VLV Photography

Hey there all you mama’s!  Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I thought I would share the 3 things I know I couldn’t live without as a mom.  Surely, I could live without them, but why would I want to????

So, the first thing is my “Bar Keepers Friend” cleaner (available at Wal-Mart).  If you live around where I live and deal with your bathroom sinks, tub, and toilets getting rusty, you will LOVE this product.  It makes cleaning a snap!  I guess there’s also a gel/cream version too, but it’s a smaller container and well, the powder is cheaper and works.

Next up, the baby wipes.  Imagine you’re on the phone with someone and they ask if it’s alright if they stop over.  All of a sudden you go into panic mode…”oh my gosh, my bathroom sink is disgusting….” or maybe not, but if you’re anything like me, you’re in panic mode.  I think it was ingrained in me since childhood that before you leave the house, for say a weekend, you clean.  Before company comes to visit, you clean.  After company leaves, you clean.  Now that I’m a mom, all that cleaning can get exhausting.  Hence, the baby wipe.  A quick wipe (sometimes with cleaner, sometimes not) and you’re done and your visitors are none-the-wiser.  I guess my cat’s outta the bag though! lol!

And finally, the “Regenerist.”  Oh, “Regenerist”…how I love thee…let me not count my deep wrinkles that I’ve gotten over the years with my “Seriously?” face I tend to make! lol!  I kid you not, after just a few weeks, my deep “Seriously?” wrinkles have greatly diminished, as well as my skin feeling more firm.  This is $15 (at Sam’s Club) magic in a jar.  Get YOU some this Mother’s Day!!!  Seriously!

Well, that’s my edition of “My 3 Favorite Mama Things” and I would love to hear what your favorite mama products are and can’t live without in the comments section below!  Have a great weekend and Happy Mother’s Day!

I am excited to announce a partnership with Shoots for a Cure (formerly known as Think Pink Photography). Think Pink Photography was founded in October 2007 to support individuals and their families who have been touched by breast cancer. We are a charitable organization that serves two main purposes – celebrating life and supporting the cause. Recently, we changed our name and our support. We now want to support ALL cancer patients, not just breast cancer.
Through our professional photographer network, we are helping cancer patients to celebrate life with charitable photography sessions. Individuals may choose to document their fight against the disease before or during treatment, or prefer to capture their victory by scheduling a session within 12 months after treatment is completed. Photographers world-wide are now available to donate time and talent to celebrate life and support the cause. There is no cost or obligation to the cancer patient. Clients participating in a Shoots for a Cure session will receive a complimentary photo session, as well as a set of 10 small prints from the session. They will also receive a discount on any additional portraits they wish to purchase, although there is absolutely no purchase required at any time.
To support the cause, we donate and fundraise for The American Cancer Society and the Susan G Komen Foundation. All funds generated through donations and various fundraising efforts are paid directly to The American Cancer Society, the Susan G Komen Foundation, in our name, or used 100% for marketing and awareness of our program.
Please subscribe to our blog (on the Shoots for a Cure website) and tell your friends and family about Shoots for a Cure.  Awareness is everything and we can’t be successful without you.
I encourage you to view our website, make a donation, or hire a photographer that supports Shoots for a Cure! If you hire me, mention Shoots for a Cure and I will make a personal donation to the organization. If you, or someone you know, would like to schedule a Shoots for a Cure session, please contact me for details.
I am very proud to be a verified, network photographer with Shoots for a Cure, and am anxious to get the word out about this amazing program. For more information, you can contact me, or you can

visit the Shoots for a Cure website at http://shootsforacure.com

And don’t forget….I’m accepting submisssions for the 2013 Bride & Groom “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” Contest through May 18th at 10 p.m.! Don’t delay! A free engagement session and slideshow is up for grabs! Check out that blog post by clicking HERE!

Brides & Grooms!!! I’m so excited to share this opportunity for you to win an engagement session!! I love working with couples in love and hearing how they met, how the proposal went down, and all the lovey-dovey-mushy stuff! Now is your opportunity to share your love story with others and win a fun portrait experience in the process!  Not to mention, a slideshow set to music of your fun engagement session!

As the image below states – send me your favorite image of you as a couple, along with a little story about the image and why it is your favorite in 150 words or less. All submitted images and stories will be compiled and placed on my blog for public voting. Due to Facebook rules and regulations, this contest must take place on my blog. However, feel free to share the post about the contest from my Facebook page and send them over to the blog to vote for you.

