In October 2011, we were making our way around the World Showcase during the Food and Wine Fest and stumbled on a photographer on the platform in the middle of “St. Mark’s Square” in Italy. Since we’d never run into anyone there before, we decided to get some pictures taken. A gaggle of middle-aged ladies were in line ahead of us. When their turn arrived, they screamed “We’re baaaack!”  I laughed a little at the PhotoPass stalkers but didn’t think too much of it.

When the kids were up, the photographer posed them. Different from the “stand still and say Mickey!” pose that normally happens. Ok, I thought, this will be a framer! A Disney pic and could pass as this year’s portrait. Sweet!! He snapped several shots then moved them over to another spot for a couple of poses with a different background. I was starting to see why the ladies ahead of us came back. Still, I mean, it’s a theme park photographer. It’ll be cute, and I loved the little pose, but it is what it is.

And then I uploaded our card. Oh my gosh!! This gentleman captured the kids so perfectly. Their little personalities really shone through in his images!! This shot did serve as their portrait that year…framed, on Christmas cards, my Facebook profile pic, literally everywhere I could display it, I did.

Her sassy pose and smile and his little mischievous grin and raised brow were exactly who they were at that time. So many pictures at PhotoPass stops are carbon copies.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the quintessential family pics in front of the castle and with the main mouse, but I also LOVE that he really played with the kids and caught them, although posed, being themselves.

Stitchy and I joined some friends of ours for a fall trip the following year and were thrilled to see Louis again at Epcot, this time in Morocco. Being one of my favorite spots,  we had to have him snap a few pics. Afterwards we handed him one of our thank you cards while I was gushing about how much we loved the shots he’d taken the previous October and we wished we’d seen him on the trips in between. He was so humble and sweet!

We were headed back to the World again in December 2012 (I know, I know…). We were off on our first day in the parks, and since we were staying at the Boardwalk, we headed over to Epcot. Again, while wandering through Italy, we spotted him! It was all I could do not to run up to him just like those ladies. He was hanging out in the Isola portion of Italy, which is a great place for photos. He recognized Stitchy greeted him with an enthusiastic “Oh, my friend!” in his slight French accent. He then proceeded to parade him around the area taking pictures for about five minutes. Again, all framers and one ended up on Stitchy’s Valentines.

Spring Break 2013

Coolest Summer Ever 2015

December 2015