VLV Photography

First of all-WOW!!  You guys are blowing me away!  Since the “2010 Image of the Year Contest” was posted early am on Friday, the 28th, there have been just shy of 200 votes cast, and that’s not including FB votes!  You guys are awesome and really, I love all the participation!  I’ll say that over and over!!!  Okay, I just checked, already over 200 votes!!  Wahoo!  So, you wanna know who’s in the lead so far according to poll votes??  Image #13 is currently in 1st place, image #10 is currently in 2nd, and image #14 is currently in 3rd place.  This will be the only update you will receive until the winner is announced!  Remember-up for grabs is a 16×20 Float Wrap {not a print, a FLOAT WRAP!}, a $100 gift certificate, which is like receiving a FREE family/children’s/Trash-the-Dress session, and of course title of “2010 Image of the Year” winner!  Runner-up will receive a $75 gift certificate for a session in 2011, and the grand prize winner selects a new, never-before booked client to receive a $50 gift certificate!  So continue to get your vote on;  awesome prizes are to be had!

In other news-I’m on a crocheting roll!  I completed two hats over the weekend and my husband is starting to wonder when I’ll start making things for our own kids.  There are a couple other patterns I would like to try for hats, but I will be starting to work on a blanket for our first born and go from there.  To crochet a blanket requires a lot of counting and so I know I’ll have to work on that when I know there won’t be any distractions.  If you crochet, you know what I mean!  Here are my latest creations!

In other news, I want to mention a local event coming up here in Hague, ND.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 16th, 2011.  There will be a motorcycle run to raise money for our local fireworks display.  If you’ve never been to Hague for the fireworks on the 4th of July, you are seriously missing out.  Every year they seem to have more and more.  They shoot them off for at least 30 minutes and they’re big humdingers-not those little guys-big ones you would expect to see in larger cities like Bismarck.  I’ve always been impressed and it’s surely something to come and enjoy!  This will be the first year they’re also having the motorcycle run starting at 11am in Hague, and completing 120 miles before returning to Hague, when they’ll have a hog roast and a street dance with music by Blue Tonic.  There will be FREE camping, and also yours truly will be available for photography!  I will be posting about this again but just wanted to mention it in my post today.  So tell your friends and come one and come all!  It is possible to have a good time in a town with a population of 90!!

Until next time, Live, Love, and Laugh with the one you’re with….they’re vote counts too!

Alrighty…the time has arrived!  I’m so excited for this and I hope you-my wonderful clients-are too!  The rules are simple-one vote per ip addresson my blog.  Voting starts today and ends at 8pm CST on Sunday, February 13th with the winners to be announced on Monday, February 14th-Valentine’s Day…awwww!!  Some sweet prizes for a sweet day!   *Note* Comments on the blog are moderated and you will not see your comment right away.  Again, you will not see your comment right away! I’ll be checking comments a few times each day.

The images were chosen at my discretion mostly because A. I’m providing the prize and B. I knew I had a favorite from every session.  The images selected either remind me of the session itself and make me smile, the image moves me in some way, or the image shows exactly what I had envisioned.  If you’ve never had a session with me, you can bet that sometimes I have ideas that just won’t work and I openly admit when something isn’t working and move on.  But sometimes I just see an image in my mind that I cooked up long ago and the recipe is right there, it’s just a matter of getting the subjects to feel it too.  So….that’s why the images you see below are the ones that I chose.

So…what are the goodies?

The image with the most votes wins:  16×20 Fine Art Float Wrap of the winning image {$150 value}, a $100 gift certificate for a session in 2011, and of course, title of “VLV Photography’s 2010 Image of the Year!”

2nd runner-up will receive:  a $75 gift certificate for a session in 2011

Also, the grand prize winner gets to choose a never-before-booked client to also receive a $50 gift certificate.

Wanna earn an extra vote?  Simple.  Go to my Facebook Page HERE, like my page and go the album titled “2010 Image of the Year Contest,” find your favorite image, leave a comment and voila-vote counted!  You must like my page in order for your vote to count!

Easy right?  So get to it and tell your friends!  I look forward to reading all your comments!  Now to the images already!

****UPDATE****To vote select one  image number from the poll below the images.  One vote/person will be counted from the blog :)  Leaving a comment is not a vote {I figured adding the poll would simplify things for everyone} but I sure appreciate the love If you’re leaving a comment just to be nice, please include the image # you’re referring to!   Thanks so much for all your participation!  I know all those pictured below appreciate it as much as I do!  Thank you!

