Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Charlotte NC: Day 8

Today is the day that the King family's dreams come true. That's this afternoon... but for now there's STILL a lot to do before we can shout "Move That Bus..!"

As much I I know David spent on his camera gear I'm a little surprised he was willing to put it at risk by taking my photo. I suppose the danger was offset by my lovely wife... (Say Hi everybody)

Still, high temperatures, unbelievable humidity... and folks are STILL happy to be here. Below is Dave, one of the "Transpo" guys. He's given me great hope that I'll be able to continue to stay involved with Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Dave volunteered on three projects before they hired him on full time. Thanks for the boost Dave..!!!

Here is Carrie. She's the makeup artist who helps keep the designers looking good. She's a very nice (and pretty) lady who we (the other photographers and myself) have shot photos of relentlessly. The reason is because when we shot the New Orleans project she mentioned that she didn't make it into the family's album, so I told her we were going to shoot her so much that Tony (our editor) wouldn't be able to miss her this time. She's in the King family's album...!

Inside the house people are franticly cleaning and touching up.

And here (below) we see one of the crew members putting up an opaque film over the windows that will stay there at least until the show airs in about 8 weeks. The film has two purposes, 1) to filter or diffuse the light so that when they shoot the footage inside the house there is no harsh lighting, and 2) to keep people from taking photos of the finished house and putting them up on the internet for the world to see. It's all kept under wraps until the house is revealed on the air.

The "finish work" isn't just going on inside, outside there are plenty of people working very hard to make everything perfect for the family.

Below is, well... one of the tougher parts of what we, the photographers had to deal with. Yes, as unpleasant as it was we had to endure the Cheerleaders for the Charlotte Panthers NFL team... I know, but someone's got to do it. They are all taking turns signing their photos in the family's album.

Want to know how to clean a week's worth of construction dirt off the street in no-time flat...

... And while you are at it boys... how about hosin' down the house..???

It's just about time...

And here comes Ty to say hello and hi-five the crowd.

Want to know how they get those shots of Ty running down the line of spectators... Keep in mind that the cameraman you see is running sideways with a 40 lb. $50,000 camera on his shoulder. Want to know how I got the shot... well you guessed it, I was running sideways with all my gear floppin around trying to keep up with the guy who works out and isn't carrying a thing... Did I mention I'm a 45 years old with a couple of grandkids? And that it's been hot as @#$* in Charlotte this week?

OK girls, the price of getting your photo taken in front of the Extreme Makeover house is you have to have you photo taken with the photographer. I know, but someone's got to do it, right?

Even the Mayor came out to help bring the King family home.

Here's the architect and his family. Believe it or not, he hasn't seen the inside of the house yet...! He'll get to go on a private tour tomorrow.

Time to bring the family home, but first the cast & crew have a bit of a pep-rally.

Welcome back King family.

By the time we got to this point Alisha King (the Mom) was about to have a nervous breakdown. She was so excited to finally get to se the house (and yes, they do block out the windows of the limo so they can't see the house when they drive up).