Valerie @work

So here are a few images of me hard at work, notice the one with the Disney poncho, rain falling in buckets! LOL!! who cares it was warm and fun. My husband took most of these. I do believe one of myself and my husband...ooops, I think he asked not to be posted but I can "brag" if I want to. "It's my party and I'LL cry if I want to..." LOL!!!

Valerie

Cut-A-Thon @ All About You!

Well, despite the rain...we all had fun and all of people showed up for the cut-a-thon, goodie bags, nail treatments & the FASHION show! That was great fun, some really fun styles for all the enjoy and drool over. I snapped some photos and many more styles can be found at PJ's store-Just a Little Something.

I am all done with this rain....!! :)

Valerie

Wedding in Florence, IT

I had to put these 2 photos up since I so enjoyed shooting them over my tour guides shoulder. i do enjoy watching life as it unfolds-this was simple and magical to me to be able to just stand there. Life is made of simple beautiful moments like these....if we stop to really see them.

Valerie

CVS 5k

Alright..i did it! I was dreading the 5k, thinking I had way too much "fun" in Italy but I made it across the finish line. Must have been the spectacular team shirts we got!! GO TEAM! It turned out to be a very hot day...well for running but a beautiful Sunday. The race kicked off at 11:15 which was hard for me to run at that time but somehow I beat my old time-I crossed at 29:06. OK so checkout the 2nd photo...I am thinking I am not having so much fun in that one (taken at the 3 mile mark)...man that makes me laugh! I had run up the hill in front of Providence Place Mall to cross the finish-whew. I was pretty dizzy and dehydrated but got the high from the accomplishment.

Valerie

look alike guess....

Oh, so I had Keira Knightley guessed several times...but does anyone think she looks like Kate Hudson?? I sure do! Beautiful - non the less. Valerie

1st images are coming along....

I could not wait to post this image of the Duomo, in Florence! I was fortunate enough to be able to go to a roof top after dinner. I did not have a tripod but leaned the camera and took a few night photos. It was so beautiful...notice the little stars I caught too! I can't wait to keep working on them. Valerie

Look alike....

OK, I am going to take guesses on who this beautiful girl looks just (exactly?) like. Let me know your guesses...will be interesting...can't wait to hear your guesses!

Valerie

Roberto... in Rome

I was pretty excited to add this photo to the blog. This is my grandfather (Mario's) nephew who I met up with in Italy. Communication was tough but we had the bartender at the hotel translate some of it, it was wonderful to see him. He and his wife, Sylvania are expecting their first grandchild! The circle of life... Valerie

Volterra, Italy

Oh my...what an incredibly, beautiful Tuscan town that was. If I go missing...ya, that is where I AM!!!!! This was followed by another small Santa Gimignano but the first was quaint and beautiful... perfectly live able, close enough to the sea, climate was beautiful... no words can truly describe Italy, I can not find enough to say, adequately. YOU MUST go... September is the best month of all. I can not wait to work on the photos from today! Amazing.
back to my vino, Valeria!

Florence, Italy

Ciao, to everyone! This will be quick, I need some sleep. We have been on the go from 8am to 9pm today! We hit Florence, museums, churches, the bridge of gold (yes, I got some gold) then a cooking demonstration and dinner. Followed by "cafe" on the rooftop. Beautiful photos of the dome!! Completely exhausted...may need to to take a break from this vacation. I can't complain since Bob is 83 and he has been wandering around and keeping up the pace too!!! So funny. Feeling a touch nervous about my 5k run... hope to keep up. It has been 93 and hot here. Miss you all, Valerie

Roma, Italy

Hello to ALL! Well Bruce & I are in Rome. The flight only took 7 hours. My carry on bag was 2 kilos too heavy, oh well. We landed and found out that our group is only 15 people, which is great. We met up with my grandfather's nephew-Roberto for cappicinio and took a photo. We then headed to the pool for snack and relaxing. Next was a 3 hour nap then we showered and are going to Rome for dinner.
Ciao!

