Deployed Husband Can’t Come To Wife’s Maternity Photo Shoot, So She Comes Up With A Heartwarming Idea
A loving couple, separated by deployment, got the chance to reunite through photography.
Veronica and Brandon Phillips are expecting their first child, but Veronica is currently at home in Florida while Brandon is serving in the Air Force overseas. Because of that, he has missed most of her pregnancy and cannot be there for their baby’s birth.
So when Veronica booked a maternity photo shoot with Jennifer McMahon, a photographer in Miami, Florida, she asked McMahon whether it would be possible to somehow incorporate Brandon into the photos. McMahon said yes and with stunning precision delivered one of the most heartwarming maternity images.
“I had seen many photos where people were Photoshopped in, and I have Photoshopped siblings together before to look like one seamless photo,” McMahon told HuffPost. “After playing around with several edits for a few days and many hours of editing, I posted the one I thought told the best story and would evoke emotion in all who saw it.”
“It is very common it seems for military husbands to miss pregnancies or births of their children. It broke my heart when Veronica told me her story. I couldn’t imagine. And to think it’s a regular occurrence. This is what it means to serve our country.”
More info: jenniferarielphotography.com | Facebook (h/t: buzzfeed, huffpost)
Veronica and Brandon Phillips are expecting their first child, but she is currently at home while Brandon is serving in the Air Force overseas
Because of that, he has missed most of her pregnancy and cannot be there for their baby’s birth
So after Veronica booked a maternity photo shoot, she though of a genius idea how her husband could be a part of it
The photographer gladly agreed and with stunning precision delivered one of the most heartwarming maternity images
“After playing around with several edits for a few days and many hours of editing, I posted the one I thought told the best story,” photographer McMahon said
We hope Brandon will be able to meet his newborn as soon as possible and wish him all the time in the world with his family in the future!
Isn't it odd to see this a few days after BP had the "Journalist Asks Coach Why He Let His Star Player Attend His Child’s Birth" story and everyone praised the coach? Now people get separated during pregnancy for months, but I guess questioning this will lead to tons of downvotes since military service is considered to be more than a choice of profession. Well, everybody to his or her own priorities. Still, the first picture, a baby belly next to a gun, just feels weird.
I was feeling the same... I get that they believe they are protecting their unborn child. Unfortunately they are so often used as pawns for someone else's game. Not only are you missing the pregnancy and possibly the birth of your child, you could leave them fatherless and husband-less for almost nothing. I don't want to be misunderstood, I have so much respect for men and women in the service and their hope for creating a better world, but I sure have hatred for the people making money from war. Its because of these people that wars exist in the first place and missing something as monumental in our short life as the birth of your own child for them does not feel worth it.
Just one more thought: "This is what it means to serve our country." the photographer said. Well, serving others is always a noteworthy goal, and serving society a particular one. But what is the price? I would argue strongly that particularly in positions where you do serve your country, your country should not forget to serve _you_ with backup when you need it. At least in times of (relative) peace, I am sure this would be achieveable. Some companies claim it is not possible, and probably so would the military, but I guess this is a question of mindset, not one of logistical possibilities.
Here's the thing Hans. When you sign that dotted line, you commit to the service completely. When a man or a woman marries into the military they know the sacrifices their husband/wife has to make. They know by having a child, the mom/dad may not be there. Also, the military takes great care of families. Tricare made her pregnancy cost very little. That father has the option of passing on his GI bill to his wife or child one day, so that's free school.There are sacrifices but the military does take care of its own
Not really odd at all Hans. I'm an army brat, and I knew from my earliest days that these things happen in the military on a regular basis, because of the mission. If a person is stationed in a hazardous duty assignment it would be impossible to get the father home in time to be there for the arrival. That's much different than driving across town.
I agree John. My dad deployed a lot and missed some things, didn't make him any less of a wonderful father. He has a wonderful career now, he is set for life with retirement. He gave us a good life growing up
I do understand the hardships. What I do not understand is that our modern societies do not provide the retreat for those who are at need of it. It undoubtedly is brave to be in a dugout...but it would be not less brave to "serve" in the delivery ward, and I believe that many brave man and woman would love to be forced to not make a choice for either or. Do not get me wrong, I am not a romantic idealist. I do think, however, that although it poses logistical challenges, it should be possible to station soldiers for a few months at a nearby base in such cases, to just make an example. If there is will, there will be a way.
Philosophical issues aside for the moment, I think the photographer did a magnificent job of putting this couple together with their "almost here" child. That picture will be an amazing memory for all three of them.
thats so nice
Isn't it odd to see this a few days after BP had the "Journalist Asks Coach Why He Let His Star Player Attend His Child’s Birth" story and everyone praised the coach? Now people get separated during pregnancy for months, but I guess questioning this will lead to tons of downvotes since military service is considered to be more than a choice of profession. Well, everybody to his or her own priorities. Still, the first picture, a baby belly next to a gun, just feels weird.
I was feeling the same... I get that they believe they are protecting their unborn child. Unfortunately they are so often used as pawns for someone else's game. Not only are you missing the pregnancy and possibly the birth of your child, you could leave them fatherless and husband-less for almost nothing. I don't want to be misunderstood, I have so much respect for men and women in the service and their hope for creating a better world, but I sure have hatred for the people making money from war. Its because of these people that wars exist in the first place and missing something as monumental in our short life as the birth of your own child for them does not feel worth it.
Just one more thought: "This is what it means to serve our country." the photographer said. Well, serving others is always a noteworthy goal, and serving society a particular one. But what is the price? I would argue strongly that particularly in positions where you do serve your country, your country should not forget to serve _you_ with backup when you need it. At least in times of (relative) peace, I am sure this would be achieveable. Some companies claim it is not possible, and probably so would the military, but I guess this is a question of mindset, not one of logistical possibilities.
Here's the thing Hans. When you sign that dotted line, you commit to the service completely. When a man or a woman marries into the military they know the sacrifices their husband/wife has to make. They know by having a child, the mom/dad may not be there. Also, the military takes great care of families. Tricare made her pregnancy cost very little. That father has the option of passing on his GI bill to his wife or child one day, so that's free school.There are sacrifices but the military does take care of its own
Not really odd at all Hans. I'm an army brat, and I knew from my earliest days that these things happen in the military on a regular basis, because of the mission. If a person is stationed in a hazardous duty assignment it would be impossible to get the father home in time to be there for the arrival. That's much different than driving across town.
I agree John. My dad deployed a lot and missed some things, didn't make him any less of a wonderful father. He has a wonderful career now, he is set for life with retirement. He gave us a good life growing up
I do understand the hardships. What I do not understand is that our modern societies do not provide the retreat for those who are at need of it. It undoubtedly is brave to be in a dugout...but it would be not less brave to "serve" in the delivery ward, and I believe that many brave man and woman would love to be forced to not make a choice for either or. Do not get me wrong, I am not a romantic idealist. I do think, however, that although it poses logistical challenges, it should be possible to station soldiers for a few months at a nearby base in such cases, to just make an example. If there is will, there will be a way.
Philosophical issues aside for the moment, I think the photographer did a magnificent job of putting this couple together with their "almost here" child. That picture will be an amazing memory for all three of them.
thats so nice