Innocence
Curiosity
Exploration
Defining
Adventure
Devotion
Perfection
Commitment
Excitement
Anticipation
Posted on June 22, 2010
Sometimes it takes a few minutes for a child to warm up to someone new. This little guy was not at all interested in having his picture taken when I arrived at his home. Mom and I had put together a plan that he immediately squashed. Within the first few minutes there were a few tears, a little tantrum, and poor mom was convinced that she had wasted my time and that there was no way I was going to get a single good image of her little man.
I didn’t even break a sweat. We talked and walked and I kept my distance for a while. Within the hour, he came to me on his own to give me a hug and kiss. Ahhh. The sign of acceptance. He had let me in. That’s when the magic happened. I’ve been told that patients is a virtue. To me, it’s part of the job.
He was just perfect in those overalls. Seeing that he was in love with tractors, they suited him well.
On location I always look for something unique. This little canoe was hand made by his dad. The perfect little pups were real too. They wanted to be in every image I tried to capture. If only the kids were that easy, right?
Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter! First issue to arrive in your email-box soon. Our handsome little guy above will be showing off some new products offered this summer from Vanessa G. Photography!
Posted on May 23, 2010
Twins are a not something I see everyday, but boy are they fun! These two beautiful sisters had surprisingly different personalities. I’d always secretly wished for a twin sister as a kid. I imagine it would be nice to always have someone with you to share in life’s ups and downs, and to see it from your same perspective.
I love the girlish way they entered the water with caution. The only way I could see to tell them apart was by the initial on their bows.
Kids being themselves, doing childlike things, are moments I love to capture.
Posted on May 10, 2010
Today I feel like revealing a little secret…
Photography used to be on film. (Don’t laugh. This is not the secret!) Back in my college days, I developed my own images in the darkroom. Color film and Black & White film were two different animals and they required different chemicals to expose them. There were certainly tricks involved in the printing process. I would dodge and burn to make sections of the image darker or lighter. It was quite a bit of work to get just ONE great image. My professor used to say…”out of a role of film with 24 exposures, you’ll do good to get 2 to 3 great images.” He was correct. Today, most photographers have joined the digital revolution. So everyone with a Canon Rebel now considers themselves to be a nearly professional photographer. But a digital camera does not a professional make. I assure you that there is still magic involved. Here is your proof.
Why go to a professional instead of making a 20 minute appointment at your local discount superstore? Or worse, pay someone to do a professional job, and get amateur results. I could list about three dozen reasons why not, but I will stick with this really important one. They can’t do the following.
Take this lovely family for example. Mom was perfect in the center image. Dad was at his best in the image on the left and little man was only smiling in the image on the right. As hard as we may try, children do not always do as they’re told. So all the fun and games finally paid off in the form of one little smile, in ONE image. Notice that in the final image in the center the colors are better, their skin is better, the cropping is more visually pleasing, and dare I admit that sometimes a little magic is needed to get that perfect shot. I combined three images to get the perfect final one. Where in the not-so-distant past, I would’ve shot a roll of film and spent a hour or two in the dark room to get a pretty similar image, NOW I shoot lots of images and post process everything using my computer. In the digital age, your editing skills are EQUALLY as important as your photography skills. This is one of the reasons some are “professionals” and others are “amateurs.”
Enough secret spilling for today. Enjoy the rest!
You’d never know he had a terrible boo-boo on his nose. I’ll save that secret for another day.
Posted on May 5, 2010
*SPECIAL: In honor of Mother’s Day (May 9th) and Father’s Day (June 20th), Vanessa G. Photography is offering a FREE Mini Storyboard for every session held between May 1st & June 30th, 2010.* Restrictions apply. See below.
When I became a mother, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I think most mother’s can look back and say the same. For every moment of parenting that is crazy and challenging, there is one that grabs your heart and hugs your senses. Children reshape you completely. They really do change everything, especially your heart. These two little boys play my heart strings regularly. Mostly because they are mine.
Happy Mother’s Day & Happy Father’s Day!
*SPECIAL: In honor of Mother’s Day (May 9th) and Father’s Day (June 20th), Vanessa G. Photography is offering a FREE Mini Storyboard for every session held between May 1st & June 30th, 2010.* Applies to new sessions booked during May & June 2010 who mention this offer during booking. The Mini Storyboard is a limited edition item that will feature two to four of your session images.
Posted on April 4, 2010
This little guy is easy to love. Big blue eyes and a sweet personality. And he was easily entertained. He’s just the kind of baby that makes you want to go adopt a half dozen more of your own.
This was our second session together. Here he is at the perfect age for portraits. At about 9 months old, he could sit up well and independently, but not yet crawl with intense speed. This meant that we weren’t trying to hold him down. He could be himself and we enjoyed dressing him up and being the silly adults.
Like most babies, he was thrilled to be naked. In one slow moving get-a-way attempt, this image emerged. Mom continued to try and get his attention and I stayed ready. It paid off.
