Friday, October 12, 2012

{Maya & Sophie/ Newborn}

I am sure you feel the excitment in the air when I was contacted by Nikkole to do a newborn session with her beautiful twin girls. Yes, twins--my second set this year & both have been newborns!! I have been blessed multiple times...with multiples (2 sets of triplet families & 2 sets of twin families)...so LOVING it!!
 To add to my excitment, the weather that day was going to be gorgeous...and it didn't fail me! So I wanted to try (always with the momma's permission first) an outdoor newborn photo session.
Momma agreed..yay! She arrived with the beautiful bundles of cuteness & grandma to help as well. We set up a beautiful spot right in my yard...spread the quilt out on the grass & began our session.
As I have learned with any session...with multiple children in general, usually you will have one cooperating & the other...well not so much. This is where you learn to "go with the flow"--don't over stress, don't freak out--just relax & enjoy taking as many pictures as possible--patience is your friend & you will be rewarded.
And true to my words--I was rewarded--with a beautiful day, beautiful baby girls, a beautiful session & beautiful pictures!!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

{Wardrobe Wednesday}

Welcome to "Wardrobe Wednesday"
Where you can get some helpful hints & ideas for "What to Wear" at your next photo session.

Fall is in the air & so are Fall Mini Sessions. I am seeing so many studios offering Fall Minis & it seems to be one of the most popular.
I already have bookings for my Fall Mini Sessions, but clients are always asking :"What should we wear?".
So here are some helpful hints/ideas:
 
- Weather: watch the weather, see what the temperature is going to be the day of your session. You don't want to be under-dressed & chilly or over-dressed & too hot.
Layers can help in both situations:
-layering your clothes, gives you not only more options, but also helps you be better prepared for any type of weather.
 
-Comfort: Truely this is the #1 rule I follow by.
Who would really want to sit through a photo session in uncomfortable clothes?
Definitely not me & this also goes for those kiddos, kids tend to be less agreeable & slightly more cranky if they are wearing something that they are not comfortable in.
In turn, this stresses out Mom & Dad---making the whole photo session experience "less then fun".
Think "Casual Cool Comfort"--the 3 C's
Jeans are a great neutral (goes with anything) & the whole family can wear them.
Button up shirts are great for the guys (big or little) & can be paired with a sweater or sweatshirt in cooler weather--or rolled up sleeves with a tee underneath in warmer weather.
Add a tie for the big boys & well you have something even a little more "dressy"--but not over done!
Ladies, how about a cute tank or tee paired with a cardigan or jacket--then add a scarf or long dangling necklace for added "pop"!
Teens, lots of super cute clothes out there for you--we know you have style--so help Mom & Dad out!
Kids/Babies: Pair a cute tee with a little sweater, jacket or button up shirt--then add a cute hair accessory (for the girls) or a little hat (for the lil man).
With small kiddos--always bring at least 1 spare outfit--better to be safe then sorry.

-Colors: Its Fall what more beautiful time of the year.
All the gorgeous jewel tones of color, the perfect backdrop for gorgeous family photos.
I want you to take a moment to refer back to the picture at the top--this is a fabulous example of "matching"--but not being "matchy" (yes, I said "matchy").
Matchy to me is defined: As a family who all wears the exact same style shirt, the same color.
Don't be the "matchy" family--let my examples here help guide you!
 

 
Your Fall Session should be one to remember!
 
For more ideas, check out my :What to Wear Guide on Pinterest!!
 
 



Saturday, August 11, 2012

{Fan Love Giveaway}

{Fan Love Giveaway}


820 Fans!!! I am so overwhelmed with joy & love! The support & caring I recieve from all of you is so wonderful. I look forward each day to your comments & "likes" on my pictures & posts. I truely have the best fans!!
I think back to just a little over a year ago when I had just over 100 fans & I am truely amazed where I am today.
I am thankful for happiness that this brings to my life, but more important thing--the happiness it brings to others!
You are not just my Fans/Clients--
You are my Friends!!
Woo-Hoo!! Now on to the Giveaway!!


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

~{ The Uzarski Family- Brandon, Ella & Addison turn 3yrs}~

May 12, 2012 & what a beautiful day it turned out to be. Our first session attempt a week prior had to be postponed due to rain--so we were so very thankful when this Saturday turned out to be a fabulous one!!
  This is one amazing family here, I can not imagine being parents to triplets--work--go to college--run a marathon (Yes, Mom ran a marathon the morning of the photo shoot & still got all the kiddos to take a nap & got them all beautiful/handsome for their pictures) & be just about the best parents I know.

I was also overjoyed to see Chad, Marie & the kids--this was one of the very first families I had the opportunity to photograph (just starting out)--I feel so blessed to not only be their photographer now--but also to be their friends. Watching the kids grow & become such beautiful people!!
What can I really say, besides what a lucky photographer I am!
If you would like to see more of my work you can find me here on Facebook at Valerie Russell Photography, become a fan & even message me about scheduling a session!!

Monday, July 2, 2012

~{ Celes}~

Ok seriously who can resist big blue eyes & a complete bundle of sweetness...well this photographer sure can't. This is lil Miss Celes & what a cutie she is. She came to the studio talking (or should I say babbling) up a storm. She was giving me huge smiles & lots of cooing..off camera...but as soon as I pulled that camera out...it was all "serious" then.

Both Mom & I tried our best to gain her attention & get those smiles (we used silly noises, clapping, snapping our fingers, shaking car keys)---she just had to do it in her own time. She sure taught us..haha!!

Once she let all that sweetness shine...her session was just about as perfect as she is.
I had a fabulous time with this lil baby girl!


If you'd like to see more of my work visit me at Valerie Russell Photography on Facebook!!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Missing You Now...


Missing You Now...


  So I guess you can say it safe to say that it has been awhile since I have posted on my Blog.
  Yes...I am the great disappearing Valerie...haha. I truely am not trying to be--life has been quite chaotic lately...mostly in good ways (photography sessions, selling our other home, family/friend gatherings & bunches of other things).

  So I wanted to take this moment to let you all know that I have been missing you...I have lots of fabulous sessions I can not wait to share with you.
  I hope you are all enjoying your summer so far. Stop back over & check out my new posts..yes, yes, I will have new ones;)!!


**Picture from VRP {Family Fun Contest} Winners**
***Thank You all again for your support, confidence, patience & love in me. I love you bunches;)!!***

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Family Fun Contest!!! WINNER!!

****~{ Family Fun Contest WINNER}~***


Thank you to all the wonderful families that participated in my contest. You all have touched my heart & I am so thankful for you all & the fabulous fans who continually support me & my photography--I am blessed with the best!!

SO enough with rambling right...haha...and the WINNER is.........
The Kubec Family with 207 votes!!!
                    ***Welcome to the VRP Family***
  This was an extremely close contest--I'm serious, I was on the edge of my seat for the past week!!! Now that we have our winner--I am so very excited to be working with the Kubec Family to create a fantastic Family Session just for them.
  So Kubec's, be anticipating an email from with all the details about your winnings & scheduling your session!!!
We are going to have so much fun & I am so excited to meet your family!!

      **********THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!**********

Monday, April 16, 2012

~{ Miracle Babies & a Miracle Family}~



Brookelyn
Austin
Blake
Everyday, there are thousands of babies who are born way to early or very sick.  Their precious little bodies fighting for their lives. Struggling to breathe, eat & survive. Each of these babies are such a blessing & shouldn't have to fight for their lives---at least not alone.

This past year I was blessed to have met such a family. The Schut family contacted me late last summer about doing a family photo session for them. When I heard they were a family with triplets, I was so excited & quite nervous (3 little ones all around 2yrs old--I wanted to make sure I captured those great shots). Upon arriving at our location (Mom (Lauren) had a chose a field filled with Queen Anne's lace)& I got to meet the trio of cuteness--Brookelyn, Blake & Austin. Such beautiful kiddos & you would have never guessed that just 2yrs earlier, these precious little ones were fighting for their lives.

September 14, 2009--Brookelyn, Blake & Austin were born 11 weeks early. Austin was 3lbs 1oz, Brookelyn was 2lb 15oz & Blake was 2lb 6oz & their parents Eric & Lauren could not be more in love. These little ones still had a battle--but with lots of faith, hope & love they beat the odds & are the most adorable, playful & healthy 2 1/2yrs old you will meet.

I am absolutely honored that I was able to capture such precious memories for this amazing family, meet Austin, Blake & Brookelyn...& make special friends along the way. I am also so excited to share with you a great honor that has been bestowed on Eric & Lauren. This year they have been chosen as the ambassador family for the Grand Rapids MI March for Babies (March of Dimes)!!! They could not have chose a better family!

  Here is a little comment from Lauren
: "Eric and I are honored be the ambassador family for the GR March for Babies this year! On April 28, we will be walking to support the March of Dimes which funds research to help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. Austin, Brookelyn, and Blake were born 11 weeks too early, and have faced many challenges because of being born so early. Our babies have personally experienced the benefits of research that the March of Dimes has funded. We also received wonderful support from the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program while our babies were in the hospital."

"We would love to have you join us at the walk! If you are unable to walk with us, please consider making a secure online donation to this wonderful organization. You can do this by clicking the link below -- it will take you right to our team's page! Thank you so much!"
Here is the link to make a donation:March of Dimes (Three Miracle babies)


Not only meeting new families & making new friends along my journey with photography; but also hearing their special stories, sharing their love & laughter & creating those precious memories, makes everything that much better. It is something I will cherish always.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

~{Rylan & Ava}~

These two cuties recently got to spend time with me this past weekend. Our session was at the farm property I am so graciously allowed to use. With Spring in the air, flowers starting to bloom, and grass turning green...the air was chillier then I had expected (only about 48 degrees) & the when the wind picked up...it made it quite cold. Through the cold temps & even colder wind...these two sweethearts were absolute troopers...modeling their Spring attire (seriously...I am so amazed how well they handled the weather & still remained so happy). I had a wonderful time & look forward to more pictures with them in the future! Thank You Rylan & Ava!!See more of Rylan & Ava's album here.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

~{ Scott & Brittany}~

I have to say...man I am lucky! Look at this fabulous couple I got to do a session with this past week. So sweet & down to earth--they also both grew up & went to school were I did (only way more recently..man do I feel myself getting old...haha!) They both seemed very much at ease at the beautiful farm property I chose for the location. Scott is an "outdoors" guy...hunting, fishing, you know..all that good guy stuff. Brittany is a super sweet girl & loves to sing at her church. Two wonderful people that have that special connection...& I was fortunate enough to be able to capture that connection between them. A wonderful session!! Thank you Scott & Brittany!
See more of {Scott & Brittany's Album} on Facebook

~{Miss Alizae}~

How better to start my Blog offically--then with a sweet, adorable, super lovey (yes I said "lovey"--because really you just want to love this lil girl to pieces!) baby girl. Meet lil Miss Alizae a lil girl filled with a bubbly attitude & just as much cuteness to match. Oh did we have a fun session. I had to laugh a little, as each time I put the camera up to take her picture--she would stop smiling. She would just babble, squeal & laugh--as soon as the camera would go down--she would smile. Her momma, my daughter & myself all tried our best to make funny noises, play "peek-a-boo" & just try and be goofy just so she would smile--we were quite the bunch of characters..haha!
I am so pleased to say that the session still went wonderfully & I got some amazing pictures...so enough said...here are some to enjoy!!
See more of {Miss Alizae's album} on Facebook
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