There you have ‘em!  Now show your loved ones your support and vote for their image!

**UPDATE Jan. 30th**I apologize for any inconvenience with voting.  I have been informed that the 100 vote limit does not apply to poles, only surveys.  So I have put the original poll back up.  If I see an issue with there only being a number of votes allowed, I will have to come up with something else.  Again, sorry for any inconvenience…technology…gotta love it!  Good luck everyone!

Voting has closed-the winner was #3 and runner-up was image #14.

A week later and the “sickies saga” continues. I ended up taking our son in on Sat. night and he has Strep. A week was too long with a fever and not getting over it and so now he’s so much better, not even coughing after 4 doses; only a week to go! I didn’t feel good until yesterday. I think everyone I’ve talked to is ready for Spring already. This has been one tough winter so far. And I mean because of the cold and then snow upon snow, and then only more snow! We’ll see how full the ditches are come Spring! Oh yeah…bring on the mud! Where I live, the ground literally becomes one big pig pen! When you think the grass is greener, there’s always a give & take.

I’m soooooo excited because I crocheted my first newborn hat yesterday and then I couldn’t stop so I made two more! I think I’ve found a new past-time. I really don’t have a lot of *free* time but it’s something that I can easily take with me anywhere and I can work on it a little at a time. But it is really hard to stop myself. I also made a crochet headband, although I plan to find a nice pretty something to put in the middle . I had made 2 new headbands a while back as well. Here are my newest creations.

In other news, I sent out my very first newsletter.  I want to get a subscribe button on my homepage and it’s on my to-do list.  If you would like to receive it and get on my list, in the meantime, just shoot me an email.  They will be sent out seasonally.  The next one I plan to have out in April.  If there are any questions regarding your own point and shoot camera or photography in general, again-shoot me an email. 

This past week I had the pleasure of photographing my daughter’s preschool class and also the M-W-F group.  These kids were so excited and curious about what I was doing.  By the time it was time for me to leave, they were bringing me books wanting me to read.   Some weren’t shy at all and  just plopped right in my lap with a book!  I’m sure the parents are anxious to see the pictures and I hope to share a few on my blog next week.  These weren’t your typical school pictures and I think the kids really had fun.  I know I did!  There were some that just loved the camera and others…well, flat out told me they hated pictures and wouldn’t have much of it.  In fact, one of the boys that said he hated pictures and didn’t care much for me being there was one of them that ended up bringing a book for me to read and wanted to see his picture on my camera later!   I think that was his way of making sure we were still friends.  

Anyhow….oh, I want to share a “What-to-Wear Guide” this week.  Maybe this helps give an idea of coordinating colors even if we don’t have a session scheduled anytime soon.  I do have a couple engagement sessions next month and I can’t forget to mention all the babies…..4 newborns coming up!  Wahoo! 

Well folks, I think that’s all for this week.  I’m sure I missed something  I wanted to blab about but I’ll get it in next time.  Oh-I know I mentioned on Facebook about my website being possessed.  Really, it is.  I had info on there that just…poof, disappeared and I can’t add it now.  My go-to gal can’t fix it for a couple weeks so my site will not be updated until that happens.  I’m making some changes to the client area as well.  Once you’re a client of mine, you’ll be able to get all the info you need right there and rather than me sharing a bunch of links and info via email…it will be right there, when you need it.  I just share the password and login and you’re set.  All the forms and info will be right there under easy-to-find categories.  But…patience is a virtue and so next month sometime I’m hoping this will be all set.  Just another way I’m trying to make the experience of my client’s a smoothe-sailin’ one!

Until next time…Live, Love, and Laugh with the one you’re with…even if they’re hacking a lung! lol

Off the bat, I have to share this picture that my son created last year in preschool.  I have it framed and in my office.  The minute I saw it, my eyes started to well up with tears.  Why?  Because a child knows nothing of the hate and violence that exists in the big, big world.  Did he really grasp what it was he created?  This picture touched my heart and made me realize how much his little eyes will see as he grows up;  what all my children will see as they grow up.  It breaks my heart. 

 I was raised in a family of acceptance.  I have a 1/2 brother who is part Puerto Rican, and neices and nephews that are part indian.  I never saw them or others growing up any different then I saw myself.  We all put our pants on the same way-one leg at a time.  Think about this picture today and ways you can help make this world a better place.  Be an example for your children and show them how others deserve to be treated, just as you would like to be treated.  That one little principal and Commandment could change this world if only every.single.person practiced it.  That is my dream.  Your child has the potential to change the world-they just need guidance how, even in the smallest of ways.  Happy Martin Luther King Day.

