Yesterday, I woke up on a normal day. Kylee and her kids loaded up in the mini van to head to CA. I drove them down to the airport and walked to the security officer with them. Right as we were about to part ways, Kylee got a text from the executive marketing director of Maverick gas stations looking for an event photographer to photograph their Chuck Norris event THAT same day. Chuck Norris was in Utah promoting his new C- Force water company. At first I was pretty sure it wasn’t real, but I was free that day.

I was in SLC without my camera, and drove back to Logan as fast as I could. I got my gear, and headed to the Maverick. I had no idea that it was such a big event. There was a longgggg line of people wrapped around the block. There was hardly any parking. I finally realized it was a big deal when I showed up. It was my job to photograph Chuck and the fans as they came through the tent to greet them. There weren’t any selfies or autographs allowed. There were three spots that day, in Logan, then Riverside and then the last in Centerville. They were touring to promote their new C Force water bottle business, in Mavericks all over Utah. Each meet and greet was 2 hours long, and I stood in front of Chuck greeting fans for about 5 and a half hours that hot hot day! I was in-charge of shuffling fans through the photo tent as fast as possible. It was pretty much like having one bride and about a 1000 bridesmaid wanting a picture so I was well prepared. Here are some things I observed through my time spent with the Norris family!

• Mrs. Gena Norris was there the whole day and would greet every fan. She was genuinely excited to hear how far the fans had driven, what their favorite Chuck Norris movie was and took special care over the details of their lives. She was so sweet and happy, and many referred to her as “Chuck’s Hot Wife.”
• Whenever someone had a water bottle that was a different brand, Gena would replace it from their hands with a C Force water bottle. ;)
• Chuck was so nice to everyone that came. He shook hundreds of hands all day long and wasn’t grumpy or stressed at any point. He gave many hugs and listened to hundreds of stories of how his movies changed people’s young lives.
• Chuck told his favorite Chuck Norris joke. This was it: “Why did Chuck Norris run a marathon backwards? So he could see what second place looked like.” I cracked up.
• Lots of people brought gifts for him and his wife, and every time they said they would put it in their museum. Only one person brought a Book of Mormon. He said he had one.
• When they were done at Logan and there was still a long line waiting to see him, the staff told Chuck to get into the car. Chuck asked if he could go give everyone high fives down the line and they told him no because they had to get to the next spot. He made sure they all got the free shirts and keychains they were handing out. It was so amazing to me that he sincerely cared to make everyone’s day better.
• Many people with disabilities came to see Chuck. He was patient and genuine ever single time.
• Right before the final event, after we had been doing this for about 4 hours together in close proximity, he walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder and asked how I was doing. I looked him in the eye and said “This has been the weirdest day of my life.” I made Chuck Norris laugh. ;)
• It was cool to get to interact with the police officers that were working on the event. They were all so giddy and happy to get a photograph with the legend.
• I saw multiple grown men approach Chuck shaking and being so nervous to talk to him. I also saw a few ladies very emotional during their greeting.
• I have some gnarly and weird tan lines from this day.
• It was amazing how many people heard the rules of “no selfie’s” and “no autographs” and saw HOW long the lines were, and still got up to the front and tried to take selfies and ask for autographs. It was a little frustrating seeing how many people thought they were entitled to something that would have prevented more people getting though the line. He would have been there all night if autograph’s were involved. That reminds me, I don’t ever want to be a famous person.
  

The way they found Kylee Ann Studios to photograph that event was by googling Logan Utah Photographers. Thanks to Kylee and her master website SEO skills, we got the coolest opportunity ever!

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Chuck Norris Utah Maverick Tour