VWC Photography

{ Kayla - Sneak Peak! }

 

{ Clark Family - Sneak Peak! }

{ Raleigh Family - Sneak Peak! }

{ Tristan, Aidan & Keegan - sneak peak! }

 

{ Mya & Liv - sneak peak }

{ Giles Family }

Oh my goodness!  It's been ages since I've been on my blog.  So so so much has gone on in the past 6 months...difficult pregnancy, having my baby boy, hospitalization from complications during my c-section, and then the juggling of a new family of 5...hence, the reasons I have been gone.  But...I'm BACK!  No way would you get rid of me forever :)  A few weeks ago I did a session with one of my favorite families.  Here's some of my favorites from their session.  And, I promise to post some shots of my new little guy.  That's on my to-do list.  Plus...some other new exciting announcements!  Come see me on Facebook to be kept more up-to-date!  xo

 

 

{ Mr. & Mrs. Session }

Holly Smith, fellow photographer in Champaign, contacted me a few months ago about doing a "Mr. and Mrs. Session" for her and her husband.  I was ecstatic because 1) she is a photographer and SHE picked ME to photograph her and 2) as it turned out, I went to grade school with her husband.  What fun!  So after our date kept getting rescheduled because of bad weather, we finally got a good day in May and it was soooo much fun!!  I hope to do more of these sort of sessions.  All the pressure, stress and hecticness is off both the bride and groom, and the photographer.  I absolutely totally recommend doing one of these with me (or whomever, but of course I hope me, hehe!).  Here are some of my personal faves.  :)  Enjoy!

{ 3 sessions - Olivia, the P Family and the M Family }

I was keeping very busy with some of the greatest sessions and then I get hit with partial bed rest because of consistent contractions round-the-clock.  Ugh ugh ugh.  Hoping in the next few weeks the partial bed rest thing will be lifted so I can start back up.  (Don't give up on me!)  In the meantime, here are some shots from those sessions.  I have some of the best (and cutest!) clients ever!

Here's little Olivia, her mommy and grandma:

Here is adorable Gray and his parents:

And...the sweet M family girls, Lauren & Maren, and their parents (my friends!):

Hello, Hello! Yes, I'm still here and going nowhere!

Forgive me for never posting.  You'd think because of that, I haven't been keeping busy, but that's exactly why I haven't been around.  I can't hardly catch my breath. 

(deep breath) 

My personal life has been crazy...being 24 weeks pregnant now with a high-risk pregnancy and weekly trips to Bloomington and Peoria, IL, I am gone quite often, and then it's summer so my kids are active in many things and keeping me on my toes as a mother.  On the business side I started a new project as the photographer for Thrive magazine in Decatur...a new fabulous monthly publication showcasing entertainment, art, thriving businesses, etc. in Decatur.  It's a wonderful little publication and I'm having a wonderful time being a part of it. I hope if you're in the area, you will pick one up.  You won't be disappointed.  And then of course I've been shooting a lot...and it's been fun...great fun!  I so love my job (as both mother and photographer) so very much.  I'm so so blessed.

It's been a few weeks but I still need to feature some photos from a shoot with James who've I've been taking pictures of since he was a baby.  Such a big boy now and still such a cutie.  One of the best parts of having my job is watching the children I shoot grow up.  It's such a great feeling to be a part of their lives in this way documenting their growth over the months and years.  Here's James:

I'm not the one that made him cry.  Promise!

I also got to shoot little 1-year old Chloe, who I shot in her mommy's belly a little over a year ago :)  She looks soooo much like both mommy and daddy.  She is such a sweet little girl who is going to turn into one amazing little spirit with a heart of gold just like her parents.  Thank you, Corie and Keith, for having me do these for you.  xo

{ baby Chloe }

Baby Chloe, just a week old.  Totally precious in every way.  I love love love shooting newborns, and what an honor it was to shoot little miss Chloe.  Thank you, Emily and Robert!  And Happy Birthday to big brother, Evan!! 

And big brother, Evan...I had to snap this one.  He has the prettiest eyes!

{ baby Marin Jane }

Our dear friends, Jason and Johanna, came down for a visit a few weekends ago with their new baby girl, Marin, 2 months old.  It was Easter weekend, so it was hard to find a good time but I am so grateful that we did.  Marin is TO DIE FOR!  And, of course it was so wonderful to see Jas and Jo and spend some time with them and grandma Debbie.  Hope you enjoy these photos of the cutest little 2 month old ever.  Makes me really really excited for our new bundle coming in September.  I can't wait!  Love you guys and thanks so much for coming down and giving us the opportunity to meet Marin and the opportunity to photograph the little sweetest Patterson pea. :)

p.s. I'm so grateful to have been the photographer to capture her sweetness, Jo. Thanks for driving down when you could have had any photographer in Chicago.  Means so much.  xo

We were just playing around with this blanket wrapped around her head, but her expression with it was just too irresistable not to capture, so I did :) .......

My husband with Marin, his 3rd or 4th cousin?  Doesn't he look cute with her, even though she obviously does not feel the same! .....

My daughter getting practice for her baby brother or sister coming in September :)

{ Isaac's 1st birthday! }

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to shoot little Isaac at his 1st birthday party.  Isaac's mommy was a friend of mine in high school, so it was great to be around her and her family again.  Little Isaac is a cutie pie, as you'll see in these pictures.  Thank you, Casey and Jason, for giving me this opportunity!  Best wishes with the next little Scott!! :):)

Website update!

My website got some redecorating done!  Hope you'll come by and check it out.  Click on galleries to see a lot of new client sessions!  (Next redo, this blog!!) Thanks for being a reader, fan, client!  I appreciate YOU! :)

{ Heidi & Jeff }

Whew.  I am finally here to update.  The holiday season has pretty overwhelming and that's an understatement, really.  With doctor's visits, cookie-making, craft-making, tree decorating, present wrapping, party hosting, dinner-making, Christmas card designing, toting to school, print orders, album orders, emails out the wahzoo, some sick days, etc., I'm exhausted!  But, I finally finished most everything and have made time to sit down and update a few.

At the end of November, Heather and I drove up to Chicago for a session downtown with the most charming and sweet couple ever, Heidi and Jeff.  The way it worked out for me to be able to shoot their wedding is a long story, but one with a happy (we hope, hehe, right, Heidi?) and exciting ending :)  Next August is the big day, and I can't wait!  It's couples like them that keep my mind searching for new fresh ideas because they're all for me to try new things.  August is going to be so much fun, and with this ice and snow and frightful weather, I sure wish August was coming up sooner than what it is. 

Merry Christmas to all my clients, friends and family who have been there with me through my business life and my personal life, offering support, encouragement, friendship and love.  I am truly blessed. God Bless you all.

The "bean" wasn't very clean on this day, but it's a fun one to post. 

Stopping to warm up at Starbucks with some coffee. (This one shot  through the window; outside looking in.)

Shot into the sun.  I love into-the-sun pictures. Gives it a sort of warm, vintage feeling...

And some fun ones..., Heather and I before the session started, playing around with our reflections...

And afterwards, ice skaters on the rink in Millennium park.  Shot through the glass walls.

Hope you have some magical moments this season.  And don't forget the real reason for the season and why we even have such a wonderful time of togetherness and joy with those we love most.  Merry Christmas. 

With love ~ Val

{ newborn storyboards }

I so need a new spiffy fun blog.  I'm so bored by this one.  Hopefully when things slow down I can get to doing that.  So many things to do, so little time, all the time. 

So today I've been working on orders galore and wanted to share something fun I put together for a client.  Remember the triplets?  Well, I did 3 storyboards to match their big brother's.  I hope to see these adorable little girls soon.  I can only imagine how much they've grown and have their individual amazing little personalities now showing.  Sigh.. I love babies...

Happy Wednesday!  It's almost the weekend!  Yay!

xo ~ Val