I consider everyone I’ve photographed to be a part of my “studio family.” I have photographed many wonderful and interesting people over the years and I wanted to give you a glimpse of their stories along with portraits we’ve created. So come meet the rest of the family! This month’s featured client is Andrew and Jane Flanagan. We have mutual friends that referred me to them and I had the honor of photographing two of their children during their Senior year as well as a family session. They were a model family with beautiful eyes and their clothing was perfectly coordinated. They wanted a natural surrounding, so we went to a private residence with a pond near my studio and we got some beautiful portraits.

Here is Andrew and Jane’s story in their own words…

Andrew and I met in the 9th grade. It wasn’t until the last month of high school that we started dating when he asked me to go to the prom with him. We dated for 6 years before we got married. On June 20th of this year, we will have been married for 23 years.

Andrew is a warm and caring person. He has the ability to see the good in life while I tend to look at the glass half full. I love his ability to lift me up when I’m down and the way he makes me laugh. He truly is my best friend and I love spending time with him.

Andrew is an Executive Director of Marketing Operations for Lenovo. I have stayed at home with the kids and even though my responsibilities are becoming less as each one heads off to college, I love being able to be there for them, even if they don’t need me.

We have 3 children, Alison-20, Michael-18, and Kristen-14 and a much loved Golden Retriever named Shandy. Our family came to the US from Canada is 1996 – just in time to experience Hurricane Fran. We came here for a 2 year assignment with IBM; however, after 6 months, we fell in love with NC. Leaving family and friends was a very difficult decision. I am not one for change but after much apprehension, we knew we found our new home.

Having the kids leave home and go off to college is bittersweet. It really doesn’t get easier as each child leaves the nest. I am very excited for Michael to start his new adventure. I am excited to see where life will take him. I will miss the sound of his music in the house. It is hard to let the kids go. I want to keep them safe. I have to believe Andrew and I have given them a strong foundation to go out on their own. I love seeing them grow into wonderful adults.

Andrew’s job has taken him to many places. He has traveled to China, India, Brazil and most recently Mexico. As a family, 2 years ago we took a once in a lifetime trip to Costa Rica. The kids were at an age where we were able to do some exciting things – a zipline tour through the rainforest, snorkeling, touring a coffee plantation and seeing a volcano. We saw wildlife and scenery that have left a lasting impression and have many wonderful memories.

We first saw Susie Gilmore’s work at our friend Carol Colborn’s home. We loved the family portrait Susie had done for her. When I saw Susie’s website and spoke with her on the phone, I knew she was the one to capture Alison’s senior year. After seeing Alison’s portraits, there was never a question as to who would photograph Michael for his senior year and take our family portrait. We plan on using Susie for Kristen’s senior year in 4 years.

Susie Gilmore made the photography sessions special, they were very casual, enjoyable, fun and easy. Most importantly she made us look good! She has a natural curiosity about people and their stories and is able to capture the personality of the people she photographs. She made sure everyone was comfortable and wearing clothes they like. Susie suggested that Michael bring his guitar for his session and it turned out to be a wonderful idea because it allowed him to relax and be himself.

For Alison’s Senior session, the outdoor location and time of day was perfect. The colors and lighting in the photographs are fantastic. We had a great laugh when a duck joined in Alison’s session. I love the photo of her reaction to it. It was so spontaneous and genuine.

A week after our session, we came to Susie’s home to view the slideshow. She made it a special event. Not only were the photographs wonderful, she used the kid’s favorite music and served chocolate chip cookies. As a family who loves sweets this was a great treat and a memorable experience. The only problem was having to chose a few photographs from all the great ones.

We wish we could have picked more. However, adding the holiday cards allowed us to add to our selection at a reasonable price. I kept one of the cards and put it in a two sided frame so I can enjoy all the photos. Our friends and family loved the cards.

We purchased a wall portrait of our family which is displayed over the fireplace in our family room and I am able to see it when I am in my kitchen. The other loose portraits are displayed throughout the house and Andrew has taken some to work. We gave some to our parents for them to enjoy. They don’t see the kids very often so they are special to them. When I look at the portraits throughout my day, I feel a great joy in my heart and I can’t help but smile. I gladly recommend Susie Gilmore to friends. I carry the wallet size photos and take any opportunity to show them off.

Susie, through your photographs, you have captured the spirit and beauty of our family. I will treasure them always.

-Andrew and Jane Flanagan    Holly Springs, NC