There’s something extra special about being a military spouse and the community that you become a part of. I had the honor of capturing a fellow military family while they were in town visiting. One of the first things the Major’s wife said to me was “We wanted to support a photographer who was also a military spouse.” That alone would have left me utterly touched and honored to capture their family but as the morning progressed and I watched the interactions between them, I had to keep my emotions in check. The way Mom and Dad looked at each other as sweeter than most glances exchanged between newly weds. How they all were having fun and acting silly really made the photos their own and just spoke to my heart. I adore these five and the profound example they set for other families. I can only hope that one day when we have kids, our family will be half as sweet as them.

They planned on doing a promotion ceremony in the Rotunda on Independence day and asked to take some family photos while they were all dressed up. Washington’s capital building in Olympia is one of my favorite spots to have photoshoots. The architecture is stunning coupled with some beautiful greenery and a scenic overlook of the sound. On a clear day you can see mountain ranges in the distance. It really allows plenty of opportunities for a variety of looks with different light. I loved how this military family went with a red white a blue theme to coordinate with their uniformed men! It was the perfect touch to an independence day shoot!