Easter Sunday

I was trying to catch some snaps of the girls before we left and they were cutting up, blowing bubbles and throwing the football WHILE I was trying to shoot....annoying but very funny all at the  same time

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Easter Sunday was flat and grey outside- but we certainly managed to have fun!  The Easter Bunny was very creative and generous to our girls and they had a ball hunting for treats and treasures.  We had to scurry around and get dressed and ready to roll and we met up with Ron's side of the family for brunch in Kirkland.

Later in the day we had our friends the Mc Neeleys join us for supper, egg dying and some hoops games.  It was good day for sure! Gabbi and Steve are the jesters- always wrestling or messing with each other.  Trey and Oni are the quiet cerebral ones- reading or playing board games.  We grown ups- cooked, chatted and watched hoops.  We feel very blessed that we were all brought together- the families fit so well.

 *I Counted our blessings- as they are many*

Chix Pix

 You know- it all sounded good in theory....

One dozen little fuzzy yellow chicks. Check.
Giant plastic Easter Eggs. Check.
Easter Baskets. Check.
One dozen small children (and oodles of excited parents) booked to have photos taken. Check.

Permission to invade the yard of a neighbor, who has the perfect "little old lady"  house with soft dappled sunlight through enormous old growth trees, on the unmanicured lawn that is largely comprised of moss- and it was perfect for my giant Easter eggs, baskets and bunny ears.... and lots and lots of children..... Check.

But as I rose early on that completely dreary Sunday morning... it was pouring sideways rain, sleet, hail and snow greeted me when I opened the front door.  I was praying to all spirits who would listen to bring me sunshine- or at the very least- make it stop precipitating!  But the weather continued to get worse as the minutes ticked by and I took the weatherman's name in vein a number of times while contemplating whether or not it would make me a terrible person if I took up drinking at 8 AM.  I was relatively confident that I may have a heart attack- I was positively nauseous.

I began taking inventory of what I did have... (I had left two of my old studio lights burning over night to keep the garage warm for the fragile little chicks and consequently killed both bulbs....) I knew I couldn't shoot indoors in the garage studios with only one soft box and that many moving subjects. (lesson learned... ALWAYS  have a back-up on hand....) 

Gabbi and I began to brainstorm (she is the best little assistant some days!).  We realized that our front porch- was pretty good sized and with the overhang- well shielded from the rain.  Our house is boring old plain white with white trim... which acted like a natural light deflector and bounced around what light we did have.... so she and began running around gather props, light poles, clamps and back drops and set up a studio set on the front porch.  It was definitely more commercial than I tend to work, but it would have to do!

Thank goodness that my friends and new clients had faith in my craziness- because we got some cute stuff- and as the morning moved along- the sun came out and we had a glorious afternoon.

And I absolutely could not have pulled this event off without my two built in assistantants- Oni & Gabbi you were rock stars!  And a huge thank you to LSHS Senior and fellow photo-geek, Kaitie Jacobs.  It was certainly not glamorous work- but it was essential to making it all happen.

And so- with out further chicken scratch {pardon the pun}... enjoy the cuteness that is kids and baby chicks!   Happy Spring! xoox Didi V.

Steve G's senior session

I know that I have said this before- but some people just blossom in front of the camera- they grow up before my eyes... we start shooting and they are still kids.... and we finish and I get home and start editing and realize that it happened again! I have photos of gorgeous adults.....

Stephen is one of those cases... he's a super nice, great looking teen, who's a senior here at LSHS.  We had fun running all over downtown Everett, looking for inspiration in color, light and texture.  He and his family have become extended family by luck and I'm sure glad!  Stephen G.... you broke out some seriously handsome on me.... Congrats- we're very proud of you!  Thanks for hanging out with me in the sunshine to play! xoxo Didi V.

Crazy * Silly * Fun

There are some families for which mere words simply cannot describe how very funny they are- and this family is one of those families.  I absolutely love Beth, Denny and their gorgeous kids.  Denny's pretty sister Leanne was along on this trip also- and like I said- my sides hurt from laughing.... A rare combo to be this beautiful and this funny!

Thanks for asking me to come and play with you guys!!! xoxo Didi V.

P-Fam Fun!

I had the pleasure of meeting up with the P-Fam recently at the Seattle Arboretum, on the fringes of the UW campus and Lake Washington.  What a gorgeous park!  And what an awesome family ~ so relaxed and fun...and effortlessly gorgeous.... I can't wait to play with them again soon! 



