VLV Photography

What can I say?  This past week flew and if only this month would go just as fast rather that the molasses-pace it has been going.  I’m.Sick.Of.Winter.Period. Also, my son has gone from strep to something he just can’t shake with a fever off and on.  At one point I was sick, all the while, taking care of my sick kids and any parent knows that that is just an absolutely, positively crappy situation.   Fortunately, it was only a one day event but left me tired for a few days afterward.  So February came in like a lion and looks like it will go out like one too, from illnesses to the weather.  May-you just can’t come soon enough!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to have a very different engagement session.  One-because it took place at Blarney’s Pub in Bismarck {I had never been there} and Two-we took some shots outside in the snow in, I think, 6 degree weather.  I had so many ideas for this session but the weather really let me down.  If only we would’ve had 40 degree weather like we had not long ago {minus the wind}.  But we did end up with some very sweet {and moody} shots that I’m excited to share…..tomorrow.

I have a new what to wear visual aid.  I hope these help with showing coordinating outfits for the whole family.  And it really doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Choose one favorite outfit and pull colors from that for all the other family members.  Here’s this month’s example……

This week I was also going to show a few images of some kiddos from a preschool shoot I did last month.  I just haven’t gotten a chance to get a web layout together of some images.  I plan to do this after I get some galleries up and completed first.  I had such a fun time and want to give some kiddos some time in the spotlight on my blog.   

Doing the preschool sessions got me thinking about what it is I really love to photograph.  I think photographing children of all stages and ages is my favorite next to engagements and weddings.  If I had to choose one subject to photograph for the rest of my life, my answer would most definitely be my own kids.  But I think the fact that I have young children is what really draws me to that type of session.  Interacting with young children and acting silly and working with newborns, is nothing new to me.  I don’t think I could be a child/newborn photographer without having children.  I’m not saying there aren’t photographer’s out there that can’t but I think it sure makes the session that much easier for all involved. 

As far as engagements/weddings….I’m just a hopeless romantic at heart.  The simple things are what move me in my own relationship, not huge displays of affection or momentous out-pouring of love.  My favorite love story movie is “The Notebook,” but I am not a romantic novel reader at all-murder mysteries for me!  The idea of sharing a lifetime with one person is a very special kinda love.  Nearly 8 years into my own marriage, I can visualize how my husband and I will be toward one another and I practically laugh out loud as my husband is quite the prankster.  I couldn’t be married to him this long without a sense of humor.  For example, not long ago my husband thought it would be funny to dump a 5 gallon pail of snow on me while I was in the shower!  If you’re a man reading this-you’re laughing and thinking about how fun it would be to do this to your sweetie and then picturing how mad she would probably get and realize it was not the best idea.  If you’re a woman reading this, you’re thinking to yourself if your man ever did that to you he would surely be sleeping on the couch.  Well, as hard as it may be to believe-I laughed.  If there is one thing that God graced me with, it was surely having a sense of humor.   

The prank I shared was only one of many but he sure makes up for it in the type of husband and father he is.   He remembers the little details of things I’ve said long ago, always gets my toothbrush ready for me, and always thinks about me and our family first.  Those may seem small but I think those unspoken expressions of love speak way louder than any gift or fluffy words he could ever say.  Like I said, for me it’s the little things that all add up.  So when I approach an engagement session/wedding, I hope to show the story behind the people by incorporating things/places/ideas that mean something special to my clients.  I want to give images that mean something and tell their story. 

So anyway…that really went into a topic I didn’t anticipate blogging about.  Well, if nothing else, you learned a little bit more about me. I’m pretty much an open book and if you’ve had a session with me you already know I love to talk, sometimes at a fault.  On the flip side, if you have a question-just ask. 

Until next time, Live, Laugh, and Love the one you’re with…..whether it be to the one you’ve loved for 50 days or 50 years.  You never know where the road of life will take you so you might as well share it with someone who makes you laugh, regardless of how that may happen.