Andrea Dozier Dayton Wedding & Lifestyle Photography

It was 2005 and we had orders to move to Texas. We were headed into uncharted territory: the military. I had no experience with it and Rock never seemed inclined to be the type of person to join. But a year into our marriage we were boxing up our few belongings and taking a deep breath. The kind you take before you make a big jump. And you’re just hoping that the ground will be kind to you on the other side.

I assumed that after Texas, we’d be given an exotic assignment. Germany. Italy. Japan?
I quit college to follow Rocky to a little base in a big state.

After being separated for the summer, I found out our next duty station while I was driving to join Rocky. Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Right back to where we started. We were both relieved that we would be going “home.” It was definitely a blessing. But knowing that I could essentially pick up where I had left off in college, I wondered if it was the best timing to have a baby. But it was too late to wonder, Kevin was due in March.

His birth made me realize that I couldn’t take a single “good” picture. I didn’t know how to focus the camera & I started begging Rocky to teach me how to do it. As a stay at home mom finishing my design degree, I didn’t have the luxury to leave the house for my assignments. I ended up doing a lot of food photography in the kitchen for various class projects. I had an itty bitty camera {not even a DSLR}, but I studied light & metering like a maniac. When I had the vision for a certain shot, I would ask Rocky how to do it. He patiently explained the technicalities of shutter speeds, ISO changes, white balance, etc. When I had free time, I’d photograph baby Kevin. Capturing him in those moments was pure euphoria.

He has been the passion, the catalyst, and the face of my photography journey. No bride would have ever Facebooked me inquiring about doing their wedding if I didn’t have million pictures of Kevin plastered all over them. Because I didn’t plan to grow up & be a wedding photographer. I just wanted to record his life & be a good graphic designer. He changed all of that & made it easy for photography to find me.

Today I took Kevin out and photographed him. It was like old times, but he’s almost my size & thinks he’s a grown man. This was Kevin’s Easter outfit {yes from last Spring}. I kept meaning to photograph him in it but never got around to it. “We’ve sort of had a lot going on,” is definitely an understatement. I fell in love with this suit when I saw it, I think it would be a fun take on a ring bearer’s attire for a casual wedding!

That poor tie kept falling off. Made for many photographs of him adjusting it.

His tie makes me laugh. I wasn’t allowed to touch it. Four year olds can be so stubborn, but it just makes for even more personalized photographs.

He let me hold his hand while I led him out of the tall grass. I cherish every time he lets me, because I know my opportunities to do it are limited.

It was hilarious to “work” with him. He has a lot of attitude lately & I had to bribe & beg most of the time to get him to stand in the right light. Posing him was useless, he would pretty much do the opposite… or run…

This evening as I arranged these photographs for this post I remembered why I ever picked up a camera in the first place.

Kevin, you are getting so tall that it makes me cringe. I miss the baby with rubber band arms. But your humor & sweetness make me appreciate you as you are. I will replay this evening a million times because of these images. I’m so glad I have them, because it was so special to spend time with just you again.

Thank you for being perfectly on time & changing me in so many ways that I forget who I used to be. ♥