Today in my news-I have “sickies” among me:  my husband and my son.  They have a fever, chills, occasional cough, etc..  Ugh.  My son was just sick the week before last and missed 2 days of school.  I’ve seen posts on Facebook too about how others are battling illnesses in their own homes that never seem to leave for good.  I have not heard much mention of this flu season on the news until a child in ND had passed away from it.  Last year it was the bird flu and this year nothing {was talked about anyway}.  I just hope this nasty bug stays far away from me.  I’ve taken care of my kids while I’ve been sick, with no help because the hubby was out of town working, and it absolutely, plain & simply-SUCKS!  You can’t even get food for your kids because even the smell of food sends you on a trip to the bathroom!  So…knock on wood!

Other than that….oooo, I took a pic of my Classic Handbag that I offer my clients with their images taken by yours truly   I had shown this at the holiday open house but in case you missed it-here it is:

You can fit quite a bit of stuff in this bag, which is why I should’ve gotten a smaller one!  The less room, the less you carry, the happier your shoulder!

Anyway, I mentioned about the contest coming up on Facebook.  In case you missed that post, I will be selecting my favorite image from each session and posted them here, on the blog.  You will be allowed one vote per ip address-so no cheating, I’ll know!   For an extra vote, you can like my Facebook page and place a vote by leaving a comment for your favorite image from the  ”Best Image of 2010″ album.  So, two votes/person!  The voting will open on Friday the 28th of this month and close on Sun. Feb. 13th at 9pm CST.  Votes after this time/date will not be counted.  The winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day!   I’m really excited about this and I hope you all are too!  So like my Facebook page now so you’re ”in the know” and rally those voting troops!   Prize details will be announced when voting opens!  It’ll be good…trust me!

I’m in the process of making my very first newborn crocheted hat.  It’s not going so well.  Well, unless the shape will change-lol!  But it’s kinda looking like a pretty cute floppy hat for a doll!  Maybe as the more rounds I get on it, the look will change?  I have no idea.  I’m really not sure what I’m doing wrong, or maybe it should look like a floppy hat?  I’ve invested far more money in yarn than I should have and it’s become this mission of mine to learn and it has not been easy.  I’m told knitting is harder but anything else is sounding easier!  I’ve developed a fabric obession of sorts as well.  So yarn and fabric are starting to take over my office.  Everything starts with an idea.  And an idea is like a planted seed…..like Leonardo DiCaprio’s character says in “Inception.”  The hubby and I watched it the other night.  It’s a pretty different movie.  You have to watch pretty closely or you could easily get lost.  I wouldn’t watch it again, but there aren’t many movies I would watch twice.  But it was different and alright.  I thought his movie “Shutter Island” was better.  That’s one I would watch again.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday.  Lookin’ like a blizzard out there again today.  When oh when will we be rid of this snow?  I CANNOT wait for Spring!   

Until  next time-Live, Laugh, and Love the one you’re with….even if they happen to be a different race, or even if they have the sickies.  Either way….love is what makes the world go ’round {and a happier place to live}.

Well hello, hello!  Happy Monday everyone!  I’m the opposite of happy;  however, as my daughters decided it would be fun to wake up at 5am {for one} and 6am {for the other}.  And not just up….oh nooooooo…up and crabby and whiney.  Just the sound I want to wake up to first thing.  Last night was literally the night from…you know, that hot place that’s the opposite of Heaven…with my three kids.  All of ‘em were whiny.  Each and every one.  Then my youngest wouldn’t fall asleep until 10pm.  So yep-not a great Monday for me.  On the other hand, I have managed to be somewhat productive.  I’m finishing up some session images and got a new product example to share.  I also will have a whopper of an order to place.  I already need to order more business cards, referral program cards, and I designed some gift certificates that I will share in this post too that I need to order. 

So first…onto those cards I was telling you about-first, these are from the Luxe Collection.  There are 5 different cutout shapes to choose from and they’re listed below.  These come with envelopes, and with the circle ones you can choose to have a hanger hole…nice for Christmas to double as an ornament.  You know people won’t have the heart to just throw these away!  They’re just plain gorgeous and make a statement!  Also new for 2011 on the regular 5×5 and 5×7 double-sided, flat cards you can get rounded corners.  For both the regular and Luxe cards you can elect to have your return address printed as well….should save you some carpal tunnel!

