“The rest is gravy”

After my last time with the Cook family on a Duffy ride to remember, I was a little nervous I wouldn’t be able to provide them with the images they most wanted — their young boys together, against a clean backdrop, smiles, no tears, a mother’s dream come true. And within the very first moments, it looked like it might be a repeat of last time but their oldest put the youngest at ease — showing him how easy it was to get his picture taken — and within the first 20 minutes I got the shots! Not a single tear. Or a single bribe. Or threat! The parents elated! These are the types of moments, as a photographer, that make you feel like a champ. Like you’ve done your duty. And dad (also named Matt) summed up my thoughts about what else we might capture in the session with the remark, that I have since repeated, “the rest is gravy.” And the rest certainly was gravy.

Photographed April, 2021 Newport Beach, CA