Another Sneak Peek – Through the Eyes of a Child

March 3, 2011March 5, 2011
by Victoria J

I am just about done editing the photos from a recent family portrait session, but I did not want to let the week go by without posting anything on my blog. The truth is, my focus has been on being prepared for the children at school and completing projects for my clients… so much so that I have not been able to update my blog as much as I’d like to (or even release my newest version of my website yet). But this is great problem to have — plenty of work! So please enjoy this photo, but more importantly, stay tuned for the rest of the story!

My Name’s Sake

February 5, 2011
by Victoria J

In the summer of 2010, my cousin and his wife welcomed another beautiful baby girl, and they named her Victoria Faith Payne. You can imagine how excited I was when I was told her name before her birth! But that feeling paled in comparison to the elation I felt when I actually met her in Texas recently. Now my cousin and his wife are on a winning streak; they have produced nothing but beautiful children thus far, and Miss Victoria is no exception. See images below of my name’s sake, and if you see something you like, please do not hesitate to leave a comment!

Ms. Payne, An Author…

December 8, 2010
by Victoria J

When I first heard of the final project that we had to do in our Literature for Children and Adolescents class, I knew just how to take our project over the top! We were asked to create a Math Trail Children’s Book that showed math in nature or other real world settings. The examples that were shown to us were binders with pages that left much to be desired. We were given some class time and told that we could use our cell phones to take pictures. On the first day, we set a local mall as our backdrop, and at this time, I asked to be the group photographer (we would not be using camera photos for the book, believe me the camera makes a huge difference in the quality of your images). After our pictures and story themes were in place, I suggested that we use one of my vendors to have this book professionally bound, so that we could have a real hardcover children’s book. When we presented the book last week, our teacher was absolutely amazed. She kept looking for proof that we did not make this book or take the photographs, even though I assured her that I am professional photographer, and I regularly design books like these for my clients! Now we went totally above and beyond what was expected (the place I love to operate at), and for me this meant making time among everything else to “optimize” the photos and do all of the page layouts for this 28-page book – but to see the look on our professor’s face and to know that we raised the standard of expectation was PRICELESS!

This experience was different than the previous books I’d designed for the mere fact that it was text-heavy, which adds another element to the design. But all in all, it was a great experience. Who knows, I may be moving in this direction in the near future! We’ll see how things work out!

Below I have included images from this book.

A Special Bond

December 6, 2010December 6, 2010
by Victoria J

No matter what kind of portrait session I find myself at, I am always amazed by the dynamics between family members, couples, or friends. Honestly, unless I’ve seen the individuals interact previously, I don’t know what I will get, but I am more than ready to work with it! In a recent family portrait session, I was excited to see the firm bonds between the children and their parents. As a matter of fact, these elementary-aged children enjoyed being photographed with their parents (and readily did the activities that I proposed). As I processed through the photographs last night, I reflected on why this was so significant. Now, I do not have any children of my own, but the more and more I “live” I see the sacrifices that parents make for their children. I see the price that working adults pay as they get up in the morning to go to jobs that may not be as exciting just to be able to provide a better life for their legacy. Then occasionally, I run across one of those ungrateful children that feels entitled to the fruits of their parents’ labor. Or worst yet, I remember my own days in middle school and high school when I had the nerve to think I dressed better than my parents, the same people that purchased the very clothes I wore. I had the nerve to be embarrassed to be seen in the school hallways or the mall with my parents, even though I expected them to cover the bill of our shopping exploits. I say all of this to share the beauty of the exchanges between mother and son and father and daughter. They were truly precious moments, moments that I hope last, moments that I hope can be reflected upon with a smile! I don’t imagine that too many children read this blog (because I can get a little lengthy), but to the parents, I say, remember that no matter what your children do, they really do still love you! When they get to those teenage years, remember that it is just a phase, and soon enough, they will be on their own working and will start to value the sacrifices you made for them!

Below are images from a recent family portrait session in Glen Burnie, MD. By the way, if you see something you like, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below!

