This weekend I got the opportunity to take my family to Tampa, FL for a photo shoot with Jennifer McKinney aka McKMama. I was excited to be able to line up a shoot because I found out she was coming to Florida the previous Sunday.
We arrived in Tampa, Ybor City and hour and 45 minutes early on Saturday and I checked Twitter to see if she had changed locations. She was on a lunch break after taking a full morning of shoots. I texted Jennifer to tell her I was there and it was as if we were real friends. We had some silly banter about where she was sitting and locating what vehicle I was driving. I really felt at ease about meeting one of my favorite bloggers and having her take photos of my children.
But after we met and she introduced herself to the kids I really didn't want to get in her way. For me, our time was on a professional level and she was working. We chatted a few times, once about my booking being lucky right before she came to Florida and about how my hubby didn't want photos taken of him. ( We got him to do a few.) But I really wish I hadn't been so tongue tied.
I think I was like in a dream. I know it's corny, but when you actually get to meet a blog writer that you have been reading for quite some time it's surreal. It's like, "wow they actually exist and they are a real person." It's funny how you read about some one's life and you feel as if you know them on a personal level. I really wanted to give Jennifer a hug at the end of my shoot, but I wasn't sure how she would take that. I'm such a worrier.
I was so excited to see her little baby Lachlan and meet her sister, Hillary at the end of our shoot. Her children are so adorable and seeing her newest addition in person gave me that "awwww" moment. I wish the little guy hadn't been so fussy, but he was hungry for his mama. I would have loved to give him a snuggle.
After leaving Tampa and getting back on the interstate to drive the two hour trip home, I had those "why didn't I do this, or say that" moments. I hate that. I wish I hadn't been so speech less.
