I’ve always loved a good story. I used to spend a lot of time writing, but lately I’ve let my photos do most of the talking for me. Ya know, a thousand words and all. Ever since I started We Two I’ve been doing mostly engagement, wedding and portrait sessions, which I love, but I still jump at any opportunity to tell a story. I’ve always loved and preferred to shoot in a photojournalistic style, capturing emotions and actions as they unfold naturally. 

A few months ago, I met Amanda Myers at a Pursuit gathering with a few local photographers. She is so sweet and is one of those people you can form a connection with instantly. Amanda reached out to me after the dinner and told me a story about her son, AJ, and how his life had been saved by firemen a year before. She planned to bring those firefighters cookies on the one-year anniversary of his rescue and wanted photos to document the day. She asked me if I would be willing to shoot them for her. I confess, I was both nervous and flattered. Amanda takes amazing photos herself, and has editing skills that are way beyond anything I’ve ever even tried. I was excited about the opportunity to tell a sweet story though, so I took her up on it and met her at the fire station. 

This entire experience was so inspirational and encouraging. Last year, AJ suffered a febrile seizure at home and almost died from the experience. Amanda wrote a detailed blog about that day, which you can read here. (Warning: find tissues first). A few months ago, I went with Amanda and her family to meet the firefighters who responded to her call a year earlier. The entire crew was incredibly kind and generous with their time and attention. They let Amanda’s children lead them around the station over and over again, showing them the trucks and letting them sit in the driver’s seat. It was humbling to witness some of the bravest and strongest men and women stoop and give their very best to these children who had nothing to offer in return. I enjoyed following them around with my camera, trying my best to capture the joy of the children and the care of the Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services team. Thank you, service men and women for answering the call to protect and serve our community. And thank you, Amanda, for letting me be a part of this special day!