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I never dreamed I’d become so close to a client in such a short amount of time whom I only met a few months ago.  Jami contacted me earlier in the year to do her maternity photos and to photograph her baby shower.  From that point on, she booked me for her wedding and also her birth.  THE BIRTH OF HER BABY!

I scream that because how could it not be exciting to have the opportunity to photograph a baby being born? It makes you want to scream it to the world!  The best part of all, though, was that it was a scheduled c-section and it had been approved for me to actually be in the surgical room to photograph it ALL.  Wow.  How often does that opportunity arise?!  Not often.  (Thank you, Dr. Anderson, and St. Mary’s staff!)

For me it was extra special.  I had 3 c-sections myself.  The first was completely emergency in which I had a tube down my throat to breath and my husband wasn’t in the room for the birth.  It was very scary.  My 2nd birth was to be a VBAC and it ended up in c-section after 31 hours of labor.  Photography was the last thing on my mind.  My 3rd was a dream compared to the other two.  It was a planned c-section and I had a photographer on call.  While she wasn’t able to be in the surgical room with us, she was there for everything else (thank you again, Kellie, soooo much!).  It was one step closer to having the photographs of my own children being born.  So getting to photograph Jami’s birth gave me another chance to be more a part of a birth than I ever had been.  Not only did I get to be in the room, but I got to see it all happening.  I saw it all from the other side of the sheet and it was the most amazing gift Jami and her husband could ever give me.  But of course the biggest gift of all, not the event itself but the star of the show, gorgeous and healthy Logan.

I’m so happy I can share with you what I got to document that early morning in June.  Jami gave me the okay to show these to you and so I hope you can immerse yourself into the moment as much as you can.  Such a very special intimate moment in which Jami and Michael are allowing you to see through the eyes of me… something not many are allowed to see.

Thank you, Jami and Michael, for such an incredible experience and for allowing me to be a part of such a very special moment in time, one that can never be recreated.

{ Warning: this is a birth…there is some blood and fluids in these photos. }

Dr. Michael Hallam & Jami Hallam before the birth of their son

I am a part of this awesome little magazine that is distributed throughout Macon County, called “Thrive”.  It features people, businesses and events in the community that are special little gems…who contribute to the area and who have businesses or talents that go above and beyond.  I have been a part of this magazine as their photographer since it begun last summer.  We’re going on our 1-year anniversary!  I’ve had a wonderful time with this group of ladies (there are just 4 of us, all pretty rockin’ females!) and I hope our magazine and success continues.  I can’t believe how big Thrive has gotten in just one year.  I can only imagine how it will continue to grow over the upcoming years.  Thank you, friends, and thank you, Central Illinois, for your support!!  Check out Thrive on Facebook and check out their website when you have a chance.  And if you know Kat, Brook or Joli, make sure you thank them for their hard work!

For May I got to do a little photo shoot of Jody and Joe.  Jody owns her own business called “Red Carpet Promotions” in Decatur, and Joe, he works in the Admissions Office at Millikin University.  You’ll have to check out Thrive in May to see why we have featured them and to see more of my photography   Anyway, I had a lot of fun with this little Thrive session and loved how it turned out, so I thought I’d share a few.  Jody and Joe are such a cute (fun!) couple and not to favor any one person (or furry pals) but the sweet little Toto look-a-likes stole the shots, I think!  They were so good and so darn cute…I love pooches! Thanks again, Jody and Joe; great to meet you!

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!

I have to be quick quick quick…lots of sessions to proof and orders to place and things to do before my surgery on Thursday… 

Meet Bridget & Matt…we had a great time…they were so cute and fun and it turned out that Matt went to the same high school I did, only a few years behind. One neat thing about the business I’m in…you learn that you know (or know of) a lot of the people you shoot!  Thanks again, guys!!!!! 

(Nothing like being short and sweet, eh?!)