Our Three Finalists

It was a tough decision for us, but we've finally chosen the top three finalists for our session giveaway. As of today, all three of these submissions are eligible for voting! You are able to vote for the family that you would like to see win a full two-hour on location photo session with MS2 Photography. Read through their stories, and pay special attention to the rules at the bottom of this blog. We can't wait to work with one of these amazing families!

Here are our submissions, in their nominators' own words:


Brooke writes:

I would like to nominate my parents Pete and Laurie Rogers for a photo shoot with their kids and grand kids. My parents have been married for almost 40 years. My mom recently had a liver transplant in Feb after living in pain for 10 years from a genetic disease that destroyed her liver. Unfortunately, she had a setback and had to be at Duke hospital for 2 months and missed the birth of her 4th grandchild a week ago. To add to it, our dad has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. This forced my dad to retire and mom cannot work due to her condition. I know my parents (especially my mom) would love a pic of her and my dad with their grand kids. I think it would be helpful to have a pic as my dad will eventually not know who we are but we could show him a picture and tell him. Thanks for your consideration. You ladies are amazing!


Faith writes:

Hey ya'll!  I have to nominate my grandparents for a photo shoot. Meet Earl and Brenda Weech. They specialize in loving each other and loving others REALLY well. They were married when my "mammaw" was 16 yrs old. They met in Key West and lived there a while. They pastored for a season and impacted countless lives. Many of which they still talk to on a regular basis. They raised four kids and now they have 13 (I think) GREAT grandchildren. The love they have for each other after so many years of marriage is enough to nominate them. They are SO in love. But that's not the reason I'm nominating them. My "Pappaw" is 77 years old. Last week he spent three solid days at my house replacing my back door. Taking out old glass sliding door and installing French doors. I begged him not to touch the project at all. This is quite literally an everyday thing with both of them. I speak with mammaw on the phone everyday. They are NEVER at home, relaxing, being old. They are constantly working on something...HELPING someone. They are both brilliant and they bring "excellence" to everything to touch. You would think my door being replaced by a 77 yr old would be messed up someway... That door is perfect. My mammaw is a first in, last to leave kind of woman. She will make sure nobody is left with a mess to clean. She never walks into a house and leaves it the same way it was. Even if it's clean, she'll organize SOMETHING! It's almost annoying. But we've learned to accept that she really NEEDS to do things for us. They serve with so much love. My favorite reason to nominate them is this: My family realizes they aren't going to be here forever. Obviously they are young at heart and we don't expect them to leave us anytime soon. We also know things can happen suddenly and we just want to soak up every second we have with them. A great photo shoot would be treasured more than you know, by more people than you can imagine. I'd like to add they are incredibly photogenic!

Kristi writes: 

I have been keeping up with your page and I'm excited to read your blog. I read your post about looking for someone deserving who is amazing and selfless day in and day out: Shannon Nolan.

Shannon is the sister in law of my sister in law (that's not a typo). I met Shannon when my brother started dating his now wife. She was so sweet, and passionate about people. Right away I noticed that around her large extended family she is seen as a mother figure. Now, 7 years later. I could not imagine my life without her in it.

Shannon is a full time mom to 4 beautiful girls (and a husband who acts like a big kid). She also works 30 hours a week at the bank she started working at 15 years ago! She just recently started as a FULL TIME student at TNCC (at the age of 33). Education is important to her, but family has always come first. In addition to all of the hats she wears she is also the family cook (by family I am referring to all of the brother & sisters and their families). She makes everything from scratch, and cooking is her labor of love. Everyone and anyone is always welcome in her home. No invitations needed. She is selfless and I watch her give to her children and friends time and time again at cost to her (even though she would never admit it). She volunteers in the community when and wherever needed. I remember once when I was with her, and someone asked her to volunteer her time a few nights a week for her 3rd daughters cheering team. I tried to jump in, and help her day no because I KNEW that even if she wanted to she wouldn't. She cut me off and said yes! I was shocked, and asked her why, and her response was, "they need help". It's because she is a giver. She is a mother to everyone, she has STEADFASTLY remained the kindest person I've ever known (and I know her very well). I'm proud to say she is my friend, and love her with all my heart. You should be able to see her Facebook account, and if you were to ask any of her friends/family I am certain they would say the same.

I would also like to add that Shannon has NEVER had a family photo taken. She has no photos of her entire family! I think it's crazy, but she has always seen photos as a luxury, and I think that's just crazy.

I hope you consider Shannon for you recognition project (which, by the way, is an awesome idea!)

Voting starts today, October 1st, and ends Friday, October 10th. Get your votes in and make them count. If there's a particular family you'd love to see win, share and ask your friends and family to help them out! It's all up to you!

Missy & Mary



Voting rules:
You can gain up to 3 chances to vote: "Like" us on Facebook and Instagram, Follow the blog.
Vote by commenting on the post via Facebook, Blog, or Instagram.
The winner will receive a 2 hour on location photo shoot with DVD of all edited images with print release.
The entire copyright of the photographs is retained by the photographers at all times throughout the world. Where a disc of photographs will be provided to the winner, these photographs may be printed, and displayed online, for personal but not commercial use.

The photographers retain the right in all cases to use the photographs in any manner at any time and in any part of the world for the purposes of advertising or otherwise promoting his work.