Relay for Life & the Zinsmeister Family

This post is so long overdue & a long one! So sit back & relax! It contains a topic close to my heart right now as it does with many others…cancer. In today’s world it’s very hard to find someone whose life hasn’t been touched by cancer in some shape, way or form. We pretty much all know someone who has had it or someone who has it. I believe all things happen for a reason & we’re all connected to people in our lives for some greater reason unbeknownst to us..not just by coincidence. One of those things being that about a year ago I was surfing the net, reading some blogs & stumbled across Scarlett Lillian’s blog…who is a phenomenal photographer whose work I love! But her blog also contained something else. I have no clue how I even got to her blog but I saw the post about her dad’s passing & just couldn’t stop reading. Then from there somewhere on her blog it was connected to her mother’s story of her bout with cancer. Long story short I was balling my eyes out when I was done reading & have followed her work & her life journey ever since. For those who follow my blog, you all know that I had the amazing opportunity to attend her first ever group workshop! When she posted it I really wanted to sign up but kept talking myself out of it. I did that for almost 3 weeks. But there was just this nagging voice in my head that said “do it, sign up & go…you have nothing to lose & so much to gain.” So for once I followed my instincts, signed up & had the best time! Scarlett is an amazing photographer & mentor! Her spirituality is so infectious & she has a way of making you feel so great about yourself & that you CAN do anything! And man can she make a room full of girls cry like babies! I highly highly suggest that if she ever offers another one in the future that you sign up immediately! You’ll thank yourself later!

So what does this have to do about anything? Awhile back Scarlett posted she was going to run a marathon. She was going to make up a t-shirt with names on it for people she could run for & if you wanted someone’s name on it then all you had to do was post it. I added two names…my boyfriend’s dad & a friend who passed about 5 years ago. You see, we, my boyfriend & I, just found out about 4 months ago that his dad has cancer. He’s currently fighting his battle right now with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma & is doing good…one day at a time. I’ve been with my boyfriend for 15 years this year so his dad is like a second dad to me & this very much affects me. He’s always joked that if me & Bo ever split up…Bo’s out of the family! So true to her word Scarlett got the t-shirt made & posted it on her blog & on the second column sat their names…Daniel & Chris. After seeing that, Scarlett made me cry yet again! Only truly selfless people do things like this for others. And true to her word, Scarlett ran & FINISHED her first marathon a few weeks back! Woo-hoo! She didn’t start off with no baby half marathon or anything like that…she started off with the “go big or go home” marathon…26 miles! Ahhh-mazing! I would’ve passed out at mile 1 & asked to be driven back to the finish line! Please please please go to her blog & read the story & watch the video! Yes, she even made a video while running! Grab a tissue while you’re at it…cause dang it…she’ll make you cry whether you want to or not!

So what is all this leading up to? A rad family session of course! I’ve donated a few free sessions, including a disc of all the images, to Relay for Life auctions. It’s very important for me to give back! I always donated before Bo’s dad got cancer & I’ll always continue to donate in hopes for a cure! The family who bid on my session are current clients. They can book me at any time, regular price, & be done. But this amazing family bid on my session & won, which I’m so pleased to say went for much higher than what the actual price value was…all for a great cause! These were meant to have been taken outside but Mother Nature had other plans of course…as she always seems to have for me lately! It was freezing outside that day & the baby was getting over being sick & one of the oldest daughters was under the weather. So for everyone’s sake we stayed in & shot inside…which is very outside the norm for me. I will only do it if the family has a room that is super bright with a ton of natural light! Ordinarily I would reschedule with everyone feeling under the weather but we had to do these pics that day because the two oldest daughters were in town visiting & would be leaving soon after. I LOVE this family! They are so chill, laid back, easy going & let me do my thing…makes my job so much easier! No forced poses with this family or making the baby sit in one place & smile!

My faves from the day! Can’t wait till it warms up because I have another session with the little one!

Thank you Zinsmeister family soooo much for the fun session & for donating to a great cause!

This post is dedicated to Bo’s dad who is fighting his battle, to Scarlett’s mom who fought her battle, to Scarlett’s dad who lost his battle but will never be forgotten, to Chris who lost his battle & will never be forgotten & to the many others who are fighting their battles. So please pray for a cure & donate to a good cause!

xoxo
Amy