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And finally, the last batch!

That's me in the sunglasses! Hi me!

Me and Erin!!

More of the rockin’ wedding . . .

Wow, it’s been a long long time since I was last here.  So much has happened since then.  I’ve kind of been on a little break . . .

My husband got a new job and we moved across several states to Nebraska. . . the great city of Omaha.  We love it here and he loves his job.  I am staying at home with my kids and enjoying every second.  Living in an apartment for 6 months with the majority of our things in another state isn’t all that fun, but we’ve definitely made the most of it.  I can’t complain.  I have a beautiful life with a beautiful family.  Things could be much worse.  And thankfully, in the dead of winter, we sold our house after being on the market 6 months.  God is good.  He really is.  And there’s lots to be happy and thankful for.  Some sprinkles of fun and excitement have popped up over our 6 months here during this new journey, one especially that recently gave me an experience of a lifetime . . .

I went with one of my best friends to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to . . .shoot a destination wedding! Who ever said I was taking a “break”?!  HA!

This is completely cliche, but it was the most amazing time ever!  The bride and groom were so incredibly fun and beautiful.  I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect couple or a more perfect day.  Really, truly.

I wasn’t just there one day or a couple, but 7 days with 2 days of travel.  I got to know the bride, groom, their friends and family quite well.  It was such a fabulous time and a textbook perfect experience for me as a photographer.  It worked out so well and I loved it so much that I’m ready to take on more!  Brides, grooms, sand and sun…I’m all yours! 2 destination weddings down, many more to come, right?!

I took so many pictures and want to share so many of them with you, that this may be a post that I share over several days.  So more posts to come after this one . . . keep an eye on the blog!

Thanks, again, Jenny, Jordan and to my dear friend, Erin, who got me into this . . .and I’m so thankful she did!   We rocked it!!!  Yay us!!!!

This was the third event I had the honor of photographing for Jami in the past couple of months.  It’s been such a pleasure to meet and get to know Jami and Mike and their families.  I feel like they are long lost friends.    Previously I shot Jami’s maternity photos, her baby shower and this time it was their special surprise wedding.

Jami and Mike had dated for several years and finally took a double plunge…getting married and having a baby!  This would be Mike’s 3rd child but Jami’s first.  Before the very small and intimate wedding ceremony at their home, we did a few casual shots of Jami, Mike and the kids along with the 9-month belly.  It was a quick 10 minutes but we got a lot of special shots in the short amount of time.  Then was the ceremony…one planned by Jami and Mike, but one that no one knew about but them (and me….hehe).  Invited were Mike’s parents, Jami’s mom and Jami’s best friend, and of course Mike’s two children.  It was so sweet and special and intimate.  It was an incredible honor to have been a part of it.  Thank you, both, so very much for inviting me to be a part of these momentous occasions in your lives.  I can tell how in love with each other you are.  You were created to be together.  Thank you for showing the world what love is

And here are some shots from the day…including Gracie, their goose, who is also a part of the family.  She wears a diaper even!  She was a sweet little lady and I’m glad I had that honor as well!

A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to do a bridal session of Hao and Joy, an adorable couple from Singapore.  In June they will be going back to Singapore for their wedding ceremony at a church followed by a lunch reception where they will have a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.  I asked Hao if he would tell me more about it.  Wikipedia explains it well:

In the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, both the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That is a way to express their gratitude. In front of their parents, it is a practice for the married couple to say, “Thanks for bringing us up. Now we are getting married. We owe it all to you.” The parents will usually drink a small portion of the tea and then give them a red envelope, which symbolizes good luck. Another variance is for the to-be daughter-in-law to serve tea to her to-be parents-in-law, symbolizing that she is to become a part of the latter’s family.

Too bad I can’t go along to Singapore and photograph the ceremonies!  But since I can’t, I am satisfied because it was an honor that I got to spend an afternoon with Joy and Hao and all of Joy’s very sweet and helpful friends.  (Thank you, friends!) We had a ton of fun here on the University of Illinois campus. Huge thanks also goes out to Micah, who assisted me for the day.  Micah, you did great and I look forward to future events that we do together.

Once Joy and Hao are back from Singapore, they will reside in Boston.  Joy just got her PhD in Biochemistry and Hao is a doctoral student in Chemistry at Harvard.  Doctors!  What an accomplishment for both!

All my best to you, Joy and Hao!  I have a feeling you are on your way for an adventurous ride together!

Holly Smith, fellow photographer in Champaign, contacted me a few months ago about doing a "Mr. and Mrs. Session" for her and her husband.  I was ecstatic because 1) she is a photographer and SHE picked ME to photograph her and 2) as it turned out, I went to grade school with her husband.  What fun!  So after our date kept getting rescheduled because of bad weather, we finally got a good day in May and it was soooo much fun!!  I hope to do more of these sort of sessions.  All the pressure, stress and hecticness is off both the bride and groom, and the photographer.  I absolutely totally recommend doing one of these with me (or whomever, but of course I hope me, hehe!).  Here are some of my personal faves.    Enjoy!

Whew.  I am finally here to update.  The holiday season has pretty overwhelming and that's an understatement, really.  With doctor's visits, cookie-making, craft-making, tree decorating, present wrapping, party hosting, dinner-making, Christmas card designing, toting to school, print orders, album orders, emails out the wahzoo, some sick days, etc., I'm exhausted!  But, I finally finished most everything and have made time to sit down and update a few.

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

I put these together for you guys for fun!  I know you’ll especially get a kick outa the last one.  Enjoy enjoy!  

~ Val

Click on the picture below and you’ll get a much clearer view of it… I hate what putting photos on the internet does to quality!

Just two days ago I shot the cutest couple (and you will soon see what I mean when I say that, too!) on the coldest day we’ve had in November yet.  It was in the high 30’s and ohhhh so nippy!  But, that cold didn’t stop us at all.  It especially didn’t stop Ashley or Aaron as you could just tell they were there to have fun and nothing less!  And they (/we) totally did.  They’re photos aren’t even up on Pictage yet so this is a very sweet treat for them.  Hope you guys enjoy these very much; I cannot wait for you to see the rest.  I especially cannot wait till next October.  Like you said, Ashley, less than a year away!!  We’re going to have soooooo much fun!  Chat with you soon! 

xo ~ Val