Becker native and  photographer, Erin Marie Kragt (Borst) has created a fervor across the country with a feature photo she composed for a military family in Sumter, SC, where Marie now resides.

Kragt’s desire to try something new in her business allowed her to create a  unique keepsake of a loving wife and two children stateside in one half of the photo, while holding hands (pictorially) with their husband and father, who is thousands of miles away serving in the United States military in the other half. The photos were taken separately and Erin merged the two to make it appear as one.

 

It helps that Kragt’s inspiration came from the fact her own husband, Logan is in the Air Force himself.

 

“Since many of my clients are military, I thought it would be fun to try something different,” Erin said. “I offered a free shoot to a military family with a deployed spouse.”

 

Richard Gimlin, stationed overseas, and his wife, Daphne, took Erin up on the offer and Richard had someone on site overseas  pose him outdoors with his hand extended, as if holding the tiny hand of his son. Back home in South Carolina, Erin directed Daphne, 26 and pregnant, and their two children (five and two) to gaze at a photo of Richard to the side and extend their hands upwards — as id he was standing right there. 

 

“Using Photoshop, I combined them (two photos) to make them appear to hold hands,” Erin said. “I believe the photo depicts just how strong military families are and the special bond they have.” 

 

Erin’s idea was simple, but effective.

 

Daphne says she likes to take photos of her growing family as keepsakes, but since professional photographers are very expensive, most of her photos are of the amateur variety. Kragt's opportunity was really a blessing for the family. 

 

Staff Sergeant Gimlin has been deployed since late April. He left when his wife was 12 weeks pregnant. Now at 22 weeks, Gimlin said she loves the photo and she cannot wait to have her entire family back together. 

 

“We just miss him," Gimlin said. "We just can’t wait for him to be back.”

 

Daphne says her husband is expected home in November and their third child is due Nov. 8. 

 

“It’s been hard,” she said. “It gets a little lonely being the only parent at home. We try to keep busy.”

 

She's hoping her husband makes it back in time, but her older children may have set a precedent. 

 

“My older children were both more than a week early (12 days and 16 days, respectively),” Gimlin said. “I am hoping the baby holds on, but we will see!” 

 

When the image came in from Erin Marie Photography, Daphne found it difficult to keep her composure.

 

“It was emotional to see the photo,” she said. “It will be the picture we will always have to remember this time.”

 

As a special tribute to the family, Kragt posted on her photography's Facebook page a salute to them and all military families for Independence Day. 

 

Erin and Logan have two daughters and are stationed at Shaw AFB in South Carolina. Erin grew up loving to take photos since she was a little girl and took that passion on to college at Hennepin Tech and graduated in 2009 with a professional photography degree. Her website is: www.emariephotog.com.

 

“I believe the photo depicts just how strong military families are and the special bond they have,” said Erin.