Willow's Drive-By Birthday Party #QuarantineLife | Clover, SC Family Photographer

During this CoronaVirus quarantine, not only am I working my teaching job from home now, but my photography gigs have been limited. I’ve had several brides have to postpone their weddings and several seniors unsure whether they will need announcements for graduation. Photography is my creative outlet, and after being home all day managing eLearning for my students and doing eLearning lessons with my 1st grader, all while trying to give some attention o our 4-year-old and keep them from being glued to a screen all day, I desperately need an outlet! I’ve seen several other photographers doing “drive-by” photo sessions in their neighborhoods, so I put an announcement on my neighborhood’s Facebook page that I would love to photograph families from the street with my zoom lens (staying socially distant, of course!). Willow’s mom Kristy immediately reached out and told me about her 9th birthday party that had to be cancelled and a drive-by birthday parade that she had planned with some of their friends and family. So of course, I volunteered to photograph it!

I rode my bike up to the house and hid behind her dad’s truck while Willow’s friends and family lined up their parade of cars, minivans, trucks, and golf carts down the street. Some of the cars were decorated with streamers, balloons, and posters, and occasionally, I saw an excited little head poke up out of a sun roof. Willow was playing in the driveway with her sister and had no idea what was getting ready to happen. At 1:05, the party “guests” started driving by Willow’s house, honking and waving! Many handed a very surprised little girl birthday gifts through car windows. Willow’s face registered her complete and utter joy and excitement at seeing all of her friends and family in such a special parade! It was definitely a birthday to remember!

Happy 9th Birthday, Willow!