As of today, April 26, 2011, here is how OpLove sessions will work:

1) Each photographer in each regional area are to provide the same basic requirements: free session, album or disk (please see #6).

2) After the required free session and album/disk, any additional discounts or prints are at the sole discretion of the photographer.

3) Leaving/Farewell sessions are up to the photographer to decide if they will offer it. In addition, it is up to the family and/or the photographer if either an album or disk is sent and who it is sent to.

4) Homecoming sessions are done at the actual time of the homecoming, not afterward. It is up to the photographer to decide if an album or disk will be sent.

5) At no time will a disk of photos be “required” to send to the client.

6) Clients are allowed 2 sessions per year/deployment. Here are the session options:
a) Pre-deployment session with service person and family (an album is sent directly to the service member overseas by the photographer)
b) Leaving session at the time of the actual departure (see #3 above)
c) Mid-deployment session with the family while service person is deployed (an album is sent directly to the service member overseas by the photographer)
d) R&R session done when service person is home for R&R (an album is sent directly to the service member overseas by the photographer)
e) Homecoming session at the actual time of arrival (at the photographer’s discretion, an album or disk will be sent to the family)

Interested families will continue to locate participating photographers on the OpLove Finder, http://www.oplove.org/oplovefinder/ .  We hope that these policy changes will prove to be beneficial to everyone!  If you have questions or concerns, please use the contact tab above.  Comments on the blog may not reach the administrative volunteers in a timely manner.  Thank you for supporting OpLove and our service members!

Some of you are welcoming home your service member this holiday season, and some of you may be preparing to say, “See you soon.”  Remember that OpLove is here to support all of the families who so proudly serve.  If you are a family seeking a photographer for a pre or post-deployment session, or an upcoming reunion, please visit the OpLove Finder to locate participating photographers in your area.

We also wish to thank the photographers and other volunteers who make OpLove possible.  Thank you for your ongoing support in 2011!  You are what makes this organization run, and your time and dedication has brought thousands of smiles!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

In honor of Independence Day, on Thursday, July 3, 2008 a group of photographers will be collaborating to offer Operation: Love Reunited family portrait sessions between 9:00 and 3:00 to families who have their love one deployed. You’ll spend about 30 minutes with a photographer, creating some great casual portraits and candid shots of your family. The photographer will prepare an album of 4×6 prints and send it directly to your deployed loved one, as this is how the OpLove program works.

We’ll be doing this at Liberty Station in the big grassy promenade area behind Vons and the North Chapel (2881 Roosevelt Road, San Diego, CA 92106: enter off of Rosecrans Blvd. and Roosevelt Rd. and park in the parking on the right side before the chapel).

To schedule your appointment, please contact Julie Edwards via EMAIL or by phone: 619-417-7397. Portrait session will have the usual patriotic theme, so wear your red, white, and blue, bring some boots, a hat, a jacket, dog tags or small props like a flag or a photo of your loved one. You will be required to sign a release and show proof of deployment when you check in, other than that there are are no strings attached – it’s completely free to eligible families!

Hope to see you out there!!