VLV Photography

These Monday posts sure come quickly!  Although the summer is just zooming by.  My kiddos only have a couple games left in t-ball.  In July they are signed up for swimming lessons.  Our middle child, Alexandra, is a little fish and loves the water; however, our oldest {Xavier-now 5} is more timid and afraid he’ll drown, so we’ll see how it goes for him. 

Today, I took part in a Websummit for small business owners.  Best part, it was free   In the area of business there is so much I still need to learn and taking part in opportunities like these, helps me get one step further to where I would like to be in my own business. 

In the works right now is a tab under “Information” that will bring you to a gallery of the products I offer, which will also include flat card designs.  Also, I’m one step closer to making my announcement of a new product I’ll be adding to my boutique line.  Once all this information gets added, I will write a post about it, including some images of my packaging, which I’m also very thrilled about!  My packaging has been three months in the making and I’m excited it’s finally all come together.  There is still some tweaking I would like to do {as I get different ideas}, but overall, I love it and hope my client’s will too.   

Also, today my senior special comes to a close.  If you missed out, I may have another offer down the road.

This past week, I thought for sure we were going to get a pretty big storm.  On the news, the chance of hail was brought up as well.  These clouds that came rolling in looked as though mother nature was going to let us have it-BUT, not so much.  We only ended up with a little rain.  I can surely do without the hail or any terrible winds that would harm our local farming communities, but I do love the smell of rain!  Anyway, onto an image from my backyard of a not-so-much storm cloud. The only change I made to this photo is a slight tone adjustment and sharpened for the web. So many different colors were in the sky this night-some of them looked like cotton candy!

Well, everyone have a great week!  See you back here with a post with all the goodies I offer!  Until then, Live, Laugh , and Love the one you’re with….even when storm clouds come rolling in.

Another week has flown by and all I can say is “where is the summer going?”  Now I realize that summer doesn’t officially start until today but anything above 60 degrees on a regular basis constitutes “summer status” in my book.  Anyway, I’ve been busy in the background getting some forms done, preparing orders, and recently received some samples of a new product line I’ll be offering soon.  As soon as I have all the details finalized I will announce my new product.  I also have some product sample images of items I already offer, and those will be posted later in the week.

I’m fast-approaching being in business 1 year {this August} and it’s exciting to think back where I started and how far I’ve come.  I’ve learned so much about business, in general, and it’s just been a very humbling experience.  I love being able to share this passion of mine with others.  Some days it’s a challenge to keep up with everything & having three youngin’s adds to that challenge; however, in life-hard work pays off….so I hope

Onto some images of my own personal challenges…..raising two girls!  Yikes!  My mama never warned me   Some days this house is like a battle zone and I just can’t wait for the teen years {can’t you just hear the sarcasm?}!  But they’re just oh so adorable {when they’re happy}!  Our youngest wanted to dress up in her sister’s cooking get-up and she was just too cute in it.  A lot of kids her age won’t keep hats and things on their heads but she’s an exception.  In fact, we can’t leave laundry lying around because she will end up walking around the house wearing anything and everything she can fit on her little body…on her head, around her neck, on her arms….you name it.  It’s pretty embarrassing when company comes and there she comes with my bloomer’s on her head!  NO LIE-just happened a couple days ago! 

I have to explain this one a bit….see what appears to be the back of spider man?  Our boy got this alarm clock that has spider man on it and when the alarm goes off or you push the snooze button it plays this incredibly loud spider man song.  Well, she just loves it and I caught her in the middle of “toddler singing” the song.  She’s such a ham!

Now onto the hair dilemma….as you can see my daughter has very little hair.  She will be 4 this November and has not had her hair cut even once!  Not even just her bangs…nothing.  It’s very fine, thin, and unlike a lot of little girls…isn’t flowing with beautiful locks that I can braid, put barrettes in, or little piggie-tales.  This suddenly became very disappointing for Alexandra this weekend when I was putting piggie-tales in her cousin’s hair and she just got very jealous.  So this was my attempt to give my daughter a little joy with a pony tail.  Despite the lack of flowing locks, she was on cloud 9 to even have the little pony tail she got.  I guess her and I both just have to accept that it will probably be YEARS before I can even attempt to braid her hair.  As a young girl I had one of those doll heads…you know, with the over-sized head that’s perfect for playing beauty shop-might just have to get and play with one of those in the meantime.  I don’t have much hope for long locks with Jozlyn either!

