VLM Studios – LIFE. INSPIRED.® MIAMI PHOTOGRAPHER, MIAMI PHOTOGRAPHY, MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHY, FAMILY CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHY, BABY, PREGNANCY, KIDS, COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

There are few industries in which its professionals are more aware of the importance of polished portraits than in the real estate industry. A friendly, inviting, professional image can inspire confidence, lend credibility and convey commitment, the results of which can be immeasurable. Irina is an up-and-coming realtor that clearly understands that. We did a half hour shoot in the studio, which allowed for a little warm-up time, tried a couple of different set-ups and voila! Got the image she will use in all her materials. If you’ve been considering it but hesitating, don’t wait any longer. This is a very important, powerful, intangible weapon everyone should have in their arsenal, especially in today’s world of social media centered marketing and networking. Don’t wait any longer, call the studio for details. 305-254-5084

At her sister’s last photo shoot, Melina got very jealous because she’s been used to always being the one photographed (I’d been photographing her since she was 6 months old!). In order to appease her, Mom told her we’d be doing a very special rocker photo shoot that would be JUST for her. She got really happy and certainly did not let her Mom forget. So, for Melina’s 4 and a half years (she made sure to tell me she was FOUR AND A HALF), we did a rockin’ photo shoot that was all about her…her spunk, her style and her sporty diva attitude. There were WAY too many great shots not to post at least some with each outfit and activity. Melina rocked it! Don’t you think? I ♥ it! Enjoy! ♥ Vanessa

P.S. See the slideshow at the top of the blog? The first photo is Melina! She was almost 2 years old.

Every six months or so I see my work go through a transformation, always as a direct outcome of my own life transformations. I sense it in me, I see it in my images and feel it all around me. For Lynn’s Senior photos we planned a morning session in an attempt to avoid another reschedule due to weather. As you all know by now, I’m a night owl and, although I love mornings, I can’t seem to get up for them. So, I don’t usually book 8 am sessions let alone on a Monday morning. But, here I was at 8 am ready for a beach session in the least favorable light possible. I was 10 minutes late and Lynn was still getting her make-up done……so I waited…….really really relaxed. I forgot about the light being too strong, about starting late, about the heat, the props, the shade, the breakfast, the e-mails….I just let it go….and then….magic happens. I’m über excited about these shots and even more thrilled about what’s to come in this transmutation. Lynn, you did an amazing job! ♥ Enjoy…

Whether you’re on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Plaxo, your blog or any other form of social media, your photo IS the first impression they will get of you. It IS your image and quite often THE face of your business. It is as important to your business as a great website or brochure. A professional photograph tells your clients and potential clients that you mean business, that you will take them as seriously as you do yourself. A proper representation of you, your personality, and your business is an intangible asset whose rewards you will reap for many years.

Why not make sure it is the right image? A professional image. Your business headshot or executive portrait can be done in the studio, in an outdoor location or in your business/office. Contact the studio for more information on our Executives Collection or for a quote.

305-254-5084 or E-mail

A few weeks back I posted about The Waiting 2009, a photography exhibition of kids in the foster care system hoping to be adopted  (click here to read that post). I had yet to photograph two more kids and mentioned I would post those once ready. I got to photograph Maurice and Susana in the studio. Maurice wants to be an Architect and Susana, who is about to start her Senior year, wants to be a Nurse. This is the third time I photograph Susana who is just blossoming beautifully. They were both very sweet, quiet and courteous.

The exhibition will be sometime in November. I will announce that date and time soon. Thanks.

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The July/August issue of Venue Magazine, a high-end lifestyle magazine for Latinos living in the United States, is featuring a 6-page editorial spread highlighting the children’s clothing line Catimini and featuring images I created specially for this project. By looking at these photos you might think these kids are professional models, but they aren’t! They are regular “civilians” like you and me, but they did fantastically well. The 2-hour beach shoot went smoothly even with strong winds. I love editorial and commercial photography, so I welcome more of these projects. Can’t wait to do it again.Â

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I’ve been working on a website and branding design project that uses the rose as a symbol of love, beauty, humanity, and tenderness. So, there have been some late night rose photo shoots here in the studio, picking just the right rose with the perfect petals and leaves, and at the perfect bloom. This one was a particularly beautiful one…I loved how intricate, intimate, delicate and perfectly entwined her petals are. It was just as magical accepting her invitation to witness her beauty when she opened up in full bloom…absolutely divine. It may be that a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose, as Gertrude Stein said, yet each one had its own sweetness and beauty.Â

Fotomission’s The Waiting 2009 is under way. It is a yearly photography exhibition of children awaiting adoption. Most of these cases are of local children long forgotten in the foster care system who are still hoping to be adopted but whose age makes them the least likely candidates for most families. On its 6th year, The Waiting continues to strive to bring light to this issue and once again I’m honored to be a part of this very real issue in our South Florida community. Â

I photographed these brothers last Friday in the studio. I wanted very moody intimate portraits of them that would show their sweetness and a little bit of their personalities. Denzel (12) and Deion (14) were just like any other pair of brothers you could come across. They played and laughed, a lot, and followed directions perfectly. I could not have asked for more. I will be photographing two more kids in the next couple of weeks and will post those soon.

This is Denzel…

This is Deion…

If you’re interested in finding out more information about this exhibition, please visit fotomission.org and for more information on adopting local children currently in our foster care system, please visit Kids Hope United.

Thank you all. I’ll keep you posted for the opening.

♥ Vanessa

This image of  3 year old Samir at the beach is featured in this week’s Tot Trends Weekly magazine cover! This is a weekly online magazine that has very cool info about kids products, parenting and anything tot related.  If you’re not already subscribed to this magazine you should be. I love editorial photography, so there will be more to come… : )Â

This image was taken in one of the last cool days of “Spring” we had about three weeks ago. We started the session earlier than usual to make sure we didn’t get too close to bed time and in turn got grumpy children. So, this was at around 2 pm, which as you can tell, is very very bright but still so nice. Yesterday, well, that was another story. It was 91° at 2 pm and it’s just May!Â

Now, don’t get me wrong, I looooove sunlight, actually (much like Superman), I NEED sunlight. But, I don’t do too well in full sun for very long. Why? Well, two reasons. First, I do not tan, I burn. My skin quietly sizzles into a crisp and a tomato-red second-degree-burn look appears 5 hours later stinging like if you’re dragging sandpaper on my skin. But more importantly, reason number two….I do not perspire…I sweat. I wish I could be one of those fabulous women that can sit outside under a tree for hours and not have a bead of sweat on her face. Me…in ten minutes flat I’ll be drenched like the nervous pilot in the movie Airplane. Not very attractive.

So, as I was melting in the 91° heat yesterday while doing a newborn photo session outdoors (inside the house was too dark), I could not help but think of this image. The sheer joy of getting wet, with your clothes still on, on a hot summer day. The happiness on his face is the perfect expression of the unadulterated joy that comes from this awesome treat. Mom was sooooo cool….

Stay tuned for this summer’s SUMMER LOVIN’ sessions which will be all about capturing the joy of summer….barbecues, pic-nics, playing with the hose in the yard, bathing the dog, playing in the pool, riding your bikes, roller-skating, you name it….anything that says “summer” to your family. Yes, I’ll be in the sun, drenched in sweat, but loving every minute of it.

Happy Summer!!!

♥  Vanessa