The Sweet Life...

Like fine wine.... some things really do get sweeter with time.

Meet Tommy & Ilene... they are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary!

*****

I love that they called on me to help capture the essence of who they are- both as individuals and as a couple.  It's no small accomplishment to make it 20 years together- especially when you still like each other's company- and make the other laugh out loud.

  To find solace and comfort in the other's touch is a blessed thing and to know that 20 years later- you made the right decision.

Here's to 100 more years guys!

xoxo Didi V.

back2skool

Ahhh... fall.... crisp air, turning leaves... the chaos of back to school shopping.... admit it- you know you secretly love back to school time.... everyone has to clean out their closets before you stock them back up.... your kids have to get their act together, get a haircut, find their alarm clocks and get back to a routine.... {sweet-sweet routine}

The only bummer is the generic school photos-  hence why my friends Brooks & Samaya are bucking the trend.  We went and played somewhere fun, modeled some of their new duds and got some super fun pix along the way!

Don't be afraid to break tradition- Let's go play, make some memories and get REAL photos of your kids!

xoxo Didi V.

Sweet Nothings....

A sneak peek for a recent boudior session....  Ms. M..... smokin' hot!!!!

{Remember ladies.... Xmas is just around the corner &

hubby would absolutely love photos of you in stockings....in his stocking}

It's a twin thing....

What a fun way to spend an early foggy morning in the Puget Sound...

Hanging out at the beach with a set of my favorite twins!

Gavin & Sophie are SOOOOO BIIIGGG now!  Blows my mind at how they interact now- it's been a year since I've seen them and they are completely different people now... Sophie has gone from being super shy and clingy to open, sassy-cute  and gregarious.  The girl who hid her face was saying "look at me!"  The girl who didn't want to touch the grass... was running barefoot on the sand picking up slimy seaweed and chasing her brother around with it!

Gavin the G-man is definitely more serious now- and independent- the quiet explorer.

It's almost as though the have swapped roles for a bit.  I had a fabulous time guys!  Always a treat to play with you!

xoox Didi V.

hmmmm....

........and this is what happens when the photographer sets her camera down to bang out a head of hair during a wedding.....  things start to get a little kooky......

Hailey's fam

And as promised... here's a sneak-peek at the rest of Hailey's family!!!

It's also my girl Amy Janelle's family... the crazy talented pianist/composer  from the Album Shining True.

{yes that raven haired beauty who is the music on my website!!!}

We got together at the Evergreen Arboretum for some quick snaps of family because everyone is grown up and going their own way... so it was time to bookmark their lives.

So glad you chose me guys- it was great to meet all of you!

xoox Didi V.

Hailey

Meet Hailey.

I love Her. 

I mean it- I'm in love.... this little girl was any photographer's dream subject!

That hair- those eyes- that skin.... positively dreamy! 

{And she liked having her photo taken- which I can tell you lately- is a very rare and good thing!}

Hailey is part of a larger family group that I'll share next- and no offense to the rest of that beautiful family...

but I could have played with little Miss- all day!

So stay tuned for more cuteness coming your way soon!

Jordan

This was my second time photographing a senior for this sweet family-

{I shot big brother Brandon two years ago}

and can't believe how fast the time has gone!!!

I was most impressed with Stanwood HS senior Jordan's excitement and commitment to his firehouse.  Most 17 year old guys are not as focused on their future careers....  Jordan has been involved with the Explorer's program for the last couple of years and he's a man with a plan for sure!

He's a quiet rock star.... humble and not a man of many words- but you can tell will get exactly what he sets his mind to.

Best of luck Jordan!

Farm & Fam

Meet more hard working Idaho folks....  Renee & Delvin.  Friends of mine for- uhm... yeah- forever. 

{And parents to pretty girl  Readaun}

I was tickled that Renee asked me to do some family photos for them while I was home- It had been FAR too long since they'd had any...

{life is short- leave your family a photographic bookmark of your life ~ they'll be so glad you did!}

Thanks for choosing me guys!  Mwah! xoox Didi V.

*the pitch fork photo makes me giddy happy BTW*

Country girls....

Country girls.....

A mix of pretty & sweet~ tough as nails~hard working~and do it just like the boys....

I love going home...... back to Grangeville where I was born and raised.  It was- and still is a great place to raise a family.  My trips home now are to visit with my dear ones and to show my own daughters the joys of growing up in the country....And to now photograph the daughters of my childhood friends...... 

*the girls who remind me so much of who I used to be*

 

Meet Raedaun.  Country girl.  Beautiful. {check out those peepers- WOW!} 

Cousin and neighbor to the beautiful Brooke below.  I love that her choices of location were deeply sentimental to who she is.

Thanks for choosing me! xoxo Didi v.

Beautiful Brooke

Just a quick teaser for the beautiful Brooke from Grangeville High School..... gorgeous girl- I had so much fun ripping around the Camas Prairie and down to Skookumchuck with you!!!

Thanks for choosing me! xoox Didi V.

Fitz-Fam

I was so happy that the Fitz Family called me up to see if I could come and hang out and play at the beach and watch the sun go down with them.... they are so easy going and beautiful....  

It was great to see them again!  And that sweet, soft pastel hue of  twilight was magical....

*I laughed when Teresa commented that they didn't match- but they matched the sunset- and that was far better I thought*

Tara & Edward II

Whoooohooooo!

I am beginning to think I may have conquered the digital mountain of photos aka Mt. Hauntz-Lapid!!!!  It was 3 days of non-stop-rockstar assembly, design prep in Orange County!

I was asked last year by one of my hometown Grangeville girls to come to LA to capture her wedding weekend.  How could I refuse????

Gorgeous weather and deeply sentimental & colorful touches held poolside at a dear friend's home yielded the perfect place to combine her Bavarian and his tropical Filipino families and traditions.

It was so fun to see so many faces of friends that I haven't seen in 20+  years.... all in one place and to make oodles of new ones!

We started in Irvine, headed out to Laguna Beach for some engagement shots, and ended up in West Lake Village for the prep & event.... {between two hotels and the home where the wedding took place.... we were hoppin!}

Best of luck to the happy couple ~ Enjoy your happily ever after! 

Thanks f or having me guys!

xoxo Didi V.



Generations of Ya-Ya

Years ago when the book and movie featuring the Ya-Ya Sisterhood came out, my friend Allison starting re-naming all of us and putting together functions with all of her favorite Ya-Yas... {who all  later had Ya-Hoos.... so our times together are not as frequent as they should be....} It's always so fun to get that many gal pals together in one place! 

This particular gathering  is an a very "Allison" style party- A harvest theme~fondue~ya-ya~Bridal shower for her God Daughter Danielle with every detail in place and a whole gaggle of great ladies who ranged in age from their 20's- to their.... "seasoned" 70's.

There were only two rules for the event- everyone had to wear a fabulous hat and you had to drink your beverage of choice in a pretty glass.... of course the giggles and bawdy laughter were free flowing on this gorgeous summer night!

What a  bunch of beautiful and a truly fun evening!  Thanks for having me ladies!