Now onto the gift certificate-these are available in any denomination.  You may pay for these online as well and they can be mailed to you to give as a gift to that special someone.   Giving the gift of photography is a great option as it is the gift that keeps on giving…for months, years, and decades. 

Over the weekend I created my own on-location backdrop system for newborn/one child sessions.  I have, I think, 9 different backgrounds to choose from and I’m really excited to give it a try.   I have some newborn sessions coming up and I can’t wait to use this system as well as the headbands I’ve made.  I did take some pictures of some of the backdrop options but that will be for next week.  I used it today to also take a picture of my handbag with my kiddos printed on the front that I meant to share a while back.  I’ll save that for another post.  Anyway, in between getting this post ready, getting a gallery posted, I still have my pile of expenses to enter for taxes.  Ahhhh….taxes…we all love this time of year don’t we?  Ha!  Yeah right!  I do keep up with my books on an ongoing basis, its entering all the info into my software program that causes me to fall behind.  So…….that’s next and I’m pretty excited for next week as I’ll be photographing two preschool classes!!!  I’m so thrilled to be given the opportunity to do this and look forward to working with all the kiddos.  I have some non-traditional school pic ideas in mind!

Until next time….Live, Love, and Laugh the one you’re with…..especially your tax deductions!  lol!

I saw this on another photographer’s blog and had to share.  With Valentine’s Day coming up, the romantically challenged men out there {I say that with love} may need a little dose of “proposing inspiration” if planning to pop the question. So here it goes-check this out.

You can view the post in its entirety here: http://www.jakefordphoto.com/?p=454

Okay, now that all the ladies have dried their eyes and the men’s wheels are turning….I thought I’d share my own story of how my husband proposed.  This was back when he still had a romantic bone in his body {i.e.roses, special music, mushy cards, kinda romantic}.  Not to throw him under the bus or anything but realistically- ladies;  once you’ve been married a while {going on 8 years for me}, the ways you are romantic change completely.  Add in kids and well….romance is when your husband washes, folds, and puts away all the laundry!  So men, if you want to win your wife over-help out a little!  Actions totally speak louder than words.  But I digress, watching this took me back to that day and really reminded me of how much I am loved. 

My own love story story started just about 9 years ago this month.  My husband and I only dated for 6 months before he proposed.  We had known each other for 7 years though and had even graduated from high school together.  I was actually one of two of the first people he met when he first moved to Wishek.  We had always been friends and after graduation we went our separate ways, keeping in touch all the way.  In fact, he was one of the few who wrote me while I was away at Basic Training  for the Army National Guard.  Anyway, fast-forward to the proposal………it was a very windy, cold May day, just before Memorial weekend.  He begged me to go out to the field with him so that he could show me something.  It was toward evening and I hate being cold and really didn’t want to go but he didn’t let up about it.  We get out to the field to this rock pile and on this huge rock he had chiseled {yes, chiseled by hand for weeks here and there} ”Tony loves Victoria.”  On the ground were smaller rocks, each spray painted red or white and with a letter to spell out “Will You Marry Me?”  He had the first song we ever danced to ready in the cd player and had roses and champagne.  I was blown away and completely taken off guard.  I, obviously said yes-the smartest thing I ever did in my life- and here we are 3 kiddos later and still the best of friends.  We always said we would move that rock pile someday to the place we call home.  I really hope one day we do because it would sure be nice to see as I pull up in our driveway each day. :) 

So there you have it-my proposal story.  I love that Jake, in the story I shared, used his passion for photography, and made it personal-about them-and made it memorable and put thought into it.  If I were her, I would’ve had a hard time taking those pictures down.

This is why I love photographing weddings so much-the raw emotion, the feeling, the thoughts that go into the day.  I think a wedding day takes couples back to where it all started, where their story began and just feel all gushy and love toward one another.  And I’m just there to capture all that raw emotion.  I think any big event in a couple’s life can do that-birth of a child, anniversaries, etc..  But wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel that every.single.day. and SHOW IT-whether it be a regular ol’ Tuesday, an anniversary, or Valentine’s Day?  Be thoughtful, be honest, and be each other’s best friend each and every day and you’ll have more anniversaries and feel more love in your life than you ever imagined.

