I made this picture in 1995. Teresa and DeWayne Gill, just the two of them, before there were any kids.

I have photographed their family nearly every year since. Thirty-one years. The babies in these pictures are grown and married now.

A few weeks ago I asked Teresa a question I do not usually ask anybody. I wanted to know what all of it actually means to her now that her children are raised, and I wanted her words rather than mine, because mine would be a photographer talking about his own work and hers would be the truth.

She wrote back with pages. What follows is most of it. I have not tidied it up.

"The quality of craftmanship that was created from each session, the trust built as they sought to know our preferences, the joy Kurt shared as he worked, how easy the process was, the great questions asked and upfront, detailed guidance are a few of the reasons we return each year along with his high level of experience and his creativity."

"As an empty nester, the years with our children flew by. The portraiture that Kurt captured slowed time slightly and allowed us to pause as well as cherish that season in their life. Today, it brings back many memories of that time in our lives, the joys, the struggles, the influences, the changes with much learning and hope. It preserves and protects treasured memories to share with each other and future generations as our family grows, reminding us of what is important."

"I remember the portrait session we had for our first born when he was three years old. We were also expecting our second child in a few weeks. I loved that the two of us were captured in that moment. I loved the time I learned how to be a mom with our son and that would soon change so much with having to share my time. It reminds me of all of the feelings, thankful, scared, uncertainty, feeling enough. It brings me right back to that time in my life that I really needed to lean on my faith. It reminds me to let God handle the big picture of life and I can focus on being present today."

"When I was in the hospital after delivering our first child, I remember feeling happy and thankful we had a healthy baby. However, sometimes I found it difficult to look at photos. It stirred more big emotions to process. It was such a big change in our lives. I needed time to understand and absorb things but also time to be ready to learn how to be a mother for the first time. The gift of professional portraits helped me recognize the shifts of life, accept and understand things better as well as allow me the time needed to process the emotions captured so beautifully in the art of portraiture. It helped me see and remember how wonderful that time was instead of letting the fears overpower that memory."

"What a treasure it is to have our family portrait of my extended family as part of a surprise celebration of Mom's 80th birthday. It now includes people that are no longer living as well as others that aren't able to participate. I can see in that image how God brought us all together, to honor and celebrate our sweet Mom, and remember the joy we shared together in that moment."

"I'm thankful that Mom and I were able to get our portrait together a few months after Dad passed away. Although she is in heaven now, I so cherish the portrait that speaks volumes about our relationship and how deep our bond is. We would figure out her next season of life together."

"Our daughter had great portrait sessions for her senior year in high school showcasing her time and talents creatively as well as her senior year at the University of Oklahoma. Kurt and Tana were willing to travel to their alma mater to have some fun on campus. They knew the best spots and captured her celebrating her accomplishment in a big way."

"With our first child getting married, came the opportunity to welcome our new son-in-law. The advice given from Kurt and Tana helped prepare me and affirmed our perspective for the future as they've worked with many families. It was great to have our new family portrait taken to reflect our love and belonging."

"With each ebb and flow of life, we can so vividly see and remember God's hand at work through these beautiful portraits."

"Kurt Nelson is a professional with over 30 years of experience who absolutely can be trusted. He has the ability to capture your comfortable, true style. He gets a nudge, a thought, a creative idea and leans into it. He has a willingness to try new things to learn and explore."

"His portraiture has been a very worthwhile investment for our family for 31 years. Often times it seems as if we just recently had a portrait session. Then, we have a viewing of the results, realize how much we've changed, and how glad we took the time to gather and celebrate with a new set of portraits."

"Something that needs to be known is how many talents Kurt has and how many roles Kurt provides. He is the guide beforehand to explain what has worked through his experience, the fashion stylist coordinating all outfits involved, he navigates the variety of shapes, positioning, getting people to bring out their best, navigating weather, juggling many factors at once whether it's personalities, timing, interactions, props, surroundings, lighting, while always remembering the story that needs to be told."

"There have been times that we arrived at the session, and something was not quite right with our outfits, but Kurt could make it work. He either adjusted the clothing items, switched them, clipped the back of a dress, or didn't photograph the pant hems. He gave our family much grace and can easily navigate family dynamics. Often times it is the simplest pose that can be the best and most desired. I can walk away from a session wondering if we took enough images, did we get the one? He knows."

"Get ready to use the tissues when you sit down for your portrait viewing to see your treasured loved ones shine in their best light. He knows what to highlight, how to arrange, edit, frame and more. After all of these years, I look back at the vast images that were professionally captured with care to enjoy, and I appreciate the incredible gift and talent that created them. Worthy of our trust. Worth the investment. Let the love from your portraits surround and shape your family."

I did not expect that much when I asked, and I am still a little blown away by it.

Thirty-one years ago I photographed two people leaning on a tree. Everybody else in that last picture arrived afterwards.

It hangs in their house now.

If you have been meaning to do this for your own family, you know where to find me. Hit reply to any email of mine, or call or text me at 972-335-3686. That is my real phone and I really do answer it.

Kurt Nelson Innovative Images Photography McKinney, Texas