I got an email from the sweet mommy of this beautiful family, Valerie, needing a photo shoot.
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Not just of this adorable little guy, who just happens to be named Miles…
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…but of her entire 15 person family. Now, I don’t photograph families larger than six people, however, but as you see here, sometimes you just break your own rules.
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You see, Valerie’s mother, Julie, had just been diagnosed with cancer and would be undergoing treatments soon. I totally understood wanting a session before starting chemotherapy, so amazingly, 16 people were all able to find the same two hour time slot to make the shoot happen. Including the behind the scenes help of this adorable client turned friend who is a HUGE fan of this family as well.
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Julie and Steve, I can tell you have such a precious relationship and your family is just so beautiful, on the inside and out.
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Steve and Julie’s kids all have their own families and we took time to capture everybody separately from the group.
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Look at this sweet little dolly! (I want to eat her little toes in those sandals!!)
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These two were getting married in six days when I photographed them. (Congrats you two!) Bless this family, they had so much going on that week I photographed them, but I didn’t notice the tiniest bit of stress.
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Ok, so this may not be a picture perfect scene, but it sure is real life! Moral of the story, just stay connected and the rest will fall into place. 🙂
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Look at these proud and happy grandparents. If you look at each of those precious little faces, you can’t help but just melt.
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This cracks me up. Isn’t this so typical family life with toddlers?
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Doesn’t this photo make you want to be adopted by this family? I could have done an entire shoot with these photogenic ladies.
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I truly felt honored to have the opportunity to capture this family. As I was photographing them I knew I had to take Julie’s cancer out of my mind and just focus on the shoot as I normally would. As I walked with Julie to a quiet spot to take some portraits of her, the emotions of how unfair and cruel cancer is started to well up inside me. I quickly had to shake that off. So I focused on how beautiful she was. The softness of her eyes, the warmth of her smile and I knew deep down how strong this woman truly had to be. Look at all the children she had raised to be such awesome people. She had to have gathered more bits of courage and strength along the way through that journey alone to fight anything. Then I photographed Julie and Steve together. I felt a peace that they would band together through the journey cancer would take them and make them grow even stronger. Walking away that day I felt so honored to get to capture her family during that fragile time of change. Just from what little I know of this family, I know they will band together to get through it and come out stronger.
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Here is their slideshow with new music written by John, especially for them.
I have to mention as well, that with Fort Wayne being as small as it is, the minute I posted their sneak peek I had so many people emailing me that they knew various members of this family and mentioned what a great family this is. If you do know this family or even if you don’t, please take a moment and send healing thoughts or prayers (and some encouraging comments here on my blog would be wonderful) to Julie as she undergoes her cancer treatments. I know I have had this family in my prayers a lot since I met them.
wow betsy, this is amazing. what a special and beautiful family!! the story gives me goosebumps… they are in my prayers as well 🙂
Betsy, I don’t know you personally but you have captured photos of some of the best people in my life. I am close friends with Lauren Houser, and Jessica Gensic is the leader of my bible study. These pictures brought tears to my eyes, because this family is so close to my heart thank you for showing their beauty through these pictures i am so in love with your work!
Betsy, this session is just absolutely outstanding. What a beautiful and fun family, and your work in capturing such joy-filled images of so many people (and toddlers too!) is just amazing. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Oh Betsy, please your tender soul for being able to capture the very essence of what a beautiful family is. I don’t know this family, but have had my own experience with cancer. For this very brief moment, you helped this family to see “normal” again…you helped this family to freeze their love. Probably some of my most favorite photos you’ve done.
And for the family,
“Lord I pray that You will lay Your healing hands on this family. That you will give Julie the courage to fight, but to be her Savior when she most needs you. God I pray that You will comfort Julie’s husband, children and grandchildren, that they will know in their heart that in all things You have a plan and a purpose. Father I ask that You will bring the most skilled and knowledgeable doctors into Julie’s life, that they may find the best way to beat this dreadful disease. And most importantly, though I never have met this beautiful family, I thank You for them, for their example of genuine family love and bonding. I pray that you bless this family and protect them throughout this journey they are now on. I pray this in your name. Amen.”
What a beautiful family! The one of the Grandparents and their Grandbabies is so precious, I am sure they will cherish these shots forever!!
Wow I dont even have words to describe how much I love them! We sat around the computer, mom, dad, adam and I and after the slide show we all had tears in our eyes! They are so wonderful, thanks because you have given our family such a beautiful gift to treasure forever! And oh my goodness, then the comments are making us cry too!! Thanks so much Betsy!
Thankyou for capturing my beautiful daughter and family on film. This moment in time is documented forever, and is also preserved in my heart. God has answered our prayers.
This is one beautiful family! WOW:) I will most definitely keep Julie in prayer. May she find peace and comfort, and complete healing.
