Picture this….

…it’s Thanksgiving Day and all your Holiday shopping is done!

…it’s crazy on the streets and at the mall…and you don’t have to deal with it!

…you can relax and really enjoy the season

All that can be a reality when you try these …

I had the pleasure of photographing this lovely family in their beautiful home a couple of weeks ago. They have the most comfortable backyard I’ve been to in a while. It feels so natural and lived in, you can just tell they spend a lot of time there and truly enjoy their time together. It was a relaxed afternoon and, while I was a little under the weather, the day could not have been more perfect. We may only have a handful of weeks left before the heat and rain begin again so take advantage of every perfect breezy day as much as possible. Summer will be here in no time. Enjoy! ♥ Vanessa

A year ago I went to visit my good friend and fantastic photographer Aris Wells in Greensboro, North Carolina. I was going through a very turbulent time in my life that necessitated a withdrawal from my surroundings. I called Aris and told her I needed to get away….without hesitation she extended me an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with her family. I got on a plane and headed her way. She picked me up at the airport and as soon as I saw her I started to cry. I learned many things that weekend, about myself, about relationships, about families, and about my passion. The weather was mostly cold and gloomy, almost a complete reflection of how I felt. Yet, on one day, the sun came out….and it shone like a beacon in the darkness. I took this image on that day…the sun shining through a leafless tree, which, to the naked eye, appears dry and lifeless, but whose heart was still beating just waiting for Spring in order to blossom again….and Spring always comes after a fall.

Thank you ~ friends and clients ~ for continuously supporting me, cheering me on, and showing me immense patience and love throughout this year…I’m eternally grateful and honored. Thank you “mi amiga”, for taking me in when I most needed it, you may never know how much that small gesture impacted my life. Thank you God, for never leaving me, for always guiding me even when I didn’t want to listen and for always teaching me…thank you.

Sending you much love this day and always…. ♥ Vanessa

As hard as it is to believe, Fall is around the corner and hence it is time once again for QUICK TAKES! Â The Fall Quick Takes are always fun-filled and feature hay stacks, pumpkins, sunflowers, and all things Fall. You can bring your little ones in their Halloween costumes or in outfits with fall colors.

To see samples from previous Quick Takes click here.
If you don’t know what Quick Takes are and want to learn more click here

These promotional sessions are short, 10 minute appointments and are for children only (from 6 months to 6 years old).
The location is announced to those that book appointments, usually in the centralized S.W Bird Road area in Miami.

Appointments are required.

Sitting fee is $35 per child

This event sells out fast, so book early.

Contact the studio to reserve your spot today. 305-254-5084

These offers are available from July 24 through the 31st. So call the studio (305.254.5084) to book your session or purchase your Gift Card. Family sessions must take place during the month of August. Limit of 2 Gift Cards per family. Gift Cards are good from January-December 2010, may not be