collin was cracking jokes. Bennett was making Asher laugh. And Everly was just taking in her brothers’ silliness. As someone who also has three brothers (and is third in the lineup too!), I could totally identify with her.
After the first round of family shots, the kids broke out the Halloween candy, giving them just the energy they needed to keep going. We worked our way around the memorial, capturing many different angles. My favorite moment of the morning happened as Jon left to go change into his second uniform. Asher suggested that we take a sibling picture with him sitting on Collin’s shoulders. Now, I love this pose with littles and their parents, so I was excited to see how this was going to go. Turns out, it clearly wasn’t the first time these boys had ever done this… Asher was up before I could even finish swapping my lens! Laughter ensued and these sibling shots turned out to be some of my favorites from the whole day.
To the Andrew family, thank you for choosing me to be part of your retirement celebration. It was an absolute joy and I’m just so excited for your family to dive into your next adventure. You will be missed in DC, but I hope our paths cross again soon!
Ready to create lasting memories for your family? Let’s chat. Jefferson Memorial family photos could be perfect for your crew too!
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I HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU!
I've been navigating military life with my family since 2008. In that time, I went from a full-time classroom teacher to an online course designer to a photographer. Actually, I still teach a little math on the side because I just love it too much!
Through it all, I've discovered how passionate I am about connecting with military families. Whether it's taking photos at a retirement ceremony, coaching a fellow milspouse photographer, or just grabbing coffee with a new squadron friend, I love this community. And as a teacher at heart, I'm excited to use this space to share what I've learned about business and life with you.
I'M ERIN.