Welcome Home, Otis!

I’ve always been a big softy for those military homecoming videos and photos, and having the opportunity to photograph a homecoming was such an honor! There were so many smiles and tears, and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Meet the Ingrams. Otis and Lisa have been married for 18 years, and since then he has deployed five times! They have three amazing kids, Jackson (8), Lillian (6), and Dean (5). I’m sure the Ingrams knew from the start that there would be a military homecoming or two, but did they expect five?!

I must admit, I had never had the opportunity to capture a military homecoming before, and oh boy am I obsessed! The joy and love on the families face when they see their dad/husband/friend who has been gone for months is beyond gratifying. This family, in particular, is so sweet and Otis, the father, had been gone for 9 months.

What I loved about this is that Lisa decided not to tell the kids the exact day that Otis was coming home.

I met them at the building he was at, and when I met them they were all wearing matching shirts. Lisa had told them they were doing pictures before their dad came home. We walked up to the entrance of the building and I started snapping pictures… she asked the kids why they were there and they said, “we are taking pictures!” She then said, “do you know why else?” They looked confused, so after a few seconds she said, “your daddy is home!” They all looked around, not knowing if it was true, but shortly realized that she was telling the truth. The look on their faces was priceless. See for yourself!

There is pure joy and love on everyone’s face, and that is something you can’t hide! I just love my job! Lisa had some close friends come also, and that, along with everything else, was so amazing to see. The love they have for Otis and his family is just heartwarming! This is exactly what you want to see for a military homecoming!

Jackson was so overwhelmed with emotion, he slowly walked away and sat on a chair to collect his thoughts. I left him alone, as to not overwhelm him anymore, and the next thing I knew, Lisa was loving on him and helping him cope with the surprise. Look at how she is holding him and how much he loves her! He melted into her arms and after a few seconds he got up and was back to his normal self. The power of a mom is an amazing thing.

I loved watching the kids climb all over Otis like a jungle gym. They could not get enough of him.

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I can’t even imagine having my husband deployed, and then needing to try and be a single mom. I don’t care how many kids you have. Lisa does it with such grace and is such an amazing mama to Jackson, Lillian, and Dean. I am truly inspired by her and all the moms who are military spouses. God Bless you ALL! It is because of sacrifices like that, that keep our country a great place and to that we are indebted to you!

Thank you, Otis Ingram, for your service and for all you do for your family and your country. It was truly an honor to capture the love you have for your family and vis versa.

“You will never hold someone as tightly as you hold them the day they leave and the day they come home.”

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Thanks for reading about this amazing family! I can’t wait to photograph another military homecoming and get all the feels again!

Would you like family photos, whether for a special moment like this or just to capture this moment in time? Book your free one-on-one consultation and let’s make it happen! Do you have more questions? Let’s chat! I can’t wait to step behind the camera and capture the love of your family!

Love,