You might be wondering…”hmm…what’s the catch?”  Short answer – there isn’t one.  I just thought it would be something fun to do!  You are out nothing but the 1-2 hours you’ll spend with me and the time you’ll spend picking out the perfect outfits!

A few tiddly-bits worth mentioning:
1. You must not have a photographer for your wedding already booked or already have myself booked as your photographer. Just keeping it “even-steven!”

2. Public Voting – I want everyone to be aware that the image you send me and the story you share will be made public

3. Please note the timeframes for entries, voting, and winner announcement (no exceptions)

4. If the winner chooses to book me as their wedding photographer after the free engagement session, the winner will then receive a free “Trash the Dress”/”Bridal”/”Anniversary” Session after the big day! Why? Because I include an engagement session with all of my wedding collections.

5. With all sessions, all business policies, extra mileage rates, and procedures apply.

6.  Have fun with it!  I look forward to reading the entries!
Got a question before you enter?  Call me – 701.336.7720 or email me at victoria@vlvphotography.com

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!  I got to spend mine with my family, as well as see sweet baby Ava again (newborn client) and her family for their ordering session.  And I had been soooo anxious for them to see their images.  Initially, it was to be an ordering session over Skype but they were able to meet in-person and I’m so glad they could make it.  If you’ve never heard of Skype, get out from under that rock you’ve been under and check it out!  It’s an amazing, FREE, tool that you can use to keep in touch with your family far away.  If you have a web cam, you can even see them as you talk to them.  How sweet is that?  Grandmas and grandpa’s can see their grand-babies, cousins can talk to their cousins and show each other their newest Lego creation or the gap in their mouth because they finally lost a tooth…..it keeps communication open in a time where we’re all about text messages and emails.  Call me old-fashioned, but I still send out hand-written cards, and always appreciate a phone call.  Set up “Skype Dates” with your loved ones and create new memories.

So, back to my weekend…sweet Ava Grace.  I just wanted to share the slideshow I had put together.  If you love it, leave some love in the comments section!   She was such a good sleeper for me.  I can’t stress how important it is that the environment be warm (as in 80-85 degrees warm) for newborn sessions.  Know that you will be warm, know that you will possibly sweat, but know I’ll be sweating even more as I’m working, but that your baby will be comfortable.  And that’s the most important thing in capturing these types of images.

Aren’t those cheeks just the cutest?  I cannot wait for this family to receive their goodies!  I created a new piece and once I get it in, I’ll have to photograph it.  I’ll likely get my own sample, it’s soooo cute!  I really do like creating custom, one-of-a-kind pieces for my clients and I’m so glad they loved it as much as I did!

In other news, my son ended up breaking his big, left, arm bone at wrestling practice.  I ended up having to take him to The Bone & Joint Center where they were going to have him wear a splint and sling for another week.  My boy was really hoping he’d get a cast and get it done and over with.  He’s anxious to go outside for recess at school but with just a splint, it was too risky.  So they did end up putting on a cast and cutting it all the way down on both sides to allow room for the swelling, as it was still too swollen for a regular cast.  They then just taped it around a few spots to keep it from coming apart.  I take him back up this week, where they’ll likely take another x-ray to be sure it hasn’t shifted/moved (as that will be the indicator if they need to put pins in or not), and then a regular, full cast.  Poor kid-will have a cast before losing a baby tooth! lol!

April has definitely been eventful thus far, that’s for sure.  I wanted to share something new that will better help my clients prepare for their sessions, as well as have answers to clients’ most common questions right at their fingertips.  From now on, when clients pay the session fee and book with me, they will receive a welcome packet.  Inside are tips on wardrobe, policy information, as well as wall display ideas.  Wedding clients will also receive their own version of the welcome packet.  I haven’t photographed that just yet as I’m waiting on two more products to come in.  These welcome packets have literally been MONTHS in the making.  And wouldn’t you know….I found a typo on one of the information pieces. :/  It’s really not too noticeable but I swear to you, I have looked these over 1,000 times for errors and apparently I should’ve looked just ONE MORE TIME. UGH.  Oh well, what do you do?  This is just another way though, that I hope to make 2012 even better for my clients;  by giving clients the information needed to feel confident in their decision choosing me as their photographer.  Here’s a little sneak peek-

There is plenty more news but I think that’s about all I’ll dish for today! It’s candy detox today from Easter. Seriously, the kids have no candy left. When they come down from their sugar rush, I may need a wig after I lose all my hair! LOL! The fact that candy is involved with majority of holidays, is the one thing I dislike most. I then hear the following for days afterward: “can I have candy?” Parades are the worst. Why can’t they throw out change? Contribute to my children’s piggie-banks rather than their dental bills! LOL!