Just a reminder-the Portrait Special ends today!  As long as you had a session that took place since May 17th, you could still receive this special offer.  The Senior special is effective through the 28th, so if you’ve been thinking about getting your senior booked, now’s the time!  Also, you may see my posts looking different from week to week.  I’m just trying to figure out what type of watermark I like best.  If you have an opinion, chime on in!

Well, I think that’s about it this week.  Until next time, Live, Laugh, and Love the personal chef {I only wish I had a real one} or the not-so-hairy child{ren} in your life!

It’s been a busy week…in a good way   I had a nice little vacation from the daily grind of motherhood, housekeeping, and cooking over the weekend.  My nephew graduated from high school.  Man…where do the years go?  I say that over & over but I’m still trying to figure out the answer to that million dollar question!  I was there the day he was born and I still remember how to draw a dog that was taught to me by my sister’s O.B. nurse.  Funny how some things you just never forget-like riding a bike.

Anyway, it was a nice time with family and also a reminder that there really is no place like home.  It’s nice to get away but I sure missed hearing “mommy” a million times over in one day!  Music to my ears {yeah, I’ll probably do a 180 on that point of view in a few days}!

My oldest two started t-ball recently and Xavier is really enjoying it.  Although he needs to learn he can’t leave his base and to not run 1/2 way across the field to get the ball when there are others closer.  He’s a go-getter though and always has been so that will take a while to learn, I think!  Alexandra, on the other hand, usually is in la-la land and needs to be directed continually but she really enjoys it nonetheless.  She may not be the fastest, the most “with-it” but she’s having fun and that’s what it’s all about! 

This is a short post this week but since I was gone, it’s time to spend some time with the family. 

I had the pleasure of photographing this family this past Saturday.  The weather held up just long enough for us to get all the families photographed and then also the large group photo.  I had a lot to work with, as far as the location, as there was an abundance of trees and out-buildings.  Also, the sun only peeked through a few times so for the most part it was a perfect day and location for an outdoor session.  There were four families and so I tried something a little different with each family.  I love a challenge and that’s the fun part of being on-location…I just never know what I’m going to get!  One family travels a lot and don’t get home often, so this was a family reunion for them as well.  It was a privlage to be a part of their short stay and to be able to capture this special time for all of them.  Well…onto the images…hope you enjoy your sneak peek H. Family!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.  I spent a good portion of it outside, enjoying it with the kiddos.  I think it’s going to be about time to bust out the slip n’ slide!  Sounds like rain again this week….so hopefully soon!  My boy got a water balloon catapult he’s just itching to try out {on me and his sister, of course}!

Also this past weekend I had a family session…sort of a family reunion which was a lot of fun.  First time I had several different families within one session to challenge my creativity and I loved it!  I’ll be posting their sneak peek tomorrow-woo hoo!

Also this past week I booked two weddings for 2011;  one in June, the other is in July.  I’m very much looking forward to them both.  I met the one couple this past week and they’re up for anything {I love couples willing to push the envelope and go with my crazy ideas} and so I really look forward to their engagement session later this summer.  The other couple is my sis-in-law and her sweetie and that should be a blast as well!  I can’t forget Carrie & Brian whose wedding is next June as well.  Their engagement session will also be later this summer/fall.  So…three weddings  next year….if only you could see me grinning ear to ear!  I just love the romance and emotion of weddings…..{sigh}…..

Back-track a couple weeks ago when my son had his 5th birthday, I hadn’t gotten a birthday image posted.  Here he is….so grown up already!  I think there isn’t a kid alive that would turn down a little “green” as a birthday gift!  Anyway here’s my little man…..

One last thing before I close….if you haven’t seen the movie “Aliens in the Attic,” it’s pretty cute.  It’s a good family movie and I actually watched it several times during the time we had with Netflix. 

Alrighty, I think that’s it for today {family sneak peek to come}.

Live, Laugh, and Love the one you’re with {even if they don’t give you any birthday money}

I just got done with this and wanted to share.  I’m working on adding a page under “Information” of my “Products & Designs” and I just finished up on this storyboard and wanted to share.  These boys are just too cute!  This is a 10×20 {technically 20×10 but can be vertical as well so the sizes are interchangable} storyboard.  There are a few different options for storyboards;  three images several different ways, 5 images all the same size, and more.  These can be printed as a regular print and then it would be mounted and sprayed and could be displayed as-is on a shelf or with an easel.  This could also be a float wrap where it looks as if it is floating on the wall, canvas, or even a standout where it has a frame around it and stands out from the wall.  So many options for these to fit any budget!  

Well, hope everyone is having a great week!  I have a new product to announce as well in the next couple weeks…..I can see it being a big hit with moms!  This product is for me anyway!

Okay, onto the storyboard…….