A few months ago, I came across HeartsApart.org, a relatively new organization that matches deploying military members with photographers to capture images of them and their families. The organization then takes several of the images and prints them on a unique waterproof card that the service member can keep in his pocket while deployed. How cool is that??

As soon as I heard about HeartsApart.org, I knew I wanted to get involved. As a Marine spouse, I would’ve loved to have been able to give one of those cards (filled with gorgeous photographs of me of course!) to my husband to take to Afghanistan. I applied to be an affiliated photographer right away. You can imagine how excited I was when I found out that my application had been approved!

I have been able to do two photography sessions for HeartsApart.org so far, and hope to continue to work with them in the future! Here are just a handful of my favorite shots from those two sessions.

Here is a little more information about HeartsApart.org from their website:

HeartsApart.org was created to keep families connected while our military men and women are serving abroad. Through the efforts of our community’s finest photographers, HeartsApart.org provides our soon to be deployed servicemen and women with pictures of their spouses and children. The photographs are printed on waterproof and durable bi-folded cards, which fit securely in their uniform pocket. HeartsApart.org believes that our military personnel deserve and need the memory of their families to carry them through the difficult times that lie ahead.

Founded in North Carolina, home to Pope AFB, Seymour Johnson AFB, Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, MCAS Cherry Point and MCAS New River, we have begun our volunteer efforts in our own backyard but hope to organize and mobilize photographers across the country.

The goal of HeartsApart.org is simple. As long as servicemen and women are in harm’s way and separated from their families, we will be taking pictures. There is no end to the project – just a commitment to continue to serve our Armed Forces while they continue to serve us.

If you or your spouse are preparing for an upcoming deployment and would like to be blessed with gorgeous photographs to help ease the separation, please contact the Project Director at [email protected].

Happy Autumn, everyone!