Photographing​ ​Military​ ​Homecomings

Photographing​ ​military​ ​homecomings​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​rewarding​ ​and​ ​wonderful types​ ​of​ ​shoots​ ​there​ ​are.​ ​I​ ​consider​ ​it​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​perk​ ​of​ ​living​ ​in​ ​a​ ​military​ ​town​ ​that​ ​I get​ ​to​ ​shoot​ ​them​ ​on​ ​occasion.​ ​However,​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​I​ ​was​ ​asked​ ​to​ ​photograph one,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​clueless!​ ​There​ ​was​ ​only​ ​one​ ​blog​ ​that​ ​roughly​ ​outlined​ ​a​ ​”how​ ​to”​ ​so​ ​I turned​ ​to​ ​trial​ ​and​ ​error.​ ​I​ ​do​ ​understand​ ​why​ ​it’s​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​guide​ ​for​ ​this because​ ​every​ ​homecoming​ ​is​ ​different​ ​so​ ​there’s​ ​no​ ​one​ ​size​ ​fits​ ​all​ ​session. However,​ ​I​ ​will​ ​try​ ​to​ ​give​ ​aspiring​ ​photographers​ ​and​ ​friends​ ​who​ ​were​ ​”voluntold” to​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​camera,​ ​a​ ​basic​ ​rundown​ ​of​ ​how​ ​to​ ​get​ ​shareable​ ​photos. First​ ​of​ ​all,​ ​my​ ​disclaimer:​ ​I​ ​know​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​the​ ​authority​ ​on​ ​this​ ​subject​ ​and every​ ​homecoming​ ​is​ ​different​ ​so​ ​take​ ​my​ ​plan​ ​with​ ​a​ ​grain​ ​of​ ​salt!​ ​Homecomings are​ ​different​ ​between​ ​branches,​ ​bases,​ ​units,​ ​and​ ​deployments.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​sharing​ ​my experience​ ​with​ ​a​ ​Marine​ ​Corps​ ​air​ ​station​ ​where​ ​most​ ​of​ ​my​ ​experience​ ​has​ ​been with​ ​squadrons​ ​flying​ ​in.

Let​ ​me​ ​first​ ​define​ ​the​ ​type​ ​of​ ​shoot​ ​I​ ​am​ ​talking​ ​about.​ ​A​ ​military​ ​homecoming​ ​is when​ ​a​ ​service​ ​member​ ​comes​ ​home​ ​from​ ​a​ ​deployment​ ​and​ ​their​ ​spouse, significant​ ​other,​ ​family​ ​sees​ ​them​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​in​ ​months.​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​very​ ​emotional day​ ​with​ ​tears,​ ​flag​ ​waving,​ ​and​ ​photographs​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​the​ ​day.​ ​Often​ ​the service​ ​member​ ​has​ ​missed​ ​holidays​ ​and​ ​important​ ​dates​ ​and​ ​even​ ​the​ ​birth​ ​of their​ ​child.

Before​ ​the​ ​day:

Be​ ​prepared​ ​for​ ​all​ ​plans​ ​to​ ​change​ ​at​ ​the​ ​drop​ ​of​ ​a​ ​hat.​ ​Homecomings​ ​are notoriously​ ​late/changed​ ​at​ ​the​ ​last​ ​minute/3​ ​weeks​ ​late.​ ​They​ ​also​ ​can​ ​come​ ​in​ ​at
all​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​the​ ​day.​ ​It​ ​can​ ​be​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​planning​ ​for​ ​birth​ ​photography​ ​in​ ​the​ ​block of​ ​time​ ​you​ ​must​ ​be​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​be​ ​available.​ ​Most​ ​people​ ​will​ ​be​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​a photographer​ ​once​ ​they​ ​have​ ​a​ ​general​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​when​ ​their​ ​service​ ​member​ ​is​ ​due home.​ ​Be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​in​ ​contact​ ​with​ ​the​ ​client​ ​and​ ​stress​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​keep you​ ​updated.​ ​Also,​ ​a​ ​note​ ​here:​ ​homecoming​ ​date,​ ​time,​ ​who,​ ​where,​ ​is​ ​all​ ​secret stuff.​ ​You​ ​can’t​ ​be​ ​putting​ ​this​ ​information​ ​out​ ​anywhere! Have​ ​a​ ​plan​ ​of​ ​how​ ​you​ ​will​ ​get​ ​on​ ​base​ ​and​ ​to​ ​the​ ​area​ ​of​ ​the​ ​homecoming.​ ​If​ ​you do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​a​ ​military​ ​ID,​ ​the​ ​spouse​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​sponsor​ ​you​ ​on​ ​to​ ​base​ ​and​ ​this will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​planned​ ​ahead​ ​of​ ​time.

