Welcome Home, Josh!

A great big Welcome Home goes out to Josh!

Josh safety returned from Afghanistan today and his family welcomed him with wide, open arms. I met Josh’s wife, Lori, at a class for Marine spouses a while ago and was excited to be a part of such a special day! Josh’s mom and sister (with his niece and nephew in tow) had flown in as a surprise for his homecoming, and Lori’s sister was there as well. Though baby Grace had (unintentionally, of course) given away her secret on the way to Camp Horno, Josh had no idea that his mother would be present as well. The reunion between everyone was truly heartwarming.

Here are a handful of my favorite images from this afternoon!

Welcome Home, Josh!

xoxo,
Lauren
 

Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photographer Lauren Nygard

Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photography | Lauren Nygard Photography

https://laurennygard.com



Welcome Home!

There really are no words to describe the feelings families have when they’re reunited after a deployment. I was honored to be asked to photograph two homecomings recently: one for the USNS Mercy and one for Echo Company of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. Here is a little sneak peak of those two, wonderful reunions.

Welcome home to the Sailors of USNS Mercy!

And welcome home to the Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines!

Have a great week!

xoxo,
Lauren
 

San Diego Homecoming Photographer Lauren Nygard

San Diego Homecoming Photography | Lauren Nygard Photography

https://laurennygard.com



Welcome Home Pat!

I am SO happy to be sharing this homecoming with you today! With a tight schedule and the uncertainty that comes with Marine Corps homecomings, I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to capture it. Luckily, the timing worked out PERFECTLY and I was so happy to be there as Lindsey received that amazing first hug and kiss!

I arrived at the 33 Area just a few moments before an announcement was made that these Marines had passed through the Fallbrook gate, which meant that they were aboard Camp Pendleton! About 20 minutes later, the bus rolled in and the guys were returning their weapons at the armory. What seemed like just a few moments to me, I’m sure felt like eternity to these families! Soon enough, the Marines and Sailors marched across the street to the basketball courts and were released to their loved ones.

A big welcome home to Bravo Company of 1st Recon Battalion and especially Pat!

Thank you, Lindsey, for allowing me to capture Pat’s homecoming!

xoxo,
Lauren
 

Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photographer Lauren Nygard

Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photography | Lauren Nygard Photography

https://laurennygard.com



The N Family

Check out this amazing family! Amanda, David, and little Cayden were in town from the East Coast for Amanda’s college graduation, and contacted me for a family session here in Oceanside. David had been stationed at Camp Pendleton, and they really wanted some California images to take back home. I met up with them at the Ranch House at Camp Pendleton, and had a blast running around with Cayden! He was such a huge sweetheart!

Here are some of my favorites from our session.

Thank you to Amanda, David, and Cayden for spending some of your vacation time with me!

xoxo,
Lauren


As seen in… Military Spouse Magazine!

I am so SO excited to finally be able to share this with you!!

I was contacted several months ago by one of the editors of Military Spouse Magazine, because they wanted to interview me for an upcoming story! I spoke with Cachet Prescott, an Air Force spouse, who was putting together an article about photography and wanted my input about starting a photography business as well as some creative tips for taking photos. I submitted my information and some images to be published, and tried my best to forget about the whole thing! :) I knew the article would be published in the June issue, and there was just too much time to sit and dwell on it!

I became even more stoked about the issue when I found out that the Military Spouse of the Year, who is the feature for the June issue, is a HE for 2012! That’s right: the 2012 Military Spouse of the Year is Jeremy Hilton, spouse of Air Force Lt. Col. Renae Hilton. I was excited by this because, I feel that the term “military spouse” is all too often mistaken as being synonymous with “military wife,” and the male spouses among us seem to be forgotten. I am just overjoyed that the MSOY organization is starting to recognize all military spouses–not just us wives. :)

So, after constantly checking the magazine racks at both the commissary and exchange here at Camp Pendleton, I was (finally!) able to get my hands on a copy of the magazine today! I am featured in the “Picture Perfect” article that starts on page 68, along with fellow military spouses Melissa Englehart Calhoun and Karen Ortiz.

Here are some images of the cover and the article.

Now it’s your turn to go run out and grab yourself a copy of the June 2012 issue of Military Spouse Magazine! You’ll be glad you did! :)

xoxo,
Lauren