Why you need to hire a photographer at least once in your Military Journey
Investing in photography is something we all consider a couple times a year but rarely follow through with. Sometimes there is a budget concern, other important events around the corner, holidays, and so much more. As a photographer, even I have missed the past TWO YEARS of family photos…. and I do regret it. What I do not regret is getting a post deployment photographer for my husbands last pier side homecoming where I announced the gender of our baby.
Why you need to hire a photographer for a special milestone at least once in your Military Journey.
Cost < Investment.
Let’s be real. Your sanity is important and so is your budget. Investing in a homecoming photographer is important, at least once. I recall a client who really wanted her husbands homecoming captured (dual mil and first time with kids) but knew it wouldn’t be smart to pay upfront so we set up a payment plan. She booked a year in advance and sent me $50 a month until it was time. Typically, a photographer will do this for you especially with an important event like this. In the southern California area, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $700 for a photographer that runs a legal business and won’t double book or flake out last minute. Make sure to ask if you will be their only client or if they will be considered on call for homecomings.
Milestones only happen every so often.
Reenlistment, Retirement, Commissioning, Award Ceremony, Graduation, Pinning on a new rank, etc, only happen every so often. In my husbands 6 year carrier in the Navy, he promoted to E5, had one award ceremony, and 3 homecomings. We hired a photographer for only ONE event, his Homecoming (his 2nd to last and the one where we announced our babies gender). In my career, I made rank to E6 while married and had 2 award ceremonies. I hired a photographer for only one pinning where I was pregnant and my spouse was pinned in the same cycle. So for a total of 14 years of service, we only have a couple pro photos and sometimes I do get sad about it. Not each time could we have had a professional due to security restrictions or Covid, but that’s pretty low odds these days.
Take it from us (who also got married in a courthouse with only cellphone photos), please document your carrer in the military at least once.
Photo found online by an unnamed photog at husbands first homecoming
Fun Fact: My husband and I graduated from the same FC A school back in 2015! We started dating once he moved to San Diego and I moved to Arizona.
Cellphone photos we remember our events & Milestones by:
Photo by Heather Shough Photography
Photos of our only Homecoming Photographed by Lena Fino Photography (who was also our birth photographer!)
Bonus Note about Airport Homecomings.
Good things come to those who wait. After months at sea, your loved one will be thrilled to see you at the airport when they land. But no matter how special their homecoming is, it can’t compare with a professional airport photo session that captures the magic of this moment in time.
If this wasn’t enough to convince you, here is a recent airport homecoming I have photographed where this Marine got to meet his daughter for the first time.
If you want an airport homecoming session, let me know right HERE!
Their Full Gallery Soon to Follow in Next Fridays Blog Post
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Photographing military homecomings is one of the most rewarding and wonderful types of shoots there are. I consider it a huge perk of living in a military town that I get to shoot them very often.
Dedicated to serving others in a NEW way, that doesn’t involve active service in the military. I want to capture your special moments and help in any way I can.
If YOU need any help planning your airport homecoming session, let me know right here!
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Looking for the original Old Glory poem, the history behind “My Name Is Old Glory,” or meaningful ways to personalize an Old Glory military retirement ceremony? Learn where the tradition came from, explore ideas I have seen used at real Navy and Coast Guard retirements, and read an original modern Old Glory poem honoring September 11, Iraq, Afghanistan, military families, homecomings, and a lifetime of service.