Category: { family }

{ The K Family – Easter Bunny Mini Session | Argenta IL photographer – Mahomet IL photographer }

March 22, 2010 · { children }, { family }

Still so many sessions to edit and so little time.  I’m trying to get through these quickly so please forgive me for very short posts!

Introducing the K Family, a very special, very sweet bunch of kiddos… :)

{ Layla – 13 days old | Argenta IL – Tolono IL Photographer }

February 9, 2010 · { baby }, { family }

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!)

{ The Heckel Family | Monticello IL Photographer }

December 8, 2009 · { children }, { family }

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

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{ Duncan Family – Sneak Peak! }

December 1, 2009 · { baby }, { children }, { family }

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{ The Sokolowski Family | Monticello IL Photographer }

November 27, 2009 · { children }, { family }

The Sokolowski Family invited me to their home for a few moments to photograph some “day in the life of..” photos.  I loved their boys because their personalities reminded me so much of my own children (I seem to find that a lot with the children I photograph reminding me of my own).  They were very sweet boys and I thank them for being themselves when they had never met me :)   Below are some of my favorites.  Thank you again, Chris and Katherine!  (And thank you, Katherine, for your online friendship which I now look forward to blooming more… :) )

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{ The Moore Family | Monticello IL Photographer }

· { children }, { family }

One of my favorite things is to photograph someone for the second, third, fourth time.  You learn about them, they learn about you and that molds into a client-photographer relationship to carry you on through time.  I love that.  Emily is one of those who I’ve grown to know and love.  She has the most beautiful smile and the prettiest eyes that sparkle.  At this session I also got to shoot her mommy and daddy.  Thank you, Emily, for sharing your mom and dad with me and allowing me to come into your life once again.  Can’t wait for the next time :)

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{ Sokolowski Family – Sneak Peak! }

November 14, 2009 · { children }, { family }

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{ The Clark Family }

· { children }, { family }

Randy and Vickie have been friends of ours for about 6-ish years and I've been dying to take their family photo for that long, so when they finally asked me, I was thrilled! :)   We had a lot of fun at their shoot and thankfully, Randy was on his best behavior ;)   Thanks, guys….I can't wait to do it again!   Just promise me you won't wait till Chloe's senior pictures, ok?  Hugs and kisses to my favorite neighbors and very dear friends { xoxo } and oh, Maia bugs Neil every night about "going to Chloe's house", so we need to schedule that "play date" soon!  K?

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{ cousins }

November 12, 2009 · { children }, { family }

These adorable girls are all cousins.  Olivia and Mya, both, had baby sisters a few months ago, just a few weeks apart.  Their mommies asked me to take their photos of the four of them, so of course, happily I said yes.  I've had the pleasure of shooting Miss Mya since she was born.  She is one of my favorite subjects.  And how could she not be with that face? Cuteness definitely runs in their family.  Check these cuties out!

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{ Vangilder Family }

November 11, 2009 · { children }, { family }

Wow.  So I have had 10 sessions in 2 days the past 2 weekends.  I thought I was going to be super tired and worn out not just physically, but creativity-wise, but strangely I wasn't at all.  By my last session each day, I was still rearing to go!  I guess that's a sign you love what you do?  I honestly kind of forgot how much I love my job after being away for so long and suddenly being the mother to not just two lovely children, but three.  I knew I had an itch to get back, but I didn't realize how much.  Once I picked up the camera and captured a few keepers, I knew I was back to being in love with the camera from the other side.  For these sessions, we were greatly blessed by two gorgeous November days.  How likely is that for November?  I was pleased.  And I'm so incredibly pleased with the results from my sessions.  :)

Here are the Vangilders…a beautiful family of 4. We had the gorgeous sunseting skies to work with so they were the lucky ducks of the day.  Thank you, Brooke and Grant, for allowing me to take photos of your family.  I've been looking forward to it for some time.  Love to you ~ Val

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