Timing:
I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​be​ ​there​ ​30​ ​minutes​ ​before​ ​the​ ​service​ ​member​ ​is​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​be​ ​there. Rarely​ ​are​ ​they​ ​early,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​terribly​ ​nerve​ ​racking​ ​to​ ​think​ ​about​ ​missing​ ​it!

Gear:
Any​ ​camera​ ​will​ ​work!​ ​It​ ​is​ ​not​ ​the​ ​gear​ ​that​ ​matters!​ ​Personally,​ ​I​ ​shoot​ ​with​ ​a​ ​full frame​ ​dslr.​ ​For​ ​portraits​ ​I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​prime​ ​lens​ ​user​ ​but​ ​for​ ​homecomings​ ​I​ ​get​ ​out​ ​my 24-70mm​ ​zoom​ ​and​ ​70-200mm​ ​zoom.​ ​The​ ​reunion​ ​happens​ ​so​ ​fast​ ​(and​ ​everyone runs!)​ ​that​ ​I​ ​find​ ​that​ ​when​ ​I​ ​have​ ​shot​ ​prime​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​have​ ​enough​ ​time​ ​to​ ​”zoom with​ ​my​ ​feet”​ ​fast​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​catch​ ​the​ ​action.​ ​For​ ​evening​ ​time,​ ​I​ ​also​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​high speed​ ​sync​ ​flash​ ​that​ ​I​ ​put​ ​on​ ​my​ ​hot​ ​shoe​ ​with​ ​a​ ​circular​ ​flash​ ​diffuser.​ ​Shoes​ ​you can​ ​move​ ​quickly​ ​in​ ​are​ ​a​ ​must!​ ​An​ ​extra​ ​I​ ​always​ ​like​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​are​ ​little​ ​American flags.​ ​There’s​ ​not​ ​much​ ​that’s​ ​cuter​ ​than​ ​a​ ​little​ ​kid​ ​waving​ ​a​ ​flag​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​their parent​ ​and​ ​it​ ​also​ ​makes​ ​back​ ​of​ ​the​ ​head​ ​hugging​ ​shots​ ​more​ ​useable​ ​with​ ​the addition​ ​of​ ​a​ ​flag​ ​in​ ​their​ ​hand.​ ​Also,​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​check​ ​the​ ​weather! Homecomings​ ​happen​ ​rain​ ​or​ ​shine​ ​(as​ ​you​ ​can​ ​see​ ​from​ ​the​ ​example​ ​homecoming I​ ​used)​ ​so​ ​bring​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​rain​ ​gear.