Anyway, have a great Monday and until next time…Live, Laugh, and Love the one you’re with…even if you’re miles apart and have to Skype.

I had the privilege of photographing my newborn nephew in Bismarck recently.  I had all kinds of setups planned, beautiful north light to work with, but Isaac just had other plans.  So, I rolled with it because at this newborn session, he clearly wanted to be the boss.  lol!  But I honestly feel like these are my favorite types of newborn images.  Sure, the posed images are great and cute and all….but you just can’t beat the raw emotion that newborns can only give.  And Isaac sure did deliver!

It’s been quite a while since I had held a little one and one so small at barely 6 pounds.  It is amazing how fast little people grow.  Before mom & dad realizes it, they’ll be safety-proofing everything in sight.  After meeting Isaac, I can’t help but feel blessed to have another nephew in my life and for my own children to have another cousin.  Isaac was a pleasant surprise to the family and if my heart is all warm and fuzzy, I can only imagine how mom & dad feel.  In life, you often never realize what you were missing all along until you have it.  Blessings little one….

Happy Tuesday everyone!  As I’m typing this, I’m not even sure where I should begin.  I suppose I can start talking about the weather.  That’s always an easy lead-into discussion starter.  And, I think we all would agree the weather has been relatively mild.  I know I’m not complaining about the winter we have had nor will I complain about the above average temps we’re expecting.  This warm weather really makes me itch to get out and start shooting again.  So, I guess this leads me into my confession and the reason for this blog post.

I just recently looked at my “google analytics” for my website and I hang my head in shame.  For those that may not know, Google Analytics is a tool for business owners with websites that will show you just how much traffic your website is getting.  It does so much more than that but rather than get into all the “techy” stuff, I’ll leave it at that.  My numbers have dramatically dropped over the winter and really, there is no one to blame but myself.  My Facebook page has very few “talking about this” and again, I have no one to blame but myself.  It makes me rather disappointed in myself that I allowed this to happen.

So you may be wondering…”well, what does this have to do with me; the reader, the potential client, the previous client?”  Everything.  Why?  Because I’ve let you down.  I’ve failed to provide you with information to arm yourself in ways to find a photographer, recipes that are quick and easy to prepare for your family because you work hard and have little time as it is in your day, or tips on preparing your wedding.  Information that could potentially make your life easier, I have not shared.   And I know things.  I know what to look for when you’re looking for a photographer that can make you feel good about yourself because you see yourself in a way you’ve never seen yourself before.  I know quick and easy recipes because these types of recipes are what I prepare because, I too am a busy  mom.  I know tips on preparing for your wedding because I have a whole welcome packet designed to do so to give my clients.  I also have this same information for portraits.  I’m a wealth of knowledge but have been holding back.  I’ve been sitting on the fence.

I’ve been in business going on three years and for the first time, this winter, I had to take a step back and really figure out where I want my business to go and look at how far I’ve come.  I have realized, through reading several books over the winter that I am a “perfectionist procrastinator.”  I finally have a name to what I’ve been feeling.  I sit on the fence for things that I am afraid to let go of in fear that it won’t be perfect.  I cannot tell you how long I have sat on my welcome packets.  I’m ashamed to even admit it.  But I go back and review and tweak, and review some more, so much so it’s driven me bonkers!  I’ve had to move onto something else and come back to it.  So I go crochet a hat or two, read a book, network with photographer’s, then give it another go.  This has been the running theme this  winter with several projects I’ve been working on…why?  Because I have this thought in my head that if it’s “just perfect” then it will save me time later, or that I won’t run into issues down the road.  Furthermore, I fear if someone sees a flaw and as a result will think poorly of me.  Also, the feeling of overwhelm has taken over many times when I think about all the things I’ve put on my plate in order to make my business better.  However, I have attempted to do all these things at the same time.   When all the while, the fact is that because I just can’t accept that “good enough” is really enough, than I will always be my own worst enemy.  That is hard realization to swallow.  I have only been holding myself back  all this time.

