We've MOVED!

Hello dear blog readers! I am so excited to tell you that we've moved to a NEW blog location. So please come visit us at:

www.vandjphotography.com/blog

And make sure to bookmark the new site! See you on the other side :)

Much Love,
V&J

Product Feature - The Elite Album ~ Bay Area Photography

***JUST 2 DAYS LEFT to enter the "Flaunt Your Rock" contest! Email me at veronica@vandjphotography.com to enter!***

Oh man you guys...I'm SO excited to share this product feature with you! I've been thinking of offering this album for quite some time and have finally gotten around to designing and ordering a Studio sample. Let me tell you...it's GORGEOUS! A 10x10 Leather-bound album. Super thick pages (black or white). Each side is custom designed....which means you let me know what you prefer and I design to your preference! There are SO many cover options! For the studio sample I ordered "Brandywine". The leather is SO soft and gorgeous.....Yay! I'm so excited :)

Anyway, enough with the chit chat...let's get to the photos

Since this is a Studio Sample, you'll see a random collection of past clients here....

The binding is fabulous..the pages lay flat

Beeeeauutttiiffuul!

Note to past clients: If we've had a session together before, and you are interested in getting an album designed....contact me and I'd be happy to do it for ya!

Pricing: As you know, we are working on the launch of our super fabulous new website and will be changing up the pricing a bit. So this is where you'll see this album!

Stay Dry Friends (it's pouring cats and dogs over here!)

~V

And ~ It's March! ~ Bay Area Photography

OK guys...only 5 days left in the Contest!!! I can't believe it's March...seriously! The month FLEW by! So, if you're thinking about entering....stop thinking and DO IT! :)

To enter, email me at veronica@vandjphotography.com

There is some fun stuff on deck on the 'client' side....and I hope you aren't getting tired of 'Isaac' shots, but here are a few shots from today. A trip to our favorite city, a train show for Isaac and a coffee stop at the best coffee place in the world!

A snippet of the day

Love all the window displays on Fillmore...texture, color...yay!

Beautiful window, empty store :( (Though J and I were really happy to see so many new stores on the street...does this mean the Economy is looking up?)

Happy Sunday!

~V

This Morning ~ Bay Area Photography

*** To ENTER the "Flaunt Your Rock" contest, click HERE***

Hi Internet! So you've all noticed the metamorphosis that our little blog is going through, right? Well, there are still A LOT of changes up ahead, but hang in there with us, will ya! I'm having a lot of fun changing things up.....

As for today's post....we wanted to give you a little taste of how we spent our morning. (Is it a bad or good sign if my kid now says things like "Mommy, take a picture of me on the bike..." and "Mommy, take a picture of the chalk by the tire of your car"....I say GOOD!)

Flaunt Your Rock ~ Bay Area Photographer

LOVE is in the air! Did you recently get engaged and are beaming with pride over the shiny rock on your finger? Want to flaunt it some more? In honor of all the love going around V&J Photography is holding a contest for you engaged love birds to show off your new bling!

What do you get for flaunting that shiny new rock? The winner will receive a full engagement session and a $100 print credit. PLUS the winners of each local Flaunt Your Rock contest will be placed in a national contest to win a grand prize worth $450+. The grand prize includes custom invites from Paper & Ink Studio, a wedding cake topper from Custom Cake Toppers, a custom clutch from Clutch That and a wedding accessory from Little White Chapel Accessories!

The Details:

• Submit 1 photograph of your ring & 1 photograph of yourselves (please do not submit images taken by another professional photographer).

• Encourage all of your friends and family to vote for you. The ring with the most votes wins!

• Engaged couples only.

All submissions must be received by midnight March 5th, 2010.

Entries will be judged by a panel of photographers who will narrow down the selection to 3 rings. The finalists will be posted on the V&J blog and the winner will be chosen via a public voting poll. Voting will occur between March 7-March 13, 2010. There are specific rules around voting that will be clarified during the voting round of the contest. Winners will be announced on March 15th, 2010. Winning session must take place between March 22-May 1st. Winners must sign a release to allow V&J Photography to display images on blog, website, Facebook Business Page and any other print or web materials as deemed appropriate.

Don't live in the Bay Area? Have friends across the country? Check out these photographers who have Flaunt Your Rock contests running in other cities!

