Our marketing team snapped many wonderful pictures under the afternoon sun that day. As any photographer will tell you, there is always tinkering to get the right angle, the right lighting, and the right smile. It’s all part of the process to create something truly wonderful and beautiful.

But, every once in a while, something happens outside that process which is somehow more meaningful than I could have imagined. This photo captures such a moment for me.

The marketing team and I were processing what we had done and planning for what we were going to do. At the same time the two girls, let’s call them Jesse and Brianna, were waiting to be told what to do for the next set of marketing photos. That is when Diane (not her real name either), one of our Pine Hollow curriculum designers, witnessed something remarkable. Jesse and Brianna picked up the Pine Hollow readers and began to smile. Diane knew she was a witness to more than just a marketing photo, but a genuine moment of joy. She pulled out her phone and snapped this wonderful photo of that moment unbeknownst to Jesse and Brianna.

This is where my own place in this living picture comes into view. We had finished our processing and planning meeting and were ready for the next set of photos so I walked up to Jesse and Brianna who were still reading the Pine Hollow readers. I started to tell them we ready to start taking more pictures – their eyes told the whole story. They looked at me with sadness. It somewhat startled me. I soon found out it was because they couldn’t wait to hear how the tale of Fin’s Shake Shop ended. I was in business mode. I couldn’t help but think, “The photographer is ready—we need to get going.” But their disappointment jolted me out of the business world and into theirs.

I slowed down. This is what we want at WinterPromise. This is what we do. I slowed down and said to the girls, “Why don’t we finish this story with Mac and Fin?” Their eyes lit up. “Then we can start our marketing pictures.” Brianna and Jesse couldn’t help but smile. In fact, they even made me promise that in-between photos they could read more of our stories from our Pine Hollow readers in Syllables to Sentences.

This is the secret to Pine Hollow. Kids absolutely love the stories with all their critter friends. They truly don’t want to put them down.

You can see why this photo is not just another photo for me. It’s truly a living photo because it commemorates the reality of joy and learning Pine Hollow brings to our WinterPromise families—a joy we want for every family.

Learn more about our amazing Pine Hollow reading program here.