This week my husband was traveling, yet again, (he travels 2-3 times a month with his job) and so I drove into 24-7 mommy mode.  I love being in mommy mode round-the-clock but sometimes it’s frightening because with a full plate of things piling up, once Neil is back, I somehow have to uncover all those things very tediously.  The uncovering forces me to work work work and that can be very hard because I feel like my kids get put on the back burner and that’s one thing I strive very hard not to do.  They are my world.  Of course photography is my world, too, so they are more like my…universe

One thing I do when I get so busy is put off editing my personal photos.  I put them into folders on my computer and external hard drives and rarely ever edit them so then of course I rarely ever print them!  Back in February my dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law visited from Oklahoma with their 2 beautiful girls (my beautiful nieces) and I did some pictures of them and my kids in the studio.  I’ve been slowly digging through those pictures, much quickly than I ever do any other personal photos, and it was when I saw these photos of my children that I was reminded how innocent, beautiful, amazing they are.  That it is they, special angels on Earth, given to me by God to raise and smother with love.  I look at these photos and my heart melts onto the ground and all over them.  I love them so much for their love for each other and for the little people they are becoming.  It’s when I am reminded by a moment captured in time of these beautiful people that I remember what life is truly all about.  Not the busyness, not the overworking, not the competitiveness, not the recognition and not even the money, but the children…my children. My family. I ran across a quote not long ago and it sums it up beautifully…

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”. - George Bernard Shaw

I love my work and what I create behind the lens and in front of the computer screen, but a million times more, I love my children. Sometimes we need to be reminded of what’s most important.  It can be taken away so quickly.  And trust me, it’s when it’s taken away, that we want it back most.

Happy Father’s Day to my husband who has helped create these little people I love so much and who has become an even more amazing husband and friend to me each and every day.  Look at the family God has given us.  Wow….

Much love ~ Valerie

Life has been busy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Here’s a little of what I’ve been up to:  sessions, editing, trying to straighten up my house, moving my desk from my office downstairs to the living room upstairs (doesn’t sound very ideal, but the idea sounded great and so far it’s working PERFECT for me now that I have 3 kids, one being a baby), shooting pictures for Thrive, meeting photographer friends for lunch, going to a photography conference in Indy (superb!!), ideating on fundraisers for Maia’s school (exciting things to come!), spending time outdoors ready to get my hands in the dirt to plant my flower garden and veggie garden (I love getting dirty!), coming up with more marketing, hiring some new people to help me out with marketing and assisting me in the studio and out (I’m SO excited about this!), and all the while, trying to be the best momma and wife I can be as I do my best to take care of myself at the same time.  This coming week we head to Springfield for a specialist appointment for Maia which is scary for me as a parent (I’ll keep you posted on this), and then the week after I travel to St. Louis for a doctor’s appointment for myself (my life the past 3 years has been a roller coaster ride but somehow I’ve gotten through – wait, yes, I know how I’ve got through…by the physical help from my friends, family and God!  But I’m needing some medical answers now and so I’m asking you to please pray for me!).  Anyway, this is only the tip of the iceberg with everything going on.  But it’s all good! It’s a huge part of me and the backbone of my life, so I thought I’d share that with you, people who I would guess like me?  Well, like my work at least (hopefully!), so that’s why I think you should know me, the person behind the camera and that work.  I think in the coming weeks, I’m going to start posting more about myself and my family, so you can get to know me, my personality, and why I do the things I do.  Everything I do defines me a bit, just like everything you do defines you.  And for you to offer your families, yourselves to me…well, I think you should know that person, right? Plus this gives me a reason to get back to blogging and forces me to edit my own photos, something I don’t make enough time for!

I also wanted to tell you how much I love that you follow this blog and enjoy my photos.  I have so many people who email me saying they loved so-and-so post, etc., etc.  And while I LOVE LOVE LOVE these emails (they are what keep me going!), I also love comments!  I have no idea who reads (and I know people read because I have private stats) but would love to start knowing!  I’m going to share my life with you, so please honor me and share who you are with me.  Please! That’s only fair, right?!   It’s really easy.  At the bottom of each post there are the words “Add Comment” (right before the next post begins).  Just hover over these words and a line should appear under the words like this —> Add Comment .  Click on that and you will be taken to a comment page where you can say whatever you want (hopefully whatever you are thinking to yourself!).  I would really really love to hear from you.

Well, that’s it for me today.  So happy it’s Friday!  Off to a fun maternity session tonight.  Then busy shooting days Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  But then hopefully I’ll have time to come back and share some new things.  Happy weekend!

Some cupcakes that my daughter iced and decorated. Bet you can't tell she's 4?

