As a professional portrait photographer I love creating portraits for families.  It is such a joy to photograph babies, children, expecting mothers and beautiful brides.  Those special moments deserve to be preserved in portraits that become heirlooms for their families.  Every once in a while I enjoy searching out and photographing different subject matter.  In the early years of my interest as a photographer I often photographed landscapes, scenery and wildlife.  I have been driving past this old farm house for several years on my way in to the studio each day.  Many times I have contemplated stopping to photograph the farm house especially when the lighting was just right.  I had even envisioned in my mind how the finished photograph would look.  Every spring when the daffodils start blooming it renews my interest in creating a photograph of this property.  Well, I finally stopped recently and created the photograph that I had pictured in my mind for so long.  Even though I only spent a few moments there it was so enjoyable.  Spring is definitely on the way.   

Tonight at 7 p.m. a memorial service will be held for Sammy Birchfield.  The service will be held at Fayetteville Church of the Nazarene.  Sammy passed away in his sleep on Friday, March 11, 2011 about 10 a.m. 

Many of you knew him better as Santa Claus.  You see, Sammy has worked with me for many years playing Santa when I have my annual Santa Portrait promotion.  Most of my clients saw him for the few minutes that he spent visiting with their children while I created their portraits.  All of my clients saw Sammy as a nice, sweet man who was good with their children.  What you did not see was just how incredibly deep the sweet spirit of this man ran.  Once I had a mother arrive with her two children for their yearly visit with Santa.  She stepped toward me and slipped a folded up piece of paper to me.  I knew that she was being secretive by the way she moved and the look on her face.  I turned away from the children and quickly scanned what was written inside.  I then handed it to Sammy while I blocked the children's view.  After he finished reading Sammy handed the paper back to me and nodded.  We proceeded to photograph the children as usual and had a great time creating the portraits.  After I knew we had what we needed, Sammy spent some time visiting with the children and asking them about their Christmas wishes.  Then he spent a few moments praising the little girl about some of her accomplishments for the past year.  This is when the magic really started happening.  This precious child was so amazed that he knew about what she had been doing.  Now it was time for Sammy to address some concerns with the little boy, the older of the two children.  This little guy was facing some delicate surgery and was very nervous about it.  Sammy spoke to him about the surgery and told him that he did not have to be afraid because Jesus was watching over him.  He assured this young boy that everything would  be okay and that he would be just fine.  I certainly felt a sense of peace and calmness in the studio at that moment and I feel like this little boy did too.  There were other instances when Sammy had these little talks with children without any prompting.  There were times when he would speak to children about listening to and obeying their parents and grandparents.  He would talk to them about keeping their rooms clean and picking up their toys.  He had a great knack for handling children with extraordinarily long wish list and telling them that there may be some things that they would not receive.  I loved watching and listening to him and watching the children with that sense of wonder in their eyes as they listened to this man with such a wonderful spirit.

I also photograph several very special children that have tremendous challenges.  Santa Sammy was exceptional with these children even though it could be physically challenging for him to hold them.  I will always remember one particular session when a special little girl stood up holding onto something for the first time.  Yes, this was the first time she had stood like this on her own and yes, she was holding onto Sammy's leg as he sat beside her.  What a very special moment for this little girl, for Sammy and for me.

 Sammy was not just Santa Claus to my clients.  He was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great grandfather.  He loved his family dearly and he loved God.  It showed in the way he spoke and it showed in the way he interacted with the children.  We will miss you dearly my good friend.  We know that you are looking down on us from heaven with that wonderful glean in your eye and that gentle smile on your face.

Christmas Open House

Santa Claus is coming to Portraits by Steven on November 6, 12, and 13.  Santa is extremely popular!  Do not delay in scheduling an appointment!  Contact Portraits by Steven at 919-292-1600 to schedule a visit with Santa.  Also, please visit our web site at www.stevenashmore.com.