This next image is one of my new favorites. The contrast really draws me in. Notice the little triangle of light on her right cheek. This is called Rembrandt Lighting. Named for one the greatest painters in history. Rembrandt Hermenszoon van Rijn, a Dutch painter and print maker, literally painted light into his works. Always emotional and profoundly interesting, Rembrandt is one of my favorites.

We captured so many great images, it was hard to narrow them to these few. You can see a few more images of her on the Facebook Fan Page!

There are over a dozen Vanessa G. Photography images on display with a few more to come soon. Visit Baby Swank next time you’re near! And tell them we sent you. And don’t be surprised if you’re planning your next visit before you get back to your car.

Please click on the small music note in the top left hand corner of this blog (just over the logo) to turn off the website music before you click play on Elena’s video.

All 2011 Senior Model Representatives get a FREE copy of their session video.

If you missed the application deadline, send me an email and let me know where you’ll be going to high school this year. There could be a spot just for you!

I was there on the day his parents were married. How flattering it is to have them invite me to share in another one of the most memorable and momentous times in their lives…the birth of their first child. This little guy has no idea how much his parents love him. How they sit and watch him breath. How they enjoy his sleeping smiles and feel stressed when he cries. Being a new parent is stepping into uncharted territory. Scary. Exciting. Overwhelming at times. I remember those days well. The second child (or third or forth) don’t quite awaken you like the first born does. Everything is brand spanking new.

A newborn’s curl comes from how they were positioned in the womb. This lovely trait quickly fades away in the first few weeks of life as limbs straighten and backs stretch out. Newborns are best photographed in the first two weeks of life. I recommend that the session is actually booked for the baby’s due date. I always make room for newborns to arrive two weeks early or even a week late.

You can believe a mother knows her child. She’s sure to have studied him from every angle. She knows every wrinkle, every wave of hair, and every itty bitty thing that makes her baby unique. I try my best to capture all of that for new parents. It only takes a few weeks for them to grow and then they will hardly remember holding such a tiny baby.

This little guy had eyelashes so blonde that you could only see them at just the right angle.

Surprisingly, he was very interested in the studio. He looks as though he’s about to make a suggestion.

We’re looking for a slew of 2011 Seniors who meet these qualifications: You must be outgoing and enjoy being photographed. Extra-curricular activities listed on your application are a plus. You must have a Facebook profile because that’s where we’ll be posting your FREE video slide-show of your session images. And of coarse, you’ll be graduating in 2011 from a public or private high school in Bladen or any of it’s neighboring counties.

VGP Senior Model Representatives get: $100 print credit, Video slide-show to share online, 60 Model Rep cards. You can also earn an awesome Display Book for free by referring several friends. Also, you could become a local celebrity

We are accepting applications until July 17th. Don’t forget to take your boring Senior drap/tux picture with the school so you will appear in the yearbook. (Their silly policy, not ours.) Come do all the fun stuff with Vanessa G. Photography! (Application can be found by clicking on the LINK button on the menu bar. Just email with a snapshot.) Models chosen based on personality and their desire to help promote Vanessa G. Photography. Not based on looks. If you’re under 18, you do need parent permission, so get to it! Only ONE model per school this year, and several have been selected already.

Here’s a recent 2010 Senior for you to enjoy…

What a smile! We need some 2011 smiles like this!

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!

Mom and I sang and acted all kinds of silly to get those giggles out of him. It was so worth it. I love that he grabbed his feet!

Father’s Day is right around the corner. Does ‘daddy’ have a great image of his ‘mini-me’? If not, then you might want to give him that something special for this year. It’s true, that men are a little reluctant to schedule photography sessions on their own desires, but they sure do love to show off their little pride and joy’s once they have the great images in hand. I have had one little exception recently….a DAD who scheduled a secret session with me for his kids, just to surprise his loving wife. Awwwww. If only all men were so thoughtful, right?

(Moms, now would be a good time to click on that “send this post to a friend” or Facebook button at the bottom of this post and send it to your wonderful husband who needs some ideas for how to make you super happy.

Introducing the newsletter for me today is this recent newborn little man. He was a true challenge. I think it’s important to recognize that some baby’s arrive with “tummy issues.” As much as we’d like to think that all babies are peaceful and quite and at ease, they sometimes are not. But we love them just the same. And they are just as precious and beautiful. I am fully prepared to work with any baby, any size, any temperament, and any ‘issues.’ My job is to take into my hands this new perfect little being and capture all that wonderful perfection. I take this very seriously. I know that what I’m doing will last forever for that family. True history in the making!

Lucky shots are those that happen spontaneously. Newborn smiles, frowns, or in this case, yawns. They make us laugh and remind us that even though they are tiny and new, they are very much like us.

On rare occasion, a new baby will stare out into the room trying to figure out exactly what is going on. At this age, he can not see clearly beyond about 12 inches from his face. Ironically, about the same distance between him and his mother’s smile while feeding. When you think of it like that, a mother is the first face a baby really sees. A face he loves from his very first day on earth.

Or can you imagine something a little more unique? …A portrait session that incorporates something that represents you. Time and attention from one professional photographer that makes you the main attraction for more than about 30 seconds. The ability to choose your own location. Not feeling rushed or nervous. So many images to choose from that you almost can’t decide, and when you can’t, we can use them to put together a display book that will put those leather folders full of 4×5′s to shame. And best of all, working with a professional who knows how to post process your images and take them from  good to wow. (read…that big zit will be our little secret, wink)

Here’s a senior who did it his own way…

(When you’re through gazing into those eyes…can I just point out that I’ve never seen a school portrait where I could see this kind of detail in the eyes!)

A little fun in the lake…

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.