I'm always surprised by the ways in which I get a photography job. Only rarely do I get contacted by someone out of the blue. Typically, I'm discovered by someone who knows somebody who knew me or had worked with me in the past. The connection was a little closer, however, in the case of one of my most recent family portrait sessions: the Hotard family.

Ashton Hotard wanted to give her mother-in-law, Wendy, who has three grown children, a family portrait for her home in Missouri. Turns out, the whole family would be together in Oxford in late fall 2014 when the autumn colors would provide perfect accents for their images. So Ashton began searching for North Mississippi photographers in the Oxford area.

When she discovered Bill Dabney Photography, the name struck a familiar chord. Years ago, when Ashton (who is married to Wendy's oldest son) was an undergrad at Ole Miss, she would babysit to earn some spending money. I wasn't working in professional photography at the time, so Ashton wasn't sure I was the same person she knew during her college years.

A quick email to my wife confirmed it and we thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Ashton and hanging out with her husband's family on a beautiful afternoon at Rowan Oak. Continue scrolling for some of my favorite images of this fantastic family.

Hotard Family portrait by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney of Oxford.Hotard Family portrait by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney of Oxford.

Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford. Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford. Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford. Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.   Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford. Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.

Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.Family Portrait: Hotard Family by North Mississippi photographer Bill Dabney, based in Oxford.