Roses from my hubby for Valentine's Day...he knows I prefer colorful roses to the nomal red. He's so sweet.

Mmmm...coffee. It always makes me happy!

Late last summer, these were in my garden. Can't wait for these beauties again.

And finally, hope you’ll check out an article on me written by Ron Egatz at Macgroups.com who makes Sekonic meters and Pocketwizard wireless systems in NY, NY.  Ron contacted me about featuring me in the Sekonic blog and at first I thought he was writing the wrong person!  I never dreamed anyone would want to feature me.  And what surprised me the most was, I’m featured with some pretty amazing and skilled photographers.  I feel really privileged and blessed!  It’s a great opportunity and I’m so completely grateful.  Reading my interview made me feel like I was seeing myself on TV…you know, you just hate to see yourself on video (I do, at least) and hate to hear yourself talk (again, that’s me).  So I was nervous to read it, but I can say that I’m very pleased with every bit of it!  I’m only  at this point in my career because of my friends, family and clients who have been so supportive and wonderful over the years.  I hope this year is the beginning of greatness having my studio.  It started out slow (my career) but now it’s taking off like I never dreamed.  I look forward to what’s to come and I hope you will join me on that journey.  Thank you, Ron, for this article, and thank you, friends, family and clients!  Much love ~ Val

I’ve not officially made it known yet, but today I am…I have some great big news!   Drum roll….I am the new tenant of a building which is going to house MY NEW STUDIO!!  Oh my goodness is this ever exciting for me!!  I’ve wanted this for 8 years now but didn’t want to just jump into it.  I wanted it to be the “right” time and that time has come.  You know when things are meant to be when they almost literally fall into your lap.  Ahhhh…I’ve been so blessed in my walk of life.  I’m truly very thankful.

So where is this studio?  It’s at 113 E. Elm in Argenta, Illinois in the “downtown” area.  This makes me giggle because if you know Argenta, you know that it’s about 1,000 people in size and the downtown is really hardly a downtown.  It comprises of a bank, a community building and a builder, and…now US!  I say “us” because my friend and colleague, Kellie Penn from Across the Miles Photography, is joining me on this venture.  We will be sharing this space.  How will that work you say?  Well, exactly how a beauty salon works!  We’ll have our own clientele but will share everything from the backdrops, lighting, furniture, props, etc. but still have our own separate businesses.  It’s going to work and work well we think!

We got the keys and signed the papers and after Thanksgiving we hope to begin painting!  Anyone want to join in on a painting party?!  The space is HUGE and back when it was built, was a mercantile store in the late 1880’s!  It’s a beautiful building with original tin ceilings and wood floors.  Oh it’s glorious!  Since I am from Argenta and my family settled in Argenta in the late 1880’s, all of this holds dear to my heart.  Oh you should see our paint colors!  So divine!  I am just giddy with joy   Can’t wait till you stop by and see us.  We hope to officially start “shooting” in January.  That’s our goal, anyway.  Being a procrastinator (like most of us photographers seem to be!), it may not be January, but oh it sure it sounds good!!  More to come on this and hopefully with an actual “open” date.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll add me to your blog roll and feeds and come back daily to see what’s new here.  I’ve been very busy getting back into the groove since the birth of Finley and with the holidays coming up, well, it’s a bit crazy.  But I’m a blogger and will always make time to come chit-chat here.  Thank you for joining me on this journey!  I’m so excited!!!!!!

With love ~ Val

P.S. And, here’s my new logo designed by no other than…. me.   Sometimes I have to put my graphic design skills to good use.  It’s the last month, I think, that I’m paying off those student loans!  Another “hip, hip, HOORAY!”

I had to put in the "speech bubble" just for fun

I had a long pregnancy.  Lots of drugs to sustain it, including an injection I had to give myself daily, plus frequent trips (almost weekly) to Peoria, 1-1/2 hours away, for Echocardiograms on little Finn’s heart.  Because of an antibody in my body, Finn could have acquired it during pregnancy making him viable for heart problems.  Thankfully nothing ever “came up” and today he is 2 months old and very healthy.  I’m very, very thankful.

I had a scheduled c-section.  It was scheduled for the 17th but because of the cord being wrapped around his neck (and other pregnancy problems) my doctor decided taking him early was best, but they had to make sure his lungs were developed.  I had an amniocentisis and sure enough, his lungs were perfect-o.  So they took him at 47-1/2 weeks.  The c-section went fine and I got to hold my little baby right away in recovery (I never got to have that with my other c-sections).  Then the further recovery went well and I was released from the hospital in just 2 days.  Record time for me.  I had a minor headache when we left but I was told it was from the spinal anesthesia and that it would go away.  So home I went.