I had a discussion over this past weekend with a 21-year-old woman and I found myself telling her things that no one ever told me when I was her age.  It turned into this motivational speech of sorts and she probably thought I had fallen off my rocker given the circumstances.  However, I somehow find it easier to encourage and give others advice than it is to listen to the six inches between my own ears.  It has been an eye-opening winter for me.  A winter of reflection of sorts.  Out of all of it I have come to the conclusion that I am the one who controls my thoughts, my feelings, my actions, as well as my reactions.  This isn’t earth-shattering stuff but sometimes when we see ourselves in a different light, self-reflection has a funny way of giving you clarity.  I now have a business plan for my business.  I now know what it is I hope to achieve.  And there are big changes coming for me.  And the one step I am taking to make my dreams a reality is creating a space of my own in order to do so.  So we (my husband and I) are now in the early stages of transforming our garage into a studio.  This is absolutely a scary thing for me.  Why?  Because I know what I’m going to have to do in my business in order to see this through.  I’m going to have to get comfortable with getting uncomfortable, because risk is necessary in life in order to fail and grow.  It’s really hard to put yourself out there with the potential of being rejected.  It’s like dating in life….I have to learn to start dating again, but with people in other businesses, with potential clients, and also with previous clients.  I think people think I’m very outgoing but I’m really not.  I’m quite shy and reserved if I don’t know you well.  So, 2012 will be all about me getting uncomfortable and learning how to better utilize the left side of my brain.  I’m a right-brained creative.  I’ve had to learn how to flex the left (business) side over the last few months and it’s been exhausting, to say the least.  That is what happens when you tackle something head on for the first time.  It’s frustrating at first but after a while, with a little time and patience, it become second-nature.

If you are a photographer or are thinking about going into photography as a career, you surely can relate to all of this.  However, this was written for my readers, my clients, and potential clients.  I apologize if you have felt less than special.  I apologize if you felt, for one second, that I did not care.  And I apologize for sitting on the fence rather than taking action in my business.  Because what I do is for you.  It’s not about me.  And that is why I got into photography in the first place.  I wanted to create for others what I didn’t have for myself.  I think I lost sight of that for a while.  In my time of self-reflection I have come up with my mission statement in my business, my mantra, so to speak.  All decisions I make in my business will be based on this.  Here it goes:

I believe all people are worthy of love.

I love showing relationships and strive to express that in my work.

I believe in hand-written notes.

I travel to photograph you, wherever you call home because we all know, there is no place like home.

I value quality over quantity, always.

I look forward to meeting as an acquaintance, but leave as a friend.

Hey all!  Happy early Valentine’s Day!  Anyone that has kids in school, you know when these sorts of dates come around, you have to have something prepared for your child to take to school.  I try to think outside the box and get creative sometimes with these dates, as giving a pencil just isn’t as fun as a heart-shaped brownie.  Because really….who doesn’t love brownies?  I knew I wanted to make heart-shaped brownies, so I picked up one those flexible material baking “things” that had heart shapes.  I hope you know what I mean but I honestly don’t know what they’re called.  They’re kinda like those silicone baking shape things.  Anyway, glad I did a trial run because 1.  using those add to the baking time and 2.  takes twice as long for the baked goodies to cool.  So, I figured I would get myself a heart-shaped cookie cutter, bake two boxes of brownies at a time on a big cookie sheet and use my cookie cutter to cut out the shapes.

So, this is what I did…..used my big baking sheet (Keller Hardware in Strasburg has these)-approx. 13″x18″ and mixed two boxes of brownies.  I sprayed the baking sheet like you normally would, and because this size isn’t listed for the baking times, I set it at 18 min. and just added as I needed, all the while checking in the middle with a toothpick.  Once it came out clean (about 24 min. later), I let them cool and cut out my shapes.  I got about 21 heart shapes.  Now I didn’t want to waste the trimmings of the brownie mix, so I took an idea I saw on Pinterest (email me at victoria@vlvphotography.com if you would like an invite.  It goes much faster getting approved asking for a personal invite rather than requesting an invite from Pinterest).  Just take the excess brownie, roll into little balls and cover with powdered sugar.  You could get creative with this and roll them in various different dips or what-not;  however, it was stated that these are pretty darn close to tasting like truffles.  I’ve never had a truffle, so I have nothing to compare them to, but they are pretty good this way.  I store them in the fridge in a Ziploc bag.  A nice little chocolate-y, low-cal treat.

I also just came across this post from The Creative Mama for these oreo pops, and these are defnitely something  will try in the future.  These are fun things to do and easy enough to involve the kiddos-make a memory out of it.

