Tom and Eve Minogue first learned about John Hershey Photography last fall through a small brochure he sent to their home.  The couple knew it would be a good time to have portraits taken of their two little girls - Kara who was six and Morgan who was 3 1/2 years old - but they were in the midst of selling their home and preparing to move.

A few weeks later, Tom came across the brochure again while packing and decided to surprise his wife.  "I wondered if I could pull this off myself," Tom said, "and give it to Eve as a Christmas gift."

Tom phoned John, learned about the clothes that would be best for the girls to wear, and scheduled a sitting for the day before moving day.  "My mom was going to be watching the girls for several days while we unpacked in our new home, and I thought that it would give the girls time to forget about having their pictures taken.   My wife's first question to the kids each afternoon is 'What did you do today?' and I didn't want to risk spoiling the surprise."

Tom bought vintage-type dresses and hair accessories for the children, dressed them up, and took then to Hershey's outdoor studio. The children warmed up to John right away as he let them walk through wildflowers, talk to the ducks in the pond, and climb onto an antique carriage.

While the children sat in the carriage, a kitten hopped through the trees, capturing the girls' attention.  John snapped their photo.  "We knew it would be a good one," Tom said.  "I was anxious to see the pictures."

The most difficult part of all for Tom was deciding which picture to have made into a canvas for his wife.  As John Hershey projected one photo after another onto a screen, Tom became more concerned.  "There were so many good ones.   I told John there wasn't any way I could pick one myself.  I wanted my wife to see these, or I'd be cheating her of something wonderful."

But John encouraged Tom to surprise his wife and promised to share all the photos with her after Christmas.  Tom ultimately selected the photo John had taken when the kitten scampered into the trees.

"It made my Christmas one of the most special I have ever had," Tom said softly.  "I felt like a kid again, because I had the big gift to give."

According to Tom, "On Christmas morning, Eve was floored.  She didn't say anything for a long time.  She loved it.  She was very surprised.

"Now that we have it hanging in our home, I am reminded of the whole experience.  The memory will always have a special place in my heart."