I had the most amazing weekend doing a photo shoot for Inspiration Through Art (formerly The Littlest Heroes Project). It is an organization that matches photographers with families of children who are sick or who have a disability. We provide the family with a free photo session and usually a CD of images!
I was so lucky to be asked to photograph Aden and his family on Saturday. They live 3+ hours away from me, so we decided to meet at Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe for our shoot. Aden brought his little brother, Aren, his mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa.
The first thing I noticed about Aden was that he liked to run! And run he did, all over the beach. He had a blast climbing the rocks and playing in the water. Aden has Down Syndrome, ADHD, and Sleep apnea. He is energetic and all boy~ just like his little brother, and boy, did they keep Dad on his toes! It was hard to get the boys to be still for very long, but isn't that how most boys are? They loved the water and mom and dad were so laid back, they let them play and get dirty! It was so relaxed and fun!
One of the best parts of the shoot was at the end. I had some interview questions to ask Aden's mom and we sat down on the beach so the boys could play. My kids were there with my husband and it was so much fun to watch all the kids play together. They all rolled down the sand hill and played in the water together. It always amazes me how easy it is for kids to make friends!
Aden's mom says that Aden is a hero because "No matter how bad things are, he can smile and just make it better. Through it all, he smiles." I hope that I get the opportunity to photograph this family again. Not only is Aden a hero, his parents are heroes too for all the love and support they give their boys. I am very lucky to have met this amazing family!