Baby Love

November 22, 2010November 22, 2010
by Victoria J

For those of you who have been with me since the beginning of this blog, you will remember this beautiful Virginia couple that I photographed during a maternity session back in February (I think that was blog post #2, “She’s Having a Baby”). Well, six months ago, little Mark Jr. graced the world with his presence, and a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of capturing him and his parents in a family portrait session. The highlight of the afternoon for me was the moment that I knew which image was going to be my favorite image from the entire session! This happened when I was getting a photograph of Dad and baby on the ground, and I was trying to capture their natural interaction. Well just like in the portrait session in February, Dad knew exactly what to do to get a smile, laugh, and priceless expression from one of the loves of his life! The end result was as my Granddad would say, “Beautiful!”

Check out images below from this Virginia Family Portrait Session. Side Note: If you see something you like, PLEASE don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

Let the Boys Do What Boys Do…

November 20, 2010
by Victoria J

When photographing people, I often times get to direct the session. I tell this person to tilt their head to the right, and then tell that person to put her hand on his shoulder. Well, I am normally the one calling the shots, but when there are children… When there are children, there is no formula. You may try something and it just doesn’t work. Or you may encounter a child with their own agenda… Whatever situation you have, you just have to be flexible, and let the kids be kids! In order to let the children be themselves, I will often incorporate the things they like into the set. For example, we used a toy guitar with one boy today, and in another session, we used candy. I often like to let children run and jump and take a couple of pictures with their silliest faces. I will work with them in exchange for their cooperation with me!

Interestingly enough I have to employ some of these same approaches when I am in the classroom. I found something that a child identifies with, and then I use that thing to help them grasp a concept or do what I need them to do. Just this past week, I was observing in a Pre-K class where a little boy was not eating a Lunchable that his mother packed. I had already observed that he had some fascination with Spiderman because Spiderman was on his backpack, his lunch bag, and his jacket. So I started speaking with the little boy, and I let him know that in order for Spiderman to be able to jump from building to building, he has to eat his food so that he could get strong. Thankfully this approach worked for the 3-year old, and I later used the same Spiderman appeal to help him stop crying after he got the “books” sticker when he wanted the “basketball” sticker.

Back to Photography :: Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph a mother and her son in Maryland, and let me tell you, her son was full of all the zeal and energy that little boys have! My favorite shot from the session was when we used the candy that he was eating in the photos. I had he and his mother throw the candy up in the air and then try to catch it. Again, I did not use a formula! I just let the boy do what boys do! … and that’s play! See select photographs below.

By the way, if you see something you like, PLEASE leave a comment below!

For the Love of Family!

October 24, 2010November 20, 2010
by Victoria J

If I could make the world a better place to live, one of the first areas I would start with is the family! That is one of the first societal institutions that we encounter on this earth, and that unit can greatly contribute to our quality of life and in some cases, our plight in life. If I could, I would ensure that every child came from a loving father and mother that encouraged and disciplined them, but ultimately wanted them to be the very best that they could be! I would ensure that each child had at least 3 cousins that just loved them for who they are and spent time with them with no strings attached! I would make sure that each child had enough aunts and uncles to share in their upbringing, help them reach their goals, and offer real heart-felt hugs that let the children know without a shadow of a doubt that they are loved. I would ensure that everyone had at least 1 sibling so that they can always have a travel buddy and exploration partner and someone to help them learn early on the value of sharing! I would ensure that every child had the opportunity to engage with at least one set of grandparents so that they could know what great homecooking looks, smells, and tastes like, and so they could have a few moments in life where they get spoiled beyond measure (we all need just a few of those moments)!

Throughout the course of my life, I’ve been blessed with family – and some friends so close that they became family. And it was in the structure of my family (immediate and extended) that I had the opportunity to excel, succeed, thrive, explore, love, do right AND wrong, grow and mature, forgive, and so much more! Often times, people think that if you feed the hungry, you’ll make the world better. Well, I feel that if you connect people with loving family, the family members will look out for their own. They will show a member in lack how to fish and where fish are most plentiful.

Anyway, if I could, I would… but for now, I will just shares images from a recent family portrait session, where I saw the kind of “FAMILY” that I’ve been discussing. Often times, people tell me of how blessed they are by my gifts and the way that I capture their moments in time, but so often, they have no idea how the opportunity to capture statistic-defying images blesses me! I hope you all enjoy… and if you see something you like, PLEASE (I’m trying not to beg) leave a comment!