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I think this was the 6th (or 7th?) time I had the opportunity to spend some time with sweet little James and capture some of his adorable, all-boy, farm-loving personality.  I first shot him at about 6 months old…wow, I can’t believe how time flies.  I should know being a momma myself, but it seems like yesterday I first shot him in his crib.  Cherish your time with your children.  It really does go by so so quickly.  You’ll soon be wishing for yesterday.  I’m so honored to have been able to capture those fleeting moments for Angie and Justin of their son.  (Thank you, both.)  And here they are….hope you enjoy xo

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!

Hi friends!!  I’ve not fallen off the face of the earth, I promise!  You’ve probably received emails that I’m in London, stranded, held at gun point and unable to get home and in need of money to do so.  As you can imagine, it’s a hoax and NOT TRUE!  I’m fine!!  However, my email accounts are not fine, and neither is my Facebook profile, my VWC Facebook page, flickr, and the list goes on!  My phone was even hacked into, unable to work and I had to call AT&T to get my phone back up and running.  That alone took 2 long hours.  Unfortunately there isn’t a Facebook phone number I can call (there should be!) so I’ve sent message after message and have had no helpful response.  It’s beyond frustrating not getting to speak to a PERSON!!  So, here I am, still stuck and unable to get a lot of things done like receiving emails (!), but I can, thankfully, still edit!  Phew! 

I don’t know when my emails will be up and running again.  However, until that point, I can still be reached at a temporary address at vwcphotography@gmail.com I’m not on Facebook right now, so feel free to come and go at my blog to check out my latest photography work.  I’m on an editing frenzy this weekend!  Oh, and lesson learned with all of this for me: don’t use the same password for all your important online accounts!!!!!

Here’s Sydney, the daughter of a girlfriend who I grew up with.  Her parents and my parents met at church when they were all first married and starting their families.  Becky and I grew up doing so much together.  College made us part for a while but here, 10 years later, we meet up again.  It was at Sydney’s session that we rekindled and walked down memory lane remembering a lot of the fun times we had and talking about where our lives now were going.  It was like we had never parted.  I always say that you know you have a friend for life when you can pick up where you left off as though time never came between you.    Thank you, Becky, for bringing your sweet baby girl in to get her pictures taken with me and for giving me your time because that time was so priceless.  Looking forward to seeing you and gorgeous Sydney again! (And meeting Aaric and Wyatt!)

I was so excited (as I always am) when I get an email or a call to do newborn photography.  This time I had a connection with momma, Melissa.  I had never met Melissa before but we went to the same grade school and high school.  She, too, married her high school sweetheart and I knew him as he was in my brother’s class..not well, but I did know him…however, his older sisters I knew very well.  (Waving hi to Tami and Leslie!)  I also realized at this session that Melissa and I are a lot alike.  Our personalities are similar and our birth stories were very similar, too.  (Both these things make us who we are.)  She, too, gave birth at the same hospital and also had problems with her epidural making recoveries for both of us much harder than most (unplanned) c-section patients.  Melissa was still having a hard time getting around (bless her heart — I totally understand!) but Hudson was so very cooperative for us and even gave a few glances of his beautiful eyes.  I think babies sense when us mommas aren’t at our best (although she looked GORGEOUS and I so wish she’d allow me to show you some of her and Hudson..hint, hint).  And…as you will see, his parents (especially his daddy!) loooooove the St Louis Cardinals.  Another way Melissa and I are similar.  I love the Cardinals, too (but my hubby loves the Cubs.  Eww).  It was so cute….Melissa came in with a bag of St Louis Cardinals props for me to work with.  It was so fun!!  I hope daddy cherishes the shots forever.  Especially if, heaven forbid, he turns to the Cubbies.  Thanks again, all of you, for choosing me to photograph Mr. Hudson’s handsome self.  Melissa, hope you are recovering well.  Take care and keep letting Rob spoil you!  Being a momma is hard, but even harder after having major surgery.  Lots of love and gentle hugs to you.

You may have seen Paisley’s debut this morning and here are more of the sweet 5 lb 8 oz baby girl with the prettiest name.  She’s the first daughter of Nicole and Brent, whom I met a few years ago when I shot their wedding.  I can’t say enough how much I love being a part of these families as they bloom and grow.  It always makes me giddy when I get an email or a phone call from past brides and grooms wanting newborn portraits.  I asked Nicole if there’s any special pictures she wanted and the most important one to her was one with her favorite stuffed animal as a little girl…Snoopy.  (Aww, she’s sentimental like me!)  So when they arrived on this April morning, they had not just thee special Snoopy but several.  I had no idea you could even find Snoopies anymore!  (But oh yes you can!)  So the most unique photos from this morning were with Paisley and her old new friend, Snoopy.  Snoopy is literally the same size as Paisley!!!  Anywho…thank you, Brent and Nicole!!  And thank you, Miss Paisley Isabella!  It was an honor to meet you and an honor to do your first portraits.  Lots of love ~ Val

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!

I have met the most amazing woman named Jami who I immediately became friends with.  My first session with her (from my Pickles and Pacifiers package) was with a big ol’ budha belly…she looked so so cute!  And how proud she is of that adorable belly and the baby (her first) inside.  She’s so ready to become a momma…you can just tell she’s going to be the best mother ever…already nurturing her little man, not to mention spoiling him rotten!  He’s going to be the most-loved little guy.  I can’t wait for her to meet Logan.  You bond with them and love them when they’re in your belly and never dream that your bond and love can expand any greater. But it does.  I cannot wait for Jami and her husband to begin this new life; what a wonderful road they have ahead of them.

Jami arrived to my studio with a suitcase of clothes and items to use in the session.  I LOVED it!  I love when a client is excited for their session!!!  We had a BLAST spending 2 hours together coming up with exciting, fun, and a little tiny bit x-rated shots, hehe   I love when my maternity clients aren’t modest…makes for the most creative, fun sessions!  Thank you, Jami, for choosing me to do your photography.  I’m so looking forward to this birth experience with you and the baby sessions ahead.  It’s such an honor for me to watch a child grow and photograph those milestones.  I’m forever grateful.

p.s. I had Jami’s permission to put these on my blog.  Thank you, Jami!

These girls are dying to see some shots from their session so I thought I’d be nice   I have 4 other sessions to edit first and a half dozen orders, but making them wait is pure torture, so, girls, hope you enjoy these!!!  Can’t wait to share them all with you, but I have to be fair to my other wonderful clients.  Patience is a virtue but hopefully well worth the wait!  Love ya!!!

p.s. This session was the bomb and I can’t wait to share more with you all!  Keep checking back for more…soon!!