There are things you do because you have to. There are things you do because you want to. And then there are the things you do for love.  These are the things you do when you’ve been challenged to step outside of your needs and desires.  The things that sometimes challenge us to take a chance.  A risk.  A step into the unknown.  A step of faith, if you will.  And when you feel like part of you is dying, you press on, one step of faith at a time, because sometimes, the things you do for love aren’t necessarily what your loved one deserves, but needs.

Emily, Ryan, and I met just before I took off to Europe, on a very cold, slightly windy Colorado afternoon to capture one of the last days these two would have together for quite some time.  Ryan, a soldier in the United States Army, deployed at the end of March to serve the country he loves.  It was risk.  A step into the unknown.  And a step of faith to provide not only for the country he loves, but for the woman he loves.  Emily, at the end of March, said goodbye to Ryan for a year.  It was a risk.  A step into the unknown.  And a step of faith into their future.

Emily and Ryan, you two are truly wonderful people whose actions of love speak louder than words ever could.  Thank you for the privilege of sharing your lives with me in a period of time when all you wanted to do was share time with each other, and only each other.  Looking forward to that return, Ryan.  Be well.

With love,
René

Ugh, these are so free-spirited!  My favorite!

Emily, you are such a doll! How do you do it?

You’re not too shabby yourself, Ryan. :)

It must be tough being models.

I felt kinda like a ninja shooting this one through the trees.

LOVE this one!

Um yeah… Gaw-gous!