GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) – A celebration of life is what one Greeley mom calls a photo shoot she had with her 5-year-old son, Elijah. The idea of a real life replica of Disney’s movie “Up” quickly went viral around the world.
Elijah with his great-grandparents Richard and Caroline Bain. (credit: Rachel Perman Photography)
“I had no idea! I knew they’d be loved by our family and friends because everyone knows how much Elijah loves ‘Up,’ but I had no idea the response it would get,” laughed Rachel Perman.
She told CBS4’s Mekialaya White the photo shoot all started with an idea, coupled with a lot of passion.
She is a photographer, and wanted to surprise Elijah and his twin sister, Emilee, with a special birthday when they turned 5 years old.
(credit: Rachel Perman Photography)
Naturally, he wanted to dress up as his favorite character from the movie, Russell. It wasn’t long before other family members got in on it. His 90-year-old great grandparents also wanted to participate. The real-life lovebirds dressed up as Carl and Ellie.
“They really got into it,” explained Rachel.
And it’s apparent by looking at the photos. The resemblance was uncanny.
(credit: Rachel Perman Photography)
This special photo shoot wasn’t just a celebration of Elijah and Emilee’s lives, however; it was about Rachel’s as well. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after they were born.
“(When it happened) I looked at my oldest daughter, she was 5 at the time. I just wondered if I would get the same amount of time I had with her, with my twins.”
Now, she’s celebrating five more full years of life with her family.
“It’s a celebration for me that I get to see the things that bring them joy and happiness in life right now,” Rachel said.
She says they won’t stop enjoying the little things anytime soon.
Mekialaya White
