vwcphotography.com

New studio!? Oh my goodness…I can hardly believe those words when I say them.  But after having shot a handful of sessions there now, I know that it really is true, that it really is there, and that it really really is mine…well, ours.   My friend, Kellie, from Across the Miles Photography, and I have joined up to share a space.  So it was our blood, sweat and tears, and some hard workin’ muscle from our husbands and my mom.  (Thank you, Neil and Tyler, and thank you, mom!)  Our hard work has paid off.  Our Tiffany Blue (made up name by us) walls greet us every day now, helping showcase all our work.  It’s such such an amazing thing to see my/our work hang on walls that aren’t walls in our homes.  Ahhh…it’s so great.  How truly thankful I am.  And all because of…you.  My friends, family and clients, whom I am entirely grateful for. Very very grateful for.  8 years of using film, then “going” digital, lots of children, families, seniors, preggie bellies, babies, some commercial jobs and 75 weddings…well, it’s all paid off.  I’m so so blessed.

Those of you who did make it to my open house February 6th, I whole-heartily thank you.  It was a really wonderful day.  One that I will always remember.  I saw so many people whom I hadn’t seen for years.  Thank you for supporting me and thank you for your compliments.  I look back on the day now with lots of joy.

If you missed the open house, here ya go!  I have to say, though, it’s much better in person.  So I hope you will stop by.  I am at 113 East Elm St., Argenta, IL 62501.  You can schedule an appointment with me at 217.519.3245 or by email at vwallacecamp@mac.com  But no pressure.  I’d love to just see everyone, so stop by and say “hi”!  (Make sure you call or email me first as I’m not there every day.)  It’s funny because I’m, well….home.  Argenta is where I was born and raised.  It’s nice to be “back”.   <3

Waiting area

Front right window | View to the right when you first walk in.

The biggest surprise of the day was a visit from 2 college friends, Patty & Shawna. I hadn't seen Shawna since we graduated 10 years ago and it had been a couple years for Patty. Love you, guys!

It just wouldn't be right to show off the studio without showing off my beautiful babies. This is my Finley with my husband. Finn is almost 5 months here.

An Olympic ice carver was practicing for the last time before the Olympics outside our window on this day. My kids were glued to the window all day long. Here's Maia, my 4-year old sweet pea.

And here is my Noah. He is 6. My kids...they are what make my #1 job so amazing. That of being a mom. They are so young, but already supporting me immensely. I love you three so much!

Thank you, followers, clients, friends and family!  You are all the best!  Thanks for visiting.

(And please leave comments here!  I love comments!  Would love to know what you think!!)

There is a super great article (written by Marianne Drenthe) about why custom photography costs more ——-> click here. I highly recommend you check it out.  It’s very enlightening and so very true.  And I guarantee I would still be saying it if I weren’t a professional photographer.  I grew up with my mom taking our family to portrait studios (not department stores) and we were far from wealthy.  My mom appreciated and loved the work that went into getting a good photograph and the attention she and our family got while we were there.  There’s just something about feeling like you’re a person (not a number) and having options like you never would have at a walk-in, “say cheese” and click place.  So…that said, I hope you’ll take the time to read the article.  I think you may walk away going “hmm….I didn’t realize those things and now I understand so much better!”.  Cheers!

Meet baby Elizabeth, a very sweet little baby girl who reminds me already of her big brothers and very much resembles her momma, Jenn.  I feel a connection with little Elizabeth not only because her mom and I are friends, or because her first name is my middle name but because her momma and I were pregnant together.  Jenn has struggled with some fertility issues and, well, so have I unfortunately.  It really is a terrible heart-breaking time but I see it as a fortunate thing because I really do believe it makes us mommas appreciate the little blessings born into our lives a little lot more.  It also connects people like you’d never dream it would.  So I guess because Jenn and I have this connection, Elizabeth has no choice but to have a connection with me as well.

I really enjoyed my time with Jenn and Elizabeth, as I do all newborn sessions.  It doesn’t matter to me if it takes 15 minutes to get the perfect shots or 3 hours.  My patience will never dwindle.  I love love love newborns and look forward to each and every one I do.  Every single baby is such a miracle.  To capture those fleeting beautiful moments in a miraculous little life is one of the biggest blessings in my life.  I am so so so incredibly lucky.  I love my job.

One of my most favorite clients ever are Ashley and Bryan.  They came to me 3 or 4 years ago (was it?) to do their wedding and, basically, the rest is history.  We hit off, had a really great wedding day and have been friends ever since!  Here they are…soooo darn cute…on their wedding day:

Well, guess what?! They now have the most precious baby girl named Layla…

One of the BEST things about being a photographer is having the opportunity to be invited into a couples’ wedding day and then again being invited into their lives when a new little somebody is born.  I feel like an old friend who’s given a special place in their lives…not just as the old friend but as an old friend with a camera Not everyone gets that opportunity!  It’s just really really special and I’m not sure how to explain it in any other way than that.  Having a relationship with my clients in this way is the best gift ever.  These aren’t just little occasions but momentous ones.  It really is a blessing for me.  So thank you. 

And now, Ash, Bryan and the new little bundle of joy today…

(Thank you, guys!   Love ya lots!)

I almost had the opportunity to shoot Greg and Heather’s birth, but baby girl Kate made an early appearance.  But that’s okay as 9 days later she visited me at the studio and had her fresh photos taken.  What a DOLL.  She is also the little sister to an older sister and two older brothers.  What a beautiful, beautiful family!

I thank them all for coming to the studio and for putting up with our very undone studio with our temporary backdrop. . . well, temporary everything.  Hopefully next time they visit me we’ll have sparkling new white walls. . . hoping it won’t even be recognizable! A reason to visit me, right Greg and Heather!?  Really, though, I hope you do visit me a lot.  I really enjoyed having you and your children.  And Greg, it was so great catching up with you!  Thank you so much and happy holidays to you and yours!!  <3 ~ Val

These sisters I hold close to my heart as they are the daughters of one of my dearest friends.  They are not just beautiful on the outside as you’ll see in their photos, but on the inside as well.  They each are clearly their own individual with amazing personalities that draw you in to them.  I love them each for different reasons…Kristin for her little girl innocence and head-strong personality, Alyssa for her love of animals and kind-loving soul, Marissa for her caring heart and quiet wisdom (I could learn a lot from that girl), Allison for her leadership capabilities and ability to be a good friend.  The list could go on and on.  I can say my friend has done a great job as a mother.  I only hope I can raise my own children as well-rounded and respectful as she has.  Not only are they individually spectacular little women, but they are together the strongest set of sisters.  Nothing will ever tear these girls apart, and you will see that bond in these pictures as well.  Thank you, L, for letting me shoot your girls.  Love you, love them.

It’s Christmas season which means for me, and probably for you, too, that there’s a to-do list piled high waiting to be done.  I’m happy to say my list is dwindling. (Yay!)  As we all are, I’m really looking forward to spending time with my family.  We started out the month of December with some major sicknesses and thankfully that’s dwindling off now, too.  (Yay again!)  Now onto cookies-making, letters to Santa and traditional movies like A Christmas Story   But before I get too into family stuff (oh!, like also doing my own Christmas cards; I got all my client Christmas cards done!) I wanted to share a few more sessions from the past few weeks.

Meet The Henkel Family.  A really neat family with the most a-dorable little boy named Jackson.  I learned a lot about him, like he loves deer and sticks!  He melted my heart every second of the shoot.  See for yourself…such a gorgeous family. Thanks again, guys!  Really looking forward to future shoots with you.    xo ~ Val