Oh and how could l forget, Thank you John for writing that beautiful song for our slide show, we feel so special!
no surprise BUT i am in love with these photos. best betsy king shoot yet. promise it is.
love love love love love these and the people in them.
Every single picture is absolutely perfect! I love them all! The thoughts that you expressed with each one touched my heart. You are one special person, Betsy King…and one outstanding photographic artist! Thank you for the investment you and your husband have made in this amazing family! May God bless all of your efforts as you honor Him!
I have watched the slide show over and over.I realize how difficult this had to be for you. And also what a masterpiece that only through GOD you created… Bless you my loving daughter. GOD’s GRACE to this precious family. BELIEVE!
Love you Julie ~ she’s captured your beautiful family perfectly!
Julie and Steve,
What beautiful pictures and so representative of your beautiful family. We have been and are continuing to pray for both of you and all of your family during this time. God is in control. If He brings you to it, He will get you through it. God Bless all of you.
We love you, Ray and Judy
Betsy, You did SUCH an amazing job with this session! Such a beautiful family with so much love!
your pictures are sooo adorable! Everyone always is looking like there having the time of their life with you. I loved taking my pictures with you and cant wait to see them!! 🙂
Betsy, you are such an amazing photographer. I can see by the photos that this family is so full of love…You have given them such a precious gift.
This was amazing. Thanks to you and Jon for such a touching photoshoot. I will be thinking of this family. I get goose bumps looking at the love in her husbands eyes in the one of just the two of them. I can tell he is thinking “We can do this.”
Amazing, Betsy.
What an amazing story you did on our son,Steve and daughter-in-law, Julie and their family. Our prayer is that God will continue to give them strength in the days ahead. God is in control and we trust HIM for complete healing for Julie!
The music is PERFECT! And I love the session. Big families can be hard but this one looks like they had great energy and fun! What a blessing! Prayers for Julie’s healing!! 🙂
Betsy, I don’t know you and am only a friend of a friend to this family (my friend Joan DeMerchant forwarded this for me to see). But the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words?” Well you have created a million words with your gift of photography. God has used you in a most mpressive way. It was nice for me to see pictures of people that I have prayed for that I didn’t know but were on our church Prayer Chain. My prayers continue for this family. Your comments with the pictures touched my heart as well as reading comments of others here. Boy talk about tears…but they were tears of blessings.
Betsy, these are awesome! I can’t tell you how much Val and I appreciate you fitting us in to your schedule and taking such phenomenal pictures of the fam. You have ministered to our family through your talent, and we are all so grateful. And Val and I can’t stop looking at how you captured our little Miles, what a handsome dude.
The photos are remarkable. Not just because they are of my family and people I love so much, but because you captured our spirit, love for each other, and togetherness so well. Thank you, Betsy, for the gift you’ve given us. And to John, thank you for writing an inspiring piece that narrated in emotion what no one could have said in words. Betsy and John–what an incredible team you are! And finally, I must add, considering it was at least 100 degrees outside during that shoot, how impressed I am that none of us appear glistening and sweaty…what magic!
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Betsy…these are beautiful pictures of a beautiful family! John…the music was so perfect! Julie…you are a beautiful woman with a beautiful family! I’m sitting here overwhelmed with emotion right now, and am going to be praying for you. I know that God will bring you through this stronger than ever. God bless you real good!!!
This town is sometimes wonderfully small. I met Julie in august of 1994. She was the consultant at my neighbors pampered chef party. Within a month I started selling for her. Julie was my mentor, my director, my role model and my friend. We worked together for almost ten years. The impact she had on my life I still feel today. Our lives went in different directions after I became a single parent, but the things she taught me about being a business woman, a mother and a good human are still with me today. All the little vongunten kids are grown up with kids of their own now! it makes my heart happy in this difficult time to see them all rally around this amazing woman and her wonderful husband. Positive thoughts to you all. Thank you Betsy for sharing this moment.
Ahhhh the VonGunten clan, Fort Wayne’s finest! Betsy, like everyone else has said-you absolutely captured the essence of this family’s spirit. These pictures are beautiful, all your pictures always are (because you’re talented beyond measure when you stick that camera in your hand), but these are especially good. Maybe it’s because I know these peeps and they aren’t acting in these photos-they truly are carefree, loving, and beautiful all the way around and through. They always seem to be cracking up about something! So fun to be around. Props to Julie and Steve for making such a gorgeous and whole-hearted family who all are bursting with love for Jesus.
This is Pastor Joel and Judy DeSelm. We so much enjoyed looking at the pictures of your wonderful family. We deeply love you all and miss you like crazy.
We so much enjoyed looking at the pictures of your wonderful family. We deeply love you all and miss you guys like crazy. We are continuing to pray for you and trust God for His best.
just reread this precious site. John the music is awesome..I have listened to it over and over..The comments surly show how great the two of you are…I pray for this precious family . AGAIN I must boast how proud I am of you… hugs MOM