He looks like a doll, or a tiny model, I can’t decide. Either way, I loved every minute with him.
Posted on March 24, 2010
After I’ve had the opportunity to photograph the same person several times, they start to become like family. I worry about them when they’re sick and I celebrate when they have a birthday. These two beauties came to the studio a few weeks ago. I’m always surprised by how much they grow between sessions. Where does the time go? Baby sister was celebrating her 1 year milestone. We added a little diva hat for the occasion. Happy Birthday!
Big sister is about 5 years old and full of personality. Capturing a calm expression like this one is rare. Maybe that’s why I love it so. Age 5 is close to the time when kids will loose their first tooth. It’s a great age to capture the end of their ‘little kid’ years. And it’s just before they become all snaggle toothed for the next several years.
Here they are together trying out some new props in the studio for me. I hand made those frilly tutus. These little princesses made it worth it.
Posted on March 21, 2010
This little beauty came to me to model a few cute things from Toddlers & Teens Children’s Wear in Elizabethtown, NC. This first image was the one selected for display in the store. The little details make this dress super cute…the bows on each shoulder and the fancy bottom trim. Too bad I can’t dress my boys up like this. No bows and frilly things in their closets. Boo hoo.
And because she was so expressive, I just have to show you a few close ups. (You can see the clothes when you visit the store 
This was my favorite for sure. As usual it was a happy accident. Something really got her tickled and she put her hands up in excitement. Snap, snap, snap, I went and when the moment had passed, I quickly flipped through the images checking to see if I’d captured that golden moment. I did!
Posted on March 5, 2010
The 3 month age is always challenging. So many physical things are a challenge at this age. When they are chubby and rolly-polly, they are almost edible. I love this cherub-ish physic. This little man was so incredibly sweet.
With his mother wrapped around him, he shares an expressive face. I appreciate expression of all kinds in young children. Smiles are like jewels, but all the others feelings are worthy as well. You’ll find no one more honest than a baby.
Big sister was eager to get the attention, typical of her age. When they want to lay down, I let them. I don’t fight with children. Sometimes the best images emerge when you go with the flow. She laid down and I playfully spread her hair across the canvas below. Somewhere between her silliness and laughing appeared this soft, serious expression. It was my favorite. Traditionally, this would be a very improper pose. Why fight it? She gave me something beautiful! I wasn’t about to scold her and ask her to sit on a stool and hold her hand up to her chin. Lying like this, she was angelic.
I remember a phrase I heard once…”if you listen, people will tell you who they are.” I try to be in the moment when photographing people. They say a lot. Even when there are no words involved.
Posted on February 3, 2010
Adding a studio space to Vanessa G. Photography has created the opportunity for indoor portraiture during these dreary winter months. The theme remains the same: authentic, modern, and beautiful. The space is new, but the signature clean, contemporary look is still the same. To follow are many examples. Mini session dates for the studio will be announced tomorrow.
This handsome little fella was a recent visitor to the new space. He came with quite an interesting story. The christening gown he’s wearing has been worn many times before. It’s made of cotton. Cotton that was grown on the family farm about 140 years ago. A fine, talented woman, his very great-great (maybe greater) grandmother, spun that very cotton into thread and carefully crafted it into this very gown. It has been handled with care for many generations.
When you come to the studio, bring something special with you!
Hats are great on little heads. This one came with him. Like a bonus of cuteness.
A little silliness is always allowed and encouraged.
At 7 months old, babies can, and usually do, play with their own feet. We were waiting for that moment. Often I take the cuteness in whatever form they are willing to give. This little white shirt and curled posture worked for me.
Babies communicate in every way they know how. Making funny faces comes with the catalog of expressive tools. Handsome little stinker.
Posted on January 30, 2010
A family grows a little at a time…
Baby number one was a beautiful little girl. She is so smart! And by that I mean she had just turned four and she could fill in the missing numbers as I counted to 20. That was a little counting game we played as I followed her around the yard. 
Here she looks a *little* older than four. It wasn’t part of my master plan. There she was, in this adorable dress, and all I said was “go ahead, climb up there and get comfortable.” We were at Grandma’s house and she was a little concerned that the old red chair wasn’t picture worthy. I saw in it great potential on that very cold day. It was perfect.
I love watching parents interact with their kids. The games on this day included hide-n-seek, a who-blinks-last game, and this toss-the-kid fun. I’ve only done this a few times and it always amazes me how high they are in the final image! It’s like dad helping his angel fly.
Baby number two arrived a few weeks early. So even at a few weeks old, she was still about the size of a newborn. I love that she stared at me. Maybe it was the big camera that she was trying to figure out.
Capturing the hands and feet and adorable little parts is always part of a baby session for me. I love how moms fingers spread to display her new baby’s little hand. I had never captured a baby’s hand in this way before. It is always rewarding to capture something new.
In honor of the half inch of ice on my patio, here is one last image. I love how sweet they look together. Two sisters who will spend a lifetime together.