A little miracle

What can you really say about this portrait... this makes me laugh! More so it makes me smile and feel very teary. There is a lot of history behind this portrait. First off, her parents are past bridal couple of mine. Second she was born early and it was touch and go on a daily basis. Third, the neighborhood bought Deb (Mom) a gift certificate to use with me. Can you say "priceless"?? These beautiful portraits will mean more than words can say to Deb-and her whole family. All the families who purchased this g.c. should be very pleased with your lasting, beautiful, thoughtful and truly priceless gift.

Celebrate the gift of life.

Valerie

motorcycle on the Vineyard

My husband and I decided to "escape" for overnight to Martha's Vineyard. I decided that if "Larsen's fish market" was good enough for Giada...it must be good enough for me! LOL!! We are both great cooks, well she is a chef but I take much better photos than she does! We also saw this lobster-I had to put my hand close by it to show the size! 16 POUNDS!! he was a big boy. I asked how much he was...$150. not too bad if you figure that is under $10 a pound...but the story gets better. This lobster was already sold, he was being flown to San Diego for an additional $120! All righhhhtty then....

Valerie

HS seniors

I just so enjoy creating fun stuff for high school seniors, images that show their personality. What a fun job!

Valerie

1st wedding to blog

I am very tired but very excited...check out my adorable couple! Louisa, the bride, had portraits done with me many years ago. I just so loooove when they come back to have wedding portraits later in life. They were married in the Bahamas but they had a reception this evening at 3 in Franklin. Food was great! Congratulations to yo both!! Many, many years of happiness.

I posted a serious, magazine style photo in B&W and then a color one of Justin laughing, I always enjoy seeing the couple having fun!

Valerie

Twin Team work

These twins were so cute in my studio.. I just enjoy watching how twins seem to read each other, know what the other may think but at the same time be completely different. Genetics are amazing. Considering I was adopted and met my family "later" in life...I have distinct traits that are exactly the same as my father -ALL genetics, something an environment can not change. The human body is incredible.

Valerie

High School senior SECRETS

This is an important part of the blog to share. I am going to give you an inside tip. You do NOT have to use the school photographer ....no matter what the school says. First a school can not sign a contract on behalf of other adults. Next, the student only needs to walk into their "sitting" and say I only want this for use in the yearbook-bam!, no charge. You may be forced to put that head shot into the yearbook but at least you can express your personality and spend your money on images you truly want.

As you can see, I really like to get teenagers to open up and see their personality shine through. Please fell free to send and share this information with anyone who is going to have a senior in the next few years.

Valerie

"Life"- a perfect special occasion

This portrait is a mother & daughter... for no reason! This is one of my favorite things in the whole world, take time to just celebrate life. Her daughter was giving her a hard time, did not want to come in but by the end ....well, you can see. This portrait will be treasured forever I am sure. I would also venture a guess the when this daughter has a daughter of her own, she will seek out a professional to duplicate it for the next generation.

Celebrate life everyday, capture those relationships and share the joy.

Valerie

My favorite long LENS

I am currently in Maryland visiting my family. I thought ahead so that all my adoring public would have some new images to view, (ha,ha!) and sent them ahead to this computer.

Here are two I really like, the daylily is especially beautiful in person and I made it a large print for me.

I went to a rodeo (bull riding) this evening with my siblings and it was really fun to watch. Not sure why you would want to get kicked by a bull.... but OK. There was one fractured leg, 1 dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist. Yikes!! This one large white bull was pretty funny (read angry) after he threw his rider he faced off with the "clown" and pawed the ground repeatedly, chased him around and managed to catch him on his backside too. At the break, I got a kick out of the 5 year olds riding sheep.

Valerie

Golden curls

Who could possibly resist "blogging" this adorable, blond, sunny child?? NOT ME!! LOL!! I have been photographing his brother since before he was born and now I get to create portraits of Ashton. Ok...so truth be told, he is very personable not that tough. Those "kudos" truly go to his parents who are very loving but maintain rules and provide a safe, healthy environment for their children. I think they truly have a good balance going on and I want them to know that people outside their family appreciate how difficult it is 24/7 and they should be proud of themselves for working so hard at it.

These photos were taken just hours ago at a park in Bridgewater.

Come on...tell me how adorable he is.....!!

Valerie