My name is Leanne, and I am the owner of A Simple Touch Photography. I am not usually the one who "blogs" a whole lot, or even really at all. Candice, my best friend of 11 years, has help me bring my business up to the social ways of today. I am more of a door to door, or even lets go to the mall and recruit kinda girl. This blog, as well as my facebook page, has been kept by Candice so that I can matain my personal relationships with my clients. I have been trying to get more involved in the "social network" so that I can share the experiences as well. Not just the ones that Candice was here for. So with that said...
Yesterday I had an appointment set for 3pm. The mother had called and set it up for her son about 2 weeks prior. Early afternoon I had gotten a call asking if it would it be possible to come a little later. I had no problems and moved her appointment to 4pm. About twenty after four she calls and says that she is running behind and that she just left. Still I have no problem. I didnt have any other shoots for the day and didnt mind waiting. About a quater to five the mother calls me and says that she cant find my studio and that she is lost, maybe she should just cancel. I help her with her directions and she finally arrives about twenty after five.
Im not upset or even annyoed, I love what I do, so I waited! Marlene (the mother who made the appointment) Comes into the studio and was slightly upset with herself for not being able to find my studio, I assure her no worries. So once everything is all set, I am introduced to Charlie. (her son) Now Charlie I would say is in his 40's and he carried around something that looked like a typewriter. I was thinking that he was disabled, but I was unsure, and I waited to be told so I knew if there was any specific way that the photos needed to be taken, maybe posing he could or could not do.
This is Charlie, he was in the United Stated Army. He doesn't speak, because he was injured in the Army in 1991 while on tour. He took a gun shot to the head, and it paralyzed him on his left side. He was in hospitals for some time and Doctors said that he wouldnt make it because it was so intense. 21 Years Later, he donest need a walker or a cane or anything like that. He can walk, hear, and for the most part take care of himself. He just cant talk.
I managed to get Marlene to take a picture with Charlie, because I thought with the story I had heard, his mother seemed to be a big part of his life, and she was something special. Anyone could have seen that by the way that he looked at her when she talked with him about the pictures. Even Marlene didnt like her photo, Charlie liked this one!
Charlie came to me for portraits because either him or his mother donated blood. For the month of February I gave every successful blood donor a Free Session and Free 8x10. They have until June 30th to use the coupon. I was so in shock with Charlie's story that I almost cried. He is by far, the strongest American that I know!
Normally I wouldnt do anything extra for my Free Portraits, but I felt this was needed, as a thank you on my part! This portrait below is what I put together for Charlie's Free 8x10!
Not just to Charlie, but to all United States Military, Retired, Disabled, or Avtive
Thank You For Serving and Defending Our Country!
