Dad is miles away from his young family so photographer brings them together in the most beautiful way

This is such a beautiful idea. 

Photographer Erin Kragt, from Erin Marie Photography, wanted to try something new so she offered a military family (who had a deployed spouse) a free photoshoot – and her reason for doing so is simply stunning. 

Hearing about the offer, Daphne Gimlin jumped at the chance – and considering her husband, Air Force Staff Sergeant Richard Gimlin, is currently deployed just outside of Dubai, she was the perfect candidate.

The 26-year-old, who is due her third child in November, got in touch with Erin, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Daphne, who is mum to a five-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy, asked her husband to take a picture of him pretending to hold someone's hand.

Erin, who is based in South Carolina, then took a photo of Daphne and her two kids, and photoshopped Richard beside them – holding his son's hand.  

The end result sees all four of them standing in a line, lovingly looking at each other, and it is beautiful. 

It must be so hard for families to be away from each other for such long periods of time, especially when you are expecting.

However, with the help of photographers like Erin, they can still create lasting memories together – even if they are thousands of miles apart.