We’d had rainy weather all week, and the forecast showed a few more days of it ahead. I got the itch to do a rainy day session and put out a model call for a small family of 3–4 people. Not long after, Rhonda messaged me—and immediately, I knew they were the right family to choose.
I checked the forecast one more time, and wouldn’t you know it? The rain had cleared. Suddenly, I found myself with no rain, and a larger family than I’d originally planned for. But even though things weren’t going the way I had envisioned, I had the strong sense that everything was unfolding exactly as it was meant to.
Rhonda lost her husband unexpectedly, not quite two years ago. The kids lost their dad. I had a feeling they hadn’t done family photos since his passing.
I knew how hard this might be for them, and I hoped that by responding to a model call—doing this “for me”—it might make the process a little easier.
As I prepared for the session, I kept feeling the urge to include a heart somehow in their photos. Rhonda often shares on Instagram how they see hearts in their everyday lives—signs from Rory, their dad and husband, reminding them he’s still with them. Quietly, I tucked a big felt heart into my camera bag, just in case. I didn’t want to overstep or upset the kids, but I wanted to be ready if the moment felt right.
At the end of the session, I pulled Rhonda aside and explained to her my idea and asked if it would be okay to use it in a few photos. Rhonda’s eyes filled with tears. She nodded and told me she would like that very much.
As I held back my own tears, the kids gathered around her, and I could feel the weight of the moment—both heavy and full of love.
Sometimes, the session you plan isn’t the one you get. But sometimes, the one you get is exactly the one you—and they—needed.
Thank you Hoth Family!