UNITED STATES

Boston, Massachusetts: Helen Makadia Photography

Denver, Colorado: Keri Doolittle Photography

Columbia, Missouri: Ashley Turner Photography

Seattle, Washington: Susan Berman of Whimsical Photo Design

Philadelphia and Main Line, Pennsylvania: April Ziegler Photography

Grand Rapids, Michigan: K. Holly Photography

Spokane, Washington: Cameron Glass Photography

Phoenix, Arizona: Jeanette LeBlanc Photography

Ft. Smith, Arkansas: Beaty Photography

San Jose, California: V&J Photography

Tampa/St. Petersburg: Stephanie A. Smith Photography

CANADA

Edmonton/Vancouver Canada: Jen Williams Photographer

Fort McMurray/Northern Alberta: Leslie Brown Photography

Powell River BC/Vancouver Island: Jennifer Kennedy

Central Interior, BC: Andrea Blair

Langley, BC: Cathy Empey

The Fine Print:

This is our contest, we make the rules. We have researched many different ways of voting and there are pros and cons and hanging chads in just about every method out there. This is how we have decided to run our contest. if it's not a fit for you, we respectfully accept your decision to decline participation. We also know there are ways to work around the system, so we will actively monitor IP addresses and research anything that appears to be fishy. We reserve the right to disqualify any entry that appears to be suspicious.

All participants must agree to sign a model release allowing images to be displayed on the V&J blog. Winning participants must sign a release allowing images taken by V&J Photography to be displayed on web site, blog, Facebook and print advertising sources. Participants must also agree to standard Terms & Conditions of V&J Photography.

Regular session terms and conditions apply.

We require a consent that you are entering this contest voluntarily and that V&J Photography is not promising any winnings or other compensation for participation.

Whew! Now that all of that is over, contact me at Veronica@vandjphotography.com to ENTER!!!

Photography??? ~ Bay Area Photographer

Well hello Internet :) Today I want to talk a little bit about how in the world an accountant/auditor came to be a photographer...I suppose this topic is geared a little towards my fellow photographers or those interested in this medium...which I guess all of you are..otherwise you wouldn't be reading a photography blog, right! :)

I often think back to what it was that really got me interested in Photography. Those of you that know me...know that this was not the direction I was heading. UCLA...Accounting....Economics...does not a photographer make! And although I always had the creative side of my brain working...I really have Justin to thank for pushing me forward and encouraging a talent that he believed in.

But thinking back in time...Photography was always a part of our lives. You see...it all started with this:

My Dad's Zenit...made in Russia, built like a Tank...all manual, over 30 years old and still in mint condition. I remember dad developing film in his makeshift darkroom (a bathroom)..I remember the prints drying...we still have albums and albums of black and white prints. Can't tell you how many times I've looked through them...and now Isaac is too.

So, here's a toast to Zenit, to my Dad and to my Husband...and to all the folks who tell stories with their lens!

~V

Moments - Palo Alto Family Photographer

I've been feeling this a lot lately....that our little ones are changing and growing so much and so quickly...that these moments where they think we are the greatest thing are limited to a few short years....that I wish I could bottle up the emotion and daily hilarious interactions...so I could remember them forever.

I think about that with Isaac and I was thinking the exact same thing with this beautiful family I had the pleasure of photographing the other day. You see, J and A and C are a beautiful little unit of 3. But in just a few months C will welcome a baby brother. And what J&A wanted were photos of the three of them....as they are NOW! Big changes are up ahead...but these photos will forever be a memory of what it was like when it was just the three.

A&J...enjoy your sneak peek! You were fabulous...and FUN :)

So here we go, let's start with the traditional side of things! (but don't let this fool you....they were all about laughing and having fun and playing...not posing!)

What a handsome little guy he is....19 months old and ALL boy...sports, balls, etc

They love to Laugh! (i love love love this photo....to me it captures the way they are together)

They love to Play!

And they love each other!

And of course I can't end this post without a few portraits of beautiful A..with her perfect belly :)

~V

Cupcakes and Balloons - Palo Alto Children's Photographer

Those of you here in Northern California know we've been hit with some CARRAZY weather....well, crazy for this neck of the woods at least. I know i know..it's not Minnesota or Russia, it's not snow or blizzards or anything..but still...Rain, rain and more rain...is No FUN! Especially when you have a photo shoot that's supposed to take place outside in Sunny California weather!

So, you better believe I was jumping up for joy when I woke up Saturday morning to beautiful Sunny weather after weeks or rain! That meant we didn't have to cancel the photo shoot for the day...and good thing too!

Meet Ms. L...she just turned One, has gorgeous brown eyes and beautiful curls. She's a serious little pumpkin who loves to snuggle with mom and dad (seriously..it's the cutest thing!) Such a lovely girl...walking since about 11 months, so she's an old pro at the walking thing...but even still...didn't run from me! YAY!

A&J...here is your peek! Thanks you for a fun morning :) Can't wait to show you the rest of the gallery!!!!

Her eyes are SO expressive...

One of my FAVs from the session...looks very vintage...perfect for that outfit she's got on :)

Love the morning light here...

Can't believe how tiny she looks with those balloons

Mom and Dad wanted L to be the star of the show, which she was of course...but can't have a session without a few shots of the whole unit, right?