The​ ​big​ ​day:
After​ ​weeks​ ​of​ ​coordinating​ ​and​ ​schedule​ ​changes,​ ​you’re​ ​finally​ ​at​ ​the​ ​designated homecoming​ ​area​ ​and​ ​the​ ​service​ ​member​ ​is​ ​on​ ​their​ ​way​ ​home.​ ​Now​ ​what?​ ​First thing,​ ​get​ ​your​ ​gear​ ​ready.​ ​Like​ ​I​ ​said​ ​earlier,​ ​things​ ​change​ ​and​ ​change​ ​fast!​ ​Get your​ ​settings​ ​set​ ​ahead​ ​of​ ​time​ ​(taking​ ​into​ ​consideration​ ​changing​ ​light)​ ​and​ ​make sure​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​charged​ ​battery​ ​in.​ ​Second,​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​your​ ​client.​ ​The​ ​significant other​ ​will​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​be​ ​nervous.​ ​Doesn’t​ ​matter​ ​if​ ​it’s​ ​their​ ​first​ ​homecoming​ ​or forth,​ ​most​ ​everyone​ ​is​ ​nervous.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​worried​ ​about​ ​if​ ​they​ ​got​ ​everything​ ​on their​ ​cleaning​ ​checklist​ ​done,​ ​if​ ​they’ll​ ​recognize​ ​them,​ ​if​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​will​ ​be​ ​scared​ ​of him,​ ​etc​ ​and​ ​on​ ​top​ ​of​ ​all​ ​that​ ​they​ ​realize​ ​how​ ​ridiculous​ ​it​ ​is​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​nervous to​ ​see​ ​their​ ​significant​ ​other.​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​them​ ​through​ ​exactly​ ​what​ ​will​ ​happen and​ ​what​ ​I​ ​want​ ​them​ ​to​ ​do​ ​so​ ​that​ ​they​ ​have​ ​something​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​rather​ ​than worrying​ ​about​ ​how​ ​they​ ​look.​ ​If​ ​they​ ​have​ ​kids​ ​I​ ​try​ ​to​ ​play​ ​with​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​because​ ​a) it​ ​is​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​parent​ ​when​ ​you​ ​are​ ​so​ ​nervous​ ​yourself​ ​and​ ​b)​ ​if​ ​you​ ​bond​ ​with​ ​the kids,​ ​they​ ​are​ ​way​ ​more​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​point​ ​their​ ​happy​ ​smiles​ ​in​ ​your​ ​direction.

Capturing​ ​waiting​ ​pictures:
It​ ​can​ ​be​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​go​ ​overkill​ ​on​ ​the​ ​waiting​ ​pictures,​ ​especially​ ​if​ ​you’re​ ​waiting​ ​for 30​ ​minutes​ ​plus.​ ​If​ ​there​ ​is​ ​kids,​ ​I​ ​keep​ ​most​ ​of​ ​my​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​because​ ​that’s what​ ​the​ ​clients​ ​care​ ​most​ ​about.​ ​I​ ​do​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​get​ ​ones​ ​of​ ​the​ ​significant​ ​other because​ ​they​ ​can’t​ ​get​ ​those​ ​images​ ​on​ ​their​ ​cell​ ​phone.​ ​A​ ​tip:​ ​the​ ​client​ ​standing just​ ​ ​inside​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hanger/building​ ​looking​ ​out​ ​at​ ​you​ ​as​ ​you​ ​stand​ ​outside​ ​the building​ ​makes​ ​for​ ​some​ ​gorgeous​ ​light!​ ​Shots​ ​that​ ​I​ ​always​ ​try​ ​to​ ​get:

● standing​ ​and​ ​watching​ ​the​ ​sky/distance​ ​where​ ​they’re​ ​coming​ ​from
● Signs​ ​if​ ​they​ ​made/brought​ ​them
● Significant​ ​other’s​ ​hands​ ​(many​ ​people​ ​nervously​ ​play​ ​with​ ​their​ ​ring​ ​or​ ​the flag​ ​you​ ​gave​ ​them​ ​earlier)
● Portraits​ ​of​ ​the​ ​kids
● Kids​ ​playing
● Pointing/waving​ ​to​ ​the​ ​plane/bus
● Aircraft​ ​flying​ ​over​ ​if​ ​they​ ​are​ ​coming​ ​in​ ​on​ ​one

