jean + jim | legacy

a romantic heirloom at-home legacy session

Our Legacy Collection isn’t just for families. It’s also a beautiful way to showcase a newborn who has just came into the world, a high school senior about to go out on their own or a couple and their love for each other. This Legacy session was extra special for me as the couple you see below are my grandparents, Jean + Jim.

Romantic Heirloom At-Home Legacy Session | ©Expressions by Jamie | www.expressionsbyjamie.com

They have been 64 years (their anniversary was New Year’s Eve!) and never had professional photos taken together! In fact, they only have one picture from their wedding which is out of focus and quite small. While they cherish that photo and the memories it holds of their special day, I feel so blessed to be able to use my gift to give them new images they can enjoy.

The Legacy Collection takes everything I am trying to savor through sessions to the next level. By combining photo and video, we are able to not only give you images to display on the wall in your home, but an heirloom film that captures mannerisms, reactions, voices and personalities that can be passed down for generations. It’s incredibly special and something I want all my clients to be able to have.

From Kelly (Jean + Jim’s Granddaughter) : Something I will never forget about Honey and Pappy is their anniversary where they renewed their vows. The way they looked at each other made me believe in fairy-tales and when they kissed like teenagers I thought “THAT. That is what I want. When I’m 80 I want to kiss Richie (her husband) like we did when we were 15 and still feel those butterflies.”

For Jean + Jim’s session, or as all their grandchildren (including me!) and great grandchildren call them Grandma Honey and Pappy, I did a lot of research beforehand getting everyone involved including our entire family and collaborating with members of The Rising Tide’s Tuesdays Together – Gettysburg group. I started by asking all of our family what the first thing that came to mind was when you think of Honey + Pappy. Using this information I formed our photo plan for the day. I even learned a few more things about my grandparents that I never knew – they begin everyday reading three prayers together before a game of Yahtzee. Overwhelmingly, the number one answer was their open door policy. No matter if you’ve known them your whole life or are just meeting them today, they always welcome you into their home with a smile and offering of hot tea, an ice cream cone or “Pepsi Coli” as Grandma Honey calls it. They will sit at the kitchen table and talk to you for however long or short you want to stay making you feel like the most important person in the world during that moment.

From Erica (Jean + Jim’s Granddaughter): I love sitting around the kitchen table with them and talking about life. I love how Honey has so much knowledge and likes to learn from all of her grandchildren. They ask questions and really love to know what we are doing with our day to day lives. I love watching them move around the kitchen, washing dishes and cooking and making tea in unison. They move some smoothly around that kitchen and it just shows you how well they work together and how many years they have worked together to take care of their big, beautiful family. I’ve never seen a couple who has loved so strongly without even knowing that they are showing me.

We shot this Legacy Collection at the first home they bought together and still live in today! I worked with fellow Tuesdays Together members Selena’s Best Bakes, Tamara & Company, BeYOUtiful by Holly and Jessica Smith Designs to create a surprise morning date for the two of them. The morning of the session, Tamara came and pampered my grandmother giving her a mini facial. Selena made an assortment of petite desserts including mini cinnamon rolls and lemon poppyseed cookies. Jessica hand lettered their nicknames for each other, Jeanie + Jimmer, on agate slices, “We Still Do” sign and created the “You Are My Sunshine” table runner. They love harmonizing that song and my dad still carries that memory with him at age 62. The four of them helped make this day so special for my grandparents. I couldn’t have done it without each of them!

This cute little date area was ideal for the interview portion of our day. Throughout the session we learned how they first met, their most cherished memory of the life they have built together, what they look forward to most in their everyday lives, that they consider their large family to be one of the biggest blessings in their life and so much more. Hearing their sweet responses and noting that their hands never let go of each other’s is a precious mental picture I won’t soon forget. I know Grandma Honey and Pappy are going to enjoy watching every minute of this video for years to come.

Romantic Heirloom At-Home Legacy Session | ©Expressions by Jamie | www.expressionsbyjamie.com

Honey and Pappy, being able to capture your love for each other, our family and the life you’ve built is something I will cherish forever. Knowing that this session encompasses little pieces of our entire family creates an overwhelming feeling every time I think about it. I am happy and humbled to have been able to make this a reality to be loved by you and future generations for years to come. Just talking about your session brings tears to my eyes. I feel incredibly blessed to have you as my grandparents and an example of what true love, respect, grace and thankfulness really are.