Monday, Monday, Monday-wowza…It’s been a busy start to my week.  On top of that, all 3 of our kiddos got the sickies.  Our oldest was home from school today but I think he’ll be good to go for tomorrow.  Other family members were sick as well so it just seems that’s what happens when you get a large group of people together.  If someone has something brewing….every home seems to get it as well.  I think from now on when it’s holiday time I’m going to shrink-wrap my kids.  But breathing might be an issue…hmmm.  I wonder if that stuff you see advertised that teacher’s take really works?  Anyone know?  Do they make it for kids?  My kids do take vitamins.  Being stuck in the house during the winter month’s when it’s bone-chilling cold outside doesn’t help either.  As they’re getting older they don’t seem to catch everything but when they get sick it is usually for several days at a time….and all of them get it.   

Today I’ve been updating my PhotoCart System-adding images, product options, etc..  I’ve also been working on some design things, and just playing catch up.  I seriously don’t know how anyone with a full-time job outside the home can maintain a photography business.  Im even more amazed at those who are able to raise a family and work outside the home, at the same time running a photography business.  Having older children certainly changes the situation but I know of photographer’s that work outside the home, have a photography business that’s steadily busy, and have young children.  I think I’d be about bonkers and in the nut-house.  There’s only so much one person can give;  and I’m sorry but I like my sleep.  I still have many late nights;  however, I know that if I also had a full-time job on top of my already long list of to-do’s, I would just burn out.  At least I’m able to get the housework out of the way during the day as I don’t work outside the home.  Just thinking about it tires me out!  I know being a stay-at-home mom is also work-trust me, I have 3 kids under 5 1/2.  But they are pretty good kids and love to help out.  You gotta start them out early…the older two put their own clothes away!  So moms-enlist your children in doing chores they are able to do-you’d be surprised what they’re capable of!  Besides, when I visit my kids someday when they’re all grown up, I don’t want to walk into a pig-sty!  Teach them to take care and respect the things they have and they’ll respect others as well.  It’s just that simple.

On that note I have to tell you what my 4 year-old Alexandra said on the way to Mass Saturday night.  She told her grandma and grandpa that “Christmas isn’t about presents, it’s about Jesus’ birthday.”  In reply, her brother {Xavier-our oldest} said, “yeah, and sharing and caring.”  Talk about melt your heart.  That was a proud parenting moment for me.  Awwww….I sure love those kids {most days}!  lol!  They sure know how to push my buttons though too!

Anywho, no image of the purse I intended to take this week that I had taken to the Holiday Open House.  It was such a big hit there, but I didn’t get around to it.  Also, I’m still finalizing some things for the contest and am potentially thinking about making it a Valentine’s Day contest of sorts.   Not sure-still thinking on that one.  SO-it will happen-I’m not stalling-just can’t make up my mind on some details!  But anyway, here are a couple necklaces that are part of the Sterling Silver Photo Jewelry product line I offer.  These are offered exclusively to photographer’s so you will certainly have something unique to show off if you get one of these from having a session with me!  The first one is the Heirloom Necklace and the next is the Lariat Necklace.  If you are interested in these or other products from this line, be sure to let me know and I’ll get the information to you!

Alright, well everyone have a great first week of 2011.  My hubby and I are pricing out treadmills or ellipticals-gotta lose that “holiday 5″ I talked about last week!  Anyone have any recommendations {or models to avoid}-please email me!  I’m also working on my goals list for my business in 2011.  I listened to a webinar recently on setting goals and one thing I learned is when you write goals, you need to write them in the present tense.  For example, I will weigh xxx pounds by October 1st, 2011.  You have to be very specific.  You also should keep it to a list of about 10.  Then choose the one goal that would have the most immediate impact on your life and write that on a separate piece of paper.  From there you write the action steps you will take to reach that goal and again be specific.  It was pretty movtivating to listen to and I’m hoping the lessons I’ve learned in my business in 2010 and information like that webinar and everything else I read, will help me reach my goals for 2011.  I’m planning for a great year!  In fact, a {little} big moment for me today-it was the first time I had to turn someone down to shoot a wedding because I was already booked for a wedding that same day!  A little coincidence-yes,  however;  a good problem to have!

Cheers to 2011 awesomeness & for making your goals a reality!

Until next time….Live, Love, and Laugh with the one you’re with as they are the one that picks you up when you fall.  Failure doesn’t have to be a bad thing-grow from it, learn from it, and drive on.  ;)