Airman Merritt

While shooting the Merritt’s fall photos last year, I learned that Ryan was being deployed in just a few short months. I love all my family sessions but, this one struck a cord with me. It was special. It was their last family session before the United States Air Force sent him to Africa with his unit. When I got in the car I called Lindsey to recap what the family had shared with me and how touched I was by the news. I can’t remember who said it first (because we were both thinking it), but we asked them if we could be there to capture his homecoming and document the intimate moments of Daddy coming home and Jessica seeing Ryan again for the first time in months! As we got closer to August, Jessica started relaying information to us to keep us in the loop. Now, if you know anything about the military you know what I mean by “starting.” There was no set date and time until right before. Once they finally nailed down the first week of August, we still waited to hear the actual day, location and time. I can’t imagine how antsy Jessica was getting because even Lindsey and I were eager for the big day! Well the day finally came!!!! 9:15 on Wednesday night was when the family would be reunited. Coco Alley was ready, about to leave for Hartsfield Jackson International Airport when we got a call from Jessica that he wasn’t returning home that night. They were stuck in Baltimore until the following morning. We were all devastated, but after HOURS of scheming and planning- the next morning we all made it to the airport, somehow on time, and the reunion was priceless, breathtaking and tears were definitely shed. I know for a fact, Lindsey and I were incredibly honored to do this for the Merritt family. It made us even happier that we were able to snap some moments of other airmen and women from Ryan’s unit with their families as well! Just icing on the cake, I tell ya! But, below, are some of our favorites from the homecoming with the Merritts! You may or may not cry!!