And last...A was totally prepared...she even brought a cupcake with a "1" candle...which L grabbed onto with all her might and refused to let go :)

~V

The Big Cheesy Smile - Bay Area Childrens Photographer

Hey There! Like the title of this post? Not my idea.....so here is the scoop!

I opened my email the other day and was super excited to see an email from the Digital Photography Review informing me that a photo I submitted came in at #2 in the "Smile.....and I mean Big Cheesy Smile" contest! You know that saying...."when you're smiling...the whole world smiles with you"...SO true!

So, if you'd like to smile...go to THIS link and check out the beautiful work of a bunch of fabulous photographers :)

And here was my entry....if you're not smiling....well....not possible!

~V

Mud, Heels and Parking Lots - Bay Area Headshots Photographer

...So I seriously can't believe the sun is finally shining again. It's been a miserable few weeks around here...for many reasons. :( But it feels good to be back here...writing, editing, working...

I have a fun session to share with you all! When L contacted me a few months back about having headshots taken of her daughter as they embark on the search for an agent, I was interested...something different from my usual children/family fare. But when I met L and the fabulous I to discuss what it is they were looking for, I knew right away we'd have a great time!!! Not only is I beautiful, but super talented as well! And at 13 yrs old (JUST barely)...she is so mature, calm and easy going...made my job a breeze!

L&I, thank you for a lovely Thursday afternoon! Jen and I had a fantastic time...and I, you were amazing!

So here we go...just a few that jumped out at me as I transferred the photos...

I loved this shot as soon as I took it...

Gorgeous! This is our Downtown Parking Lot location...a perfect Urban spot

Love the blue against the brick

On our way to downtown we saw this field...and called L to turn around and come back! haha...the ground was muddy and wet, but she didn't complain once! I know I would have if someone told me to stomp through a field in a pair of stilettos :)

I's acting coach requested a 'bad-a**' shot... :) Because I is kind of 'bad-a**'...so M, this is for you

Beautiful Smile

Meet Jack!

~V

Wordless Wednesday - Bay Area Photographer

~V

Product Feature: Custom CD Case - Bay Area Photographer

Hey All! SO excited to share this product with you!!!! For our Digital Packages and above, I have started offering these beautiful, personalized CD cases! A metallic photographic print is wrapped around the hardboard and is finished with a matte laminate! It also includes a magnetic closure...so the case will stay closed!

Really...I love these babies...when Justin saw a sample he said 'Man, that's awesome'....that's high praise coming from J :) So trust me, you'll love it too!!!

~V

Isaac Chronicles Continued - Bay Area Photographer

While eating his apple sauce this morning, the little man decided that it was time for a little concert. A lot of you know that our kid LOVES to sing...always has :)

Since he started preschool however...he's gotten louder and louder. I think all the little ones in his music class try to out-sing each other...at least I hope that's the case.

Here are two classics that they sing in class....the russian speakers will recognize that he is seriuosly making up some of the words...but J and I just think that means he'll be writing his own tunes soon....right? HA!





~V

Wordless Wednesday - Bay Area Photographer

Remember last year I tried to introduce the 'Wordless Wednesday' tradition? Yea...well, can't blame you if you don't...it only lasted a few weeks :)

SO....I'm giving it another whirl....and with my New Year's resolution of being a better, more consistent blogger...I will try very hard this time! Promise :)

(i also promise this will be the last wordy wordless Wednesday)

Taken at a location while waiting for clients to arrive...first thing in the morning. This photo makes me happy that Spring is right around the corner!!!

Rolls and Random Thoughts - Bay Area Family Photographer

Writer's block....that's what I'm experiencing right now. OK...I don't think I should call myself a writer....blogger's block? Maybe that's more accurate! Going on five minutes of sitting in front of the computer....thinking about what I want to talk about today! So....I think I'll just start...and see what happens...

Here are a couple of things we are working on currently:
1. Updating the website (it will be FABULOUS!)
2. Sprucing up our branding
3. Upgrading equipment
4. Preparing to launch a marketing blitz
5. Introducing new products
6. Raising a very active, very smart...and opinionated 3 yr old

Lots to do, but really exciting stuff!

One more thing...this wknd I took the little dude on a little adventure to Carmel, CA with my parents. I hadn't been there in ages, and was totally and completely blown away by how gorgeous it is. I could have kicked myself for not bringing the camera. But truly.....the beach is breathtaking! So if any of you are looking for a little getaway for a night or two...PERFECT spot! (I promise to take some snaps next time!)

NOW....saving the best for last here....

I don't think words are necessary to describe little B's adorableness (is that a word?) Truly the sweetest, smiliest...most squeezable little girl!

Orange was mommy's idea! Good job L :)








Happy Monday Friends~
~V