The Happiest Place on Earth

My dad was an engineer for the railroad.

He worked long hours and was gone from home a lot.  As a little girl, I remember having to play outside often during the day cause dad was sleeping.  He got called to work at all hours of the night.

All across Colorado he transported coal.  And in his free time?  He took care of our five-acre farm.  He bailed hay, he tended the animals, he remodeled our house.

My daddy is the hardest working man I know.  And he’ll tell you he worked is tail off all year for this one week.  This one week where he took his kids to the happiest place on earth.  One week where we made some of the best Tate family memories.

Disneyland was opened in 1955, my dad married my mom in 1963 and they’ve been making family memories at Disney ever since.

This image is of my sister, Gina, and brother, Troy, in Disneyland.
Circa 1970

Fast forward 22 years later.  This image is of me and my brother, Kevin, in Disney World.
Though Kevin and I are nearly 20 years apart in age from Gina and Troy,
the resemblance is remarkable.  Those pigtails… they never go out of style. ;-)
Circa 1992 

Still with my hair in braids, I love Disney just as much as I did 20 years ago.
May 8th 2012 

Mom and Dad, though the rides may change, new characters are introduced, Walt Disney World is still the happiest place on earth cause you are there.  Thank you for yet another wonderful vacation of Tate family memories.

I love you,
René

With 20 years of experience, I bring a calm, steady presence to your most meaningful days. I specialize in documenting relationships over time—from weddings and anniversaries to babies and families—with a love for black-and-white imagery, honest moments, and photographs that belong in albums, not just on a feed. There are no forced poses or “pretend to” prompts here, only space for what’s real. I’m not just here for the highlight; I’m here for the history you’re creating.

And I can't wait to capture your story

Hi! i'm rené, your
photog & legacy keeper

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