That day my headache got worse.  The next day it was even more agonizing…the worst headache of my life…so bad I could not function.  It was a 10 on the pain scale.  So, I called my doctor.  They sent me back to the hospital to the ER.  Before they could give me a “blood patch” (which was the cure-all to spinal headaches where they inject your own blood back into the hole where the anesthesia needle went into the spinal cord creating a “block” to any spinal fluid leaking out where it wasn’t supposed to be), they had to give me a CT scan to make sure there wasn’t any other underlying cause.  Well, just my luck, something else came up.  And it was blood on my brain.  I had a brain hematoma.  To hear those words, you cannot even imagine the thoughts running through my head…the pain in my heart and the emotional roller coaster I imagined I was to embark on was frightening.

To make a long story short, the blood on my brain did not grow.  (Thank God.)  However, my headache was not getting better.  I ended up having a blood patch, and after a day of rest, the headache finally finally started to go away.  I then got to go home!!!  What a wild ride.

I’m so incredibly thankful for the prayers and the ANSWER to prayer.  You don’t realize how lucky you are until you experience something like this.  I was able to go home and get back to being a momma.  Nothing fancy in that, but it is the absolute best job in the entire world.  It really truly is.

So Finley…he hung in there with me on my wild ride.  The kids stayed back with grandparents (thank you, grandparents!).  Today, we’re back to being a normal family…a new family of 5.  I love it.  We all love it.  Finn has really fit in perfectly.  The missing piece to our family puzzle had been put into place.  We are now complete and on with our beautiful thankful lives we go.  My family and I…we are truly blessed.

Here are some photos…some from Finn’s first few days of life to some more recent ones.  And of course a few of my other cuties, Noah and Maia.  Thanks for reading “my story” and I hope you enjoy.  Make sure you come back…I’ll be posting a ton more in the next couple days.  Lots of love ~ Val

My kiddos at the hospital with their big bro / big sis shirts on. 

Maia helping mommy out with feedings.  She thinks she is a mommy, also.

Happy Halloween from my little pirates!

At the end of November, Heather and I drove up to Chicago for a session downtown with the most charming and sweet couple ever, Heidi and Jeff.  The way it worked out for me to be able to shoot their wedding is a long story, but one with a happy (we hope, hehe, right, Heidi?) and exciting ending   Next August is the big day, and I can't wait!  It's couples like them that keep my mind searching for new fresh ideas because they're all for me to try new things.  August is going to be so much fun, and with this ice and snow and frightful weather, I sure wish August was coming up sooner than what it is. 

Merry Christmas to all my clients, friends and family who have been there with me through my business life and my personal life, offering support, encouragement, friendship and love.  I am truly blessed. God Bless you all.

The "bean" wasn't very clean on this day, but it's a fun one to post. 

Stopping to warm up at Starbucks with some coffee. (This one shot  through the window; outside looking in.)

Shot into the sun.  I love into-the-sun pictures. Gives it a sort of warm, vintage feeling…

And some fun ones…, Heather and I before the session started, playing around with our reflections…

And afterwards, ice skaters on the rink in Millennium park.  Shot through the glass walls.

Hope you have some magical moments this season.  And don't forget the real reason for the season and why we even have such a wonderful time of togetherness and joy with those we love most.  Merry Christmas. 

With love ~ Val

To my dear followers:

That picture right up there; that’s me!  The person who hasn’t posted in forever!  You might thing I haven’t had anything going on, but the complete opposite is true.  I just can’t find time to post on my photography blog!  I am going to try and do it soon.  TRY.  Really, truly.

I have had so many great things going on.  Some awesome weddings, great families, and some shoots in Chicago even!  Next weekend it’s back to Chicago for another wedding!  Oh how I love Chicago. 

So anyway, I haven’t forgotten you.  Hope you haven’t forgotten me.  Keep checking back because I have some great things to share. 
Have one fabulous summer!

Love,
Yours truly

I really have never photographed a divorce, nor do I ever want to.  But, I couldn’t not post this autograph from Joel McHale after seeing and meeting him for the 2nd time on Saturday.

I was on my way to photographing a reception and I see Joel again.  He asks me why I was so dressed up.  I told him where I was on my way to.  And so, being the hysterical comic he is, he wrote this:

How he just comes up with this stuff, I don’t know?  It just seems to be sitting on the tip of his tongue waiting to come out.  He’s an incredibly funny guy.  And he’s also my new boyfriend. :c)  You can see him daily at: The Soup on "E!".

I love Hollywood :c)

And then Joel and I:

And I will leave you with a picture from when my  friend and her daughter were here visiting.  On flickr this has been a big favorite.  It is even going to be featured on a website called "Shutter Sisters" next week.  I’m so honored!