Brittany Morgan Photography: 2013

I should be editing. But instead, I'm taking my break ~~to go eat a big bowl of ice cream~~ blog this sweet homecoming for you!

Y'all know how much I love homecomings. Like, LOVE. Day, night, whatever, I'll be there. When Abigail messaged me to let me know that she was SURPRISING her fiance at his own homecoming- I was just so excited!

Well, lucky us, her homecoming happened to be at night. Outside. On Cooper Field. Normally these are my absolute favorite homecomings to shoot but tonight was different. There was an forecast for an icy 30 degrees, with rain & possibly snow as well.

Sweet clients of mine, if you didn't know- I am a Floridian and I am a BABY when it comes to the cold. Like, ugg boots and coat in 65 degree weather. Which shows, again, how much I love homecomings.

So, the night of Miss Abigail's homecoming, I packed up gear (covered in various plastic bags to try to avoid rain getting on it, put on my goose down coat, gloves, hat, long johns (yes I sure did) and went out to wait!

Fellow photography Lindsey (of Lindsey McAlpine Photography) and I met our sweet clients about an hour before the guys were supposed to arrive. The last hour has to be the slowest, most dragging hour of these girls lives.

Some of the best expressions I have the privilege of capturing happen at homecomings. There is so much laughter. Anxiety. Fear. Love. Happiness. Relief.--- so many emotions all wrapped into a few moments.

After waiting close to an hour, we finally received news that they were on their way,

Look at her smile as she saw the buses for the first time- knowing that her soldier was getting into formation just behind them.

The crowd shouts to move the buses and they quickly drive away. I love night homecomings because they seem to almost come out of the darkness into the lights onto the field. She could not keep her eyes off the soldiers walking towards her. She didn't need to see her soldier, it was enough to just know he was in there, somewhere.

A quick prayer is said over a screaming crowd. At this point, all cold is forgotten and all Abigail is waiting for is her soldier to be dismissed.

The seconds tick by and finally they are released to their families. We quickly began the search. No words are needed to explain the moments they are reunited <3 Needless to say I think he was surprised.

These are the moments I live to capture. Freezing, snowing, hot, cold, if I can be at a client's homecoming, I will be. These moments make everything worth it.

Welcome Home Soldier!

Friends, it is a SMALL world. Katie and I met in high school- we were in the same class. Our senior class happened to have about 50 people in it-- and somehow, we both winded up married and stationed here at the good ol' Great Place.

I was THRILLED when she contacted me to shoot her and her husband's homecoming. This is something that's been on my books for awhile now :) It's been great to catch up a little with Katie over the few months leading up to her hubby's homecoming.

Monday afternoon was a gross, rainy day, but you couldn't wipe the smiles off the crowd slowly forming at the West Fort Hood Gym! As y'all know, one of my favorite things to do for homecomings is get there early to experience the anticipation! I love the smiles, nervous laughter, tears shed--- all the emotions around you.

Katie and I sat for about an hour before it was announced that the soldiers were on the buses on the way to the gym! The crowd screamed with joy.

Before we knew it (probably the longest minutes of Katie's life!), the soldiers filed into the gym- Katie waited anxiously for the first glimpse of Thomas! He certainly was easy to spot! He's the guy up there at the VERY front! :)

After a short welcome and prayer is said, the crowd was quickly dismissed to their soldiers. I LOVE the shot below where their eyes meet for the first time!