There are some sessions that I know will stay with me forever, and this missionary homecoming at Sacramento International Airport is absolutely one of them.
When I was invited to photograph this homecoming, there was one very important detail: Mom had no idea her son was going to be there.
Elder Ridgwell had been serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years, and while his mom, Nonnie, knew she would finally be welcoming him home soon, she had no idea his arrival was happening that day—or that the whole thing would be photographed.
Needless to say, when Emily reached out and filled me in on the plan, I was ALL IN.
And let me tell you, this family had a plan. 😂
The story Nonnie was told was that her older son, Brandon, had a bag that didn’t make it home from a previous work trip and needed his parents to go to the airport to pick it up. Then Brandon’s younger brother mentioned that he would be in Sacramento for work that same day and thought it would be fun for everyone to meet up for lunch. Perfect! They would just need to make a quick stop at the airport to grab Brandon’s “missing bag” first.
Once everyone arrived at the airport, it was like a symphony. Each person knew their part, and as soon as everyone was in place, it was time. I stayed back with my camera and watched the magic unfold.
If you’ve ever been part of a missionary homecoming, you know there is nothing quite like those final few minutes. I kept my eye on the escalator, making sure our Elder didn’t make his appearance until everyone had Mom exactly where she needed to be.
Finally, Nonnie noticed Brandon looking toward the escalator.
She followed his gaze…
And then there he was.
Watching a mom realize that the son she had been waiting two years to see was suddenly standing right in front of her is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. The excitement and tears started flowing—and yes, mine were right there with everyone else’s. 😂 After two years of phone calls, messages, prayers, and waiting, she finally got to wrap her arms around her missionary again.
This is exactly why I love photographing moments like these.
Of course, we took some portraits afterward, but my favorite images from this gallery are the ones that simply document what happened: the anticipation, the first glimpse, the hugs, the tears, the laughter, and all of the little moments happening around them. These aren’t just pretty pictures. They’re pieces of a story this family will be able to look back on years from now and remember exactly how this day felt. I loved hearing everyone’s part in pulling this off afterward. It was absolutely beautiful how much love and effort went into making this day not only special for Elder Ridgwell, but for Mom.
One of my favorite things about photography is being invited into people’s lives for milestones like this. Families change so quickly. Kids grow up, missionaries come home, babies are born, seniors graduate—and sometimes you don’t realize just how significant a moment is until it’s already passed.
I’m so grateful I was invited to be there to capture this one.
Welcome home, Elder! 🤍
Looking for a Sacramento photographer to capture a missionary homecoming, family reunion, or another milestone? I’d love to help you document it in a way that feels natural, joyful, and completely yours.
