Buss Family Reunion in Gardiner, Montana

It is always special when family comes together from far and wide and to be asked to document the occasion is really an honor. It's part of why I love photographing family reunions. There is so much love and history to capture in such a short amount of time, but it happens...LOVE remembers...

Here, 20 people came together from as far as Washington State, Colorado and South Dakota. They met at a beautiful log cabin in Gardiner, Montana, along the Yellowstone River where I photographed them on July 8th...

Here (below) is Meg, the matriarch of the Buss family surrounded by her 10 grandchildren...what a legacy!

And here are Meg and her 4 children, Marshall, Dawn, Darren and Jon...the start of it all...

There are always the requisite shots that need to be taken on such occasions, but there is also always a splash of the unexpected or a time to be creative...

Like when I am trying to take a nice portrait and Darren is goofing off in the background with his slingshot...(yes, a grown man...)...which means, come to Montana where you can be a kid all over again...

Here, Donna had an idea of her being courted by her husband, Darren from the other side of the fence. Happily, I got them to kiss and got this great shot...how romantic is that after 3 kids???

Many thanks to Staci (and her family, pictured below) with whom I've been in contact for over a year regarding this special reunion...

It was a real pleasure meeting you all...Meg, Marshall, Staci, Alanah & JB; Jon, Kim, Amelia & Melissa; Darren, Donna, Lauren, Kyle and Kelsie; Sean, Dawn, John (& Emily), Amanda and Kayla...

You were awesome...THANK YOU!!!