Until next time, Live, Laugh, and Love with your Valentine.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

This is my submission for the Spring 2012 Chic Critique Magazine Cover Contest with the title of the contest being “launch.”  There’s a Kelly Moore bag up for grabs and prizes for runners-up;  however, I mostly would love this image to be on the cover!!

I haven’t posted a recipe in quite some time, but I also haven’t cooked a meal with the intent to photograph it either.  However, last night I tried a new dish, and as I was cooking, I thought this is a dish I was going to love.  And yes, I did.  My older two are picky eaters, so they don’t count.  But on that note, if someone knows of a great recipe book for picky kids, where you can sneak in some goodness, please share.

Anyway, several years ago, Kraft Foods had an option where you could subscribe to a seasonal magazine that would arrive at your doorstep-FREE of CHARGE! (*note, just checked, subscription is $13.98 for the year, but you also get a cookbook.  I say “it’s worth it!”)  I received many issues and have tried many of the dishes.  Simple ingredients, minimal prep time on most, and most of them are pretty good.   Only have a few ingredients?  Hit up their website for meal ideas and you’ll sure to find something as you can search by the ingredients you already have on hand.  How awesome is that?

So I tried a new recipe from their “Winter 2007″ catalog-Creamy Rice, Chicken & Spinach Dinner.  I didn’t have any chicken broth on hand, so I made my own with the amount of water it called for, with some chicken base added.  Sorry-didn’t measure, but I would say at least 1 1/2 tsp..  I also didn’t have the dressing it called for but had the recommended substitution of zesty Italian dressing.  I also used fat free crystal farms cream cheese, and tasted like cream cheese to me!  I honestly rarely purchase name brand items, as I feel, the generic is often just as good, and sometimes better (i.e. Wal-Mart’s generic thick-n-creamy mac-n-cheese).

So, here was the finished meal, with a side of cream corn.  I should add too, I had a 5oz. container of baby spinach leaves but it was nearly gone.  I just used what I had left, but it’s nearly tasteless, so the more the merrier (and healthier)!

Make this for your family & enjoy this flavorful meal!  Also, this would easily serve 2-3 adults.

It feels like forever ago since I posted to my blog.  In actuality it’s been more like 3 weeks, but who’s keeping tabs?  I have spent the last 5 weeks really working on my business (in between being a mom and wife) and it feels like my never-ending to-do list will never get done.  I need a good, long month all to myself on some deserted island somewhere, where someone brings me my food and washes my clothes, so all I have to do is knock out my to-do list! lol!  Okay, I know THAT will never happen, so what am I to do?  Prioritize.  I hate that word.  It means some things I would rather be doing, I don’t get to do.  For instance, crocheting.  I was hoping to get a hat for each of my kids crocheted this winter but not sure that will happen.

When it comes to balancing business and family life, I often feel like an epic fail.  Why am I telling you this?  Because I’m human.  Because I know you may be feeling just the same way.  You may not have a business, but working outside the home and juggling family, takes balance as well.  Despite my huge to-do list (45 items listed to be exact and just pertaining to my business), I ordered 5, yes F-I-V-E books to read over the course of these next cold weeks ahead.  Will I get through them all?  Maybe not.  But I am excited about reading them all.  Once I get them, I’ll do a post about them.  But I’m hoping that after reading those books, I will hopefully have a clearer head.  It’s really hard getting things accomplished when you have visions of “post-it-notes” in your head and 3 kids pulling you all different directions! lol!

ANYWAY, not sure where all that came from…oh yeah, balancing…that’s right!  Our youngest daughter turns 3 today and I just cannot believe it.  Really….just can’t believe it.  My current website lauched in August of 2009 and she was only six months old.  I must have been crazy.  My business has grown right along with our little squirt and it’s been a blessing to have her hugs along the way.  Also, today my other daughter needed to bring a treat to her preschool for snack day.  So…last night it was decorating (because we do the streamers, balloons, the whole bit), making a cake (a teddy bear one), and getting snack bags ready.  Oh, but we did manage to squeeze in some laughs last night when my hubby and I watched our newest favorite weekly show “Impractical Jokers.”  If you haven’t seen it, you MUST check it out (every Thursday at 9pm central on the TruTV channel)!  Seriously, bust a gutt, hilarious!

Well, I’ll close with a few images of our little squirt.  She still does that face from time-to-time! lol!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Until next time, Live, Laugh, and Love the one you’re with…your to-do list will always be there tomorrow waiting for you!