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!

Hot August Nights Special from Natural Approach!

Tara & Edward

I do so love a happily ever after! 

And you know I love photographing people in love and the only thing that can top that... is two people crazy in love who wanted to add some funky, old vintage looking, Bonnie & Clyde era photos to their engagement session!

Tara & Edward were magically brought together by a crazy twist of fate and they are silly, unconventional fun in a jar!  When fate hands you magic- you don't question it... you grab on with both hands and hold on tight!

I've known Tara most of my life growing up in small town USA {aka Central Idaho} in fact her mother was my social studies teacher!  And I was totally flattered when she asked me to come to California to photograph their big day!

This is a little sneak peek from Laguna Beach on our way to the wedding venue and  into the three days of non stop wedding action. 

Marching to the Beat of a Different drummer....

That phrase sums up my youngest pretty well.  Gabs stopped letting me dress her when she was about 2 . 

{ And yes- I realize that I was the parent and I was the one in charge... however with two toddlers there were just some battles I was willing to call a "draw" on,  in order to win the war on getting ANYWHERE remotely close to "on time"..... }

She has ALWAYS had a need for huge color and bold print and the more- the better. 

"The girl with the most accessories wins"

 Would be the 2nd best phrase to describe her now... which is ironic since we used to call her Houdini for  her ability to escape clothing, diapers, socks, shoes and hair pretties... oh- and cribs and car seats....

Nowadays,  she lives in sports practice gear- so it was hilarious fun to let her dress as bling as she wanna be the other day.  We capitalized on a little slice of Heavenly golden hour sun and I got to spend some alone time with my baby- who is definitely not a baby anymore.

So proud and so blessed in this life to be given my amazing daughters and a relationship that lets me combine my love and appreciation of them with my love for photos.

Kiss your kids and go &  take some pix!

Vintage Vogue

Elegance.... just never seems to go out of style....

Just a teeny-tiny sliver of the huge fun I had w/ Ms. Kat a couple of weeks ago.   Ms. Kat was the auction for the cure winner of the basket that the uber-talented L. Sam Samano and I put together.

And one of my favorite pin-up babes Fifi was along for the ride as my assistant/prop-Goddess...

Add glorious weather + several bottles of wine + a whole lot of bawdy laughter = we made magic!

Love you girls- you fill my cup with love and laughter!

xoxo Didi V.

Big Girl Birthday Party

What is a Princess to do when she turns 1?  Why have a party that's "Pretty in Pink" of course!

Jordyn's uber-creative mommy Nichole pulled out all the stops for this little one's party! 

It was gorgeous- and it was PINK!!!!  I loved it with a capital L!!!

Thanks for letting me share your perfect day little one!

xoxo Didi V.

I do- we did- re-do......

I love it when I get to feel totally rebellious.... I get to go against the grain.... break my regimented calendar schedules and pick up and be spontaneous and go shoot pix just because I've got a wild hair and the sun or moon is just right, or I found the perfect patch of grass or daisies and when the light hits it a certain way- it reads like magic.....

I love even more- when I get to pull others into my craziness......

Enter Brian and Gina..... who's wedding I shot in May and it rained sideways and upside down on us on their big day....{again.... total rock stars these two}.

To whom I texted and said-

"hey... the weather is glorious today... wanna go play in your wedding clothes with me????"

And so on an hour's notice they met me at my place and I pulled my girlfriend Kristen {who is one of my absolute favorite assistants}  into my web as well... and the four of us were off to play in alley ways and random patches of daisies in the middle of the freeway..

 {don't ask...... I'm stunned we didn't get arrested either!!!}

Who knew you could change in & out of a wedding dress that fast in pubic..... 

You guys rock- and I loves you long time!!!

xoxo Didi V.