The​ ​big​ ​moment:
As​ ​I​ ​am​ ​talking​ ​through​ ​expectations,​ ​I​ ​ask​ ​the​ ​client​ ​to​ ​move​ ​to​ ​the​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the crowd​ ​so​ ​that​ ​we​ ​have​ ​more​ ​space​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with.​ ​I​ ​explain​ ​it​ ​as​ ​I​ ​would​ ​hate​ ​to​ ​miss THE​ ​shot​ ​because​ ​someone​ ​stepped​ ​between​ ​me​ ​and​ ​the​ ​couple.​ ​However,​ ​I’m always​ ​prepared​ ​that​ ​they​ ​will​ ​forget​ ​all​ ​of​ ​that​ ​and​ ​just​ ​beeline​ ​when​ ​they​ ​see​ ​their service​ ​member.​ ​Usually​ ​I​ ​have​ ​on​ ​my​ ​24-70mm​ ​so​ ​that​ ​I​ ​can​ ​be​ ​pretty​ ​close​ ​to them.​ ​If​ ​it’s​ ​only​ ​a​ ​few​ ​people​ ​I​ ​might​ ​put​ ​on​ ​my​ ​70-200​ ​so​ ​I​ ​can​ ​give​ ​them​ ​some space,​ ​but​ ​honestly,​ ​they​ ​will​ ​barely​ ​realize​ ​you’re​ ​there​ ​even​ ​if​ ​you’re​ ​only​ ​a​ ​foot away.​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​an​ ​aperture​ ​of​ ​f5​ ​or​ ​f5.6​ ​but​ ​going​ ​up​ ​to​ ​f8​ ​if​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​number of​ ​kids.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​just​ ​my​ ​shooting​ ​style​ ​because​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​isolate​ ​the​ ​client​ ​against​ ​all the​ ​other​ ​reunions.​ ​I​ ​see​ ​it​ ​as​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​reason​ ​that​ ​they​ ​hired​ ​a​ ​photographer instead​ ​of​ ​just​ ​handing​ ​their​ ​phone​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​standing​ ​around.​ ​Then​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to boost​ ​the​ ​shutter​ ​speed​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​up​ ​with​ ​the​ ​clients​ ​running​ ​and​ ​compensate​ ​for​ ​my fast​ ​movements​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​ISO​ ​I​ ​will​ ​often​ ​set​ ​to​ ​auto​ ​if​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​the​ ​client​ ​will move​ ​from​ ​sun​ ​to​ ​shade.​ ​Once​ ​we​ ​are​ ​given​ ​the​ ​go​ ​ahead​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​them,​ ​we​ ​start walking​ ​slowly​ ​and​ ​I​ ​ask​ ​that​ ​the​ ​client​ ​wait​ ​until​ ​they​ ​see​ ​their​ ​service​ ​member before​ ​they​ ​start​ ​running.​ ​I​ ​keep​ ​my​ ​camera’s​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​their​ ​face​ ​so​ ​that​ ​I​ ​can capture​ ​that​ ​moment​ ​when​ ​they​ ​see​ ​their​ ​service​ ​member.​ ​A​ ​good​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​remind clients​ ​beforehand​ ​is​ ​to​ ​find​ ​out​ ​which​ ​aircraft/bus​ ​they​ ​will​ ​be​ ​arriving​ ​on.​ ​It​ ​saves a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​uncertainty​ ​that​ ​way.​ ​Then​ ​I​ ​start​ ​to​ ​book​ ​it​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​person​ ​they’re smiling​ ​at.​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​be​ ​behind​ ​and​ ​to​ ​one​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​service​ ​member​ ​so​ ​that​ ​I​ ​can capture​ ​the​ ​expression​ ​of​ ​the​ ​kids/significant​ ​other​ ​as​ ​they​ ​run​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​(#1). Then​ ​I​ ​try​ ​to​ ​move​ ​in​ ​a​ ​semi​ ​circle​ ​around​ ​them​ ​(2-3)to​ ​get​ ​a​ ​side​ ​view​ ​for​ ​their​ ​kiss (4)​ ​and​ ​then​ ​his​ ​expression​ ​as​ ​they​ ​hug​ ​(5).​ ​Below​ ​is​ ​a​ ​crude​ ​drawing​ ​where​ ​I​ ​am yellow,​ ​service​ ​member​ ​is​ ​dark​ ​blue,​ ​significant​ ​other/family​ ​are​ ​light​ ​blue:

 

 

Reunited:
After​ ​that​ ​first​ ​embrace,​ ​I​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​shooting​ ​as​ ​they​ ​talk​ ​a​ ​bit.​ ​If​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​intrusive, I​ ​will​ ​introduce​ ​myself.​ ​Then​ ​after​ ​a​ ​few​ ​minutes​ ​I​ ​will​ ​try​ ​to​ ​take​ ​a​ ​family​ ​picture​ ​in front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​aircraft/unit​ ​insignia,​ ​making​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​also​ ​get​ ​one​ ​of​ ​service​ ​member and​ ​each​ ​kid​ ​if​ ​there​ ​are​ ​kids​ ​there.​ ​Other​ ​shots​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​include:
● Closeup​ ​of​ ​holding​ ​hands
● Service​ ​member​ ​playing​ ​with​ ​kids
● Shot​ ​of​ ​aircraft​ ​if​ ​they​ ​flew​ ​in​ ​on​ ​one
● Service​ ​member’s​ ​bags
● Family​ ​walking​ ​away
● Unit​ ​insignia

Once​ ​I​ ​have​ ​those​ ​shots​ ​I​ ​will​ ​usually​ ​just​ ​wave​ ​to​ ​my​ ​client​ ​and​ ​leave.​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​want to​ ​intrude​ ​on​ ​their​ ​special​ ​time​ ​and​ ​the​ ​service​ ​member​ ​usually​ ​just​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​get out​ ​of​ ​there​ ​:)​ ​I​ ​will​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​the​ ​client​ ​beforehand​ ​as​ ​we’re​ ​discussing​ ​priority​ ​shots​ ​to let​ ​them​ ​know​ ​that’s​ ​what​ ​I​ ​will​ ​be​ ​doing. Another​ ​situation​ ​that​ ​occasionally​ ​happens​ ​is​ ​the​ ​service​ ​member​ ​will​ ​arrive​ ​home
on​ ​a​ ​commercial​ ​airplane.​ ​So​ ​meeting​ ​the​ ​service​ ​member​ ​will​ ​take​ ​place​ ​just outside​ ​of​ ​security​ ​at​ ​an​ ​airport.​ ​I​ ​recommend​ ​calling​ ​the​ ​airport​ ​security​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​if there’s​ ​any​ ​restrictions.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​never​ ​had​ ​a​ ​problem​ ​but​ ​they​ ​certainly​ ​appreciated knowing​ ​I​ ​was​ ​coming​ ​with​ ​camera​ ​equipment.​ ​For​ ​this​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​homecoming​ ​I​ ​will usually​ ​bring​ ​my​ ​flash​ ​and​ ​bounce​ ​it​ ​as​ ​the​ ​airport​ ​near​ ​me​ ​has​ ​low​ ​ceilings​ ​and​ ​low lighting.

Hopefully​ ​this​ ​has​ ​given​ ​you​ ​the​ ​confidence​ ​to​ ​try​ ​your​ ​first​ ​military​ ​homecoming shoot!​ ​I​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​be​ ​as​ ​detailed​ ​as​ ​possible​ ​because​ ​I​ ​appreciate​ ​details!​ ​Please​ ​don’t let​ ​this​ ​overwhelm​ ​you​ ​though!​ ​Most​ ​important​ ​is​ ​this:​ ​the​ ​client​ ​will​ ​not​ ​care​ ​about the​ ​quality​ ​if​ ​you​ ​capture​ ​generally​ ​what​ ​happened.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​not​ ​notice​ ​grain,​ ​or harsh​ ​shadows,​ ​or​ ​uneven​ ​lighting,​ ​or​ ​any​ ​other​ ​condition​ ​that​ ​makes photographers​ ​cringe.​ ​All​ ​they​ ​will​ ​notice​ ​is​ ​that​ ​you​ ​captured​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most emotional​ ​and​ ​special​ ​days​ ​of​ ​their​ ​lives!​ ​If​ ​you​ ​take​ ​nothing​ ​away​ ​from​ ​this​ ​article but​ ​this,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​accomplished​ ​my​ ​goal!​ ​Good​ ​luck​ ​shooting!

Kim Habecker is a mom-tographer and military spouse currently living in North Carolina. She is a portrait photographer on the weekends and mom to two little girls the rest of the time. You can find her on Facebook (Kim Habecker Photography) or her website kimhphoto.com.