Blossom time

Holy Springtime Batman!!! 

This girl has been crazy busy this month- I can't believe that May is just around the corner....  Big Bertha (my pet name for my camera) and I have been putting on some serious miles traveling to new places, meeting some really cool people and visiting with old friends...  and I love every second of it!

I am ridiculously tardy in posting from this shoot... but better late than never, right??????????

Miss O is getting SO big girl- can't believe how much she has changed since October!  I met with her and her super cool parents at the

UW Quad in the middle of the awesomeness of all the cherry trees in bloom- it's a  glorious sight for sure!

 Unfortunately for us- there was about 500 other photographers all doing the same thing on that cold grey morning... so we were playing dodge the tri-pod....  (you find the perfect spot but have to wait for someone else to vacate while staying out of someone else's shot  and Miss O is very busy- she had much ground to explore here....) but we still had some great laughs and some sweet shots.

Our kids are only this little for such a short time- capture it now because you'll blink and they'll be grow-ups before you know it!  xoxo Didi V.

The Sun and the Moon...

When I was a little girl (and for always I guess) ...She used to sing that I was her sunshine.... and it donned on me today- she was my moon.  The moon is what helps to keeps us balanced on this planet- the push and pull of the ocean tides, weather and gravity, etc. 

She was my gravity... she kept me centered in the face of life's biggest storms. She was my safe harbor, my protector,  and she taught me everything I needed to know about life and how to be a good person.  She made me work hard, sing loud and laugh even louder.

Today my beautiful momma would have been 58.  Happy birthday mom... I love and miss you so much....  Thanks for being my moon. xoxo Doo-Anne

*I'm so glad that she let me catch a few shots of her- it was rare.  I ran across these the other day and it made me smile to see her smiling back at me.  Please don't put off having photos taken of yourself- you never know how much of a gift you are leaving behind!*

Move over Martha...

That's right- I said it.... Move over Martha. 

Ok- I'm not really that crafty anymore- altho- I did turn out some pretty darned cute hair pretties for some darling girls for portrait sessions this spring, and I cooked up a storm this weekend...and not just my easy go to basics... I actually- wait for it...... used a recipe this weekend!  I know,... I know- my family was stunned... and rewarded... the braised beef short ribs in a garlic-red wine-balsamic reduction over heavily garlic-buttered smashed potatoes was dare I say- criminal... it was ridiculously good.

Tonight I turned out stuffed pork chops and pan fried zucchini w/ buttered bread crumbs, sprinkled w/ parm s&p, and a dollop of ranch sour cream dip... comfort food to the inth degree on this cold cruddy wet day.

I spent some needed down-time resting and relaxing with my family this weekend- we were sad that Oni's basketball tourney was canceled for her age bracket but happy to have some rest.  We've snuggled, laughed, watched movies, hung out with friends and took a deep breath.. and it was a very good thing.*wink*

And this photo montage- really is my house- inside and out- if you've missed it somewhere in all of my ramblings... I L.O.V.E to decorate for the holidays.....ALL of them actually....  My friend Alicia laughed at me yesterday on a quick visit and told me that she no longer needs to buy a calendar- she just needs to drive past my house to tell what month it is... (I think this is a good thing...)

Anyhoo........I hope you take a big breath and hang out with your family- really listen to your kids and kiss your spouses this week. Keep checking back- I promise to be bringing you all sorts of new photos to oogle and hopefully write something that will make you smile.  Till next time Cio! xoox Didi V.

Michael & Brayden

Happy Spring everyone!!!!  I know- it's been a whole month since I've checked in- and I have had so much to blog about and do- and not enough time to do it in!  So I am playing catch-up- and rather backwards I might add......  so stay tuned- spring is booked extremely full- so lots of photos will be coming your way soon!

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I had a change in my schedule this weekend (no basketball tournament after all) so I had some time open up to grab some shots of a couple of my favorite boys....and even tho the weather wasn't the greatest...  we still had a ball!  I showed Michael some cool parts of town and he showed me some mad skills on his long board. 

Baby brother Brayden was chillin' (aka napping) through his big brother's exhibition- but he woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed for a few shots with one of his favorite people. 

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Spring is filling up fast so call and catch your spot for Spring and Summer sessions...  The baby chix session next weekend is FULL, and I will be putting on a few more themed sessions for the little ones as the summer progresses.... garden fairies and teddy bear tea party will be amongst them as well as a trip to the Jetty again (back by very popular demand!!!).