A Love Story Legacy – Katy Houston Photographer

 It started out as a simple thought. Bruce and Linda had not had a portrait taken together in a long long time.

Chances are pretty good that most people who don’t have small kids at home, and many who do, haven’t taken the time to be photographed together either.

They were getting ready to celebrate their 45th anniversary, so Linda called to schedule a portrait session for the two of them.  The longer we talked we realized that a basic portrait just wouldn’t do.  We absolutely needed to capture the very essence of this relationship, and in doing so we needed to create a true heirloom legacy — something to one day be passed along to their grandchildren and to remind them of the joy and the active life and the romantic feelings that these two have for each other.

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If you knew this couple, one thing you would know for sure is that they are every bit as much in love  today as they were 45 years ago.  They’ve traveled quite a ways together down this road called life, and they still have a long long way to go.  We decided to spend the better part of a  day together so that we could document a relatively normal day in their life — from breakfast time to a dinner date with some fun stuff thrown into the middle of it all.

Our schedule was a little bit whack-a-d0odle  and out of order, but we were aiming for the essence of a day.  We came pretty close!

To keep things real, westarted out at breakfast time.   Toast and eggs.  T-shirts, newspaper,  and coffee.  It feels like home! That’s for sure. 2015-10-23_0022 2015-10-23_0021

 

The garden needed a little weeding and trim work, so after breakfast we headed out to the back yard for a little work session.

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And then we all  came in to exercise.

 … Ahhhhh!   So that’s how Linda keeps her girlish figure and how Bruce keeps up with her day in and day out.  Did I mention  how much I love love love their energy?

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 Most days find Bruce and Linda very-well connected to their tablets and computers where they check up on their grandchildren, their own parents and siblings, and of course their friends.

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Have you heard the old adage about the couple that hunts together?  That’ okay.  Neither have I. In fact, aside from my own grandparents, I can’t even think of any other couples I know that both people enjoy a frosty trip out to the lease, but every year they hunt together . . . deer, quail,  elk . . . whatever else it is that people hunt.

 Sooooooo — just for fun we decided to create a Texas Hunting Season parody version of the famous American Gothic painting by Grant Wood.   The house next door to them had a peaked gable that worked nicely for the background.

We laughed and laughed.

Fortunately none of the neighbors came out to find out why we were standing in the middle of the cul-de-sac with camoflauge, hunters’ orange safety gear,  a deer rifle, and antlers, but if they had we would have made up a crazy lie.

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I don’t believe that we could have gotten a more accurate facial expression  than Linda’s stern look if we had brought in a professional acting coach.   PRICELESS!  It was so very hard to keep a straight face.

On another note . . .  did you know that Bruce is actually ONE SUPER COOL GRAMPA?  Well, he IS!    His granddaughter is learning how to drive, and when he takes her out to practice, he lets her drive his “baby,” this classic Porsche convertible.   Granddaughter wasn’t with us when we were shooting, but we still made sure to save time for a drive to the park.   THIS, my friends,  is one sweet ride!

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It was a beautiful day to put the top down and enjoy the breezes, and also to take a walk through the park.

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As a highlight to our very active day,  we brought my makeup artist, Cintya Velderrain right to Linda’s own boudoir for a special hair and makeup session so that she could be her loveliest in time for their at-home date night.

2015-10-23_0028 For date night, Bruce and Linda prepared a delicate chicken piccatta  with broccoli and artisan bread.  Of course they  washed it down with some red wine.

Bruce is a fantastic chef, and he makes a mean chocolate martini too, but that’s a story for another time. 2015-10-23_0026   2015-10-23_0027

Dinner and dancing —  Forty-five years of marriage — and the romance between these two is still palpable.  There’s something very very special about the way the look into each others eyes.

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We took all these beautiful images and a few more and bound them together into a lovely album to showcase their unique relationship and the love that has carried them through the years.

Happy anniversary Bruce and Linda!  You are a most special couple.  I absolutely  love you to pieces!

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7 Comments

  1. Precious! Love it!

  2. Thanks Dottie! They are so sweet with each other, and it was an honor to work with them.

  3. From an “old friend”, you two still look so young, so vital. May the Lord bless you with many more years together.

  4. beautiful pictures Shelly!!! Linda and Bruce look terrific

  5. Thank you, Joyce. We had so much fun.

  6. Elaine, they ARE young and vital. I’m sure you’re right in there with them.

  7. Great idea! Linda and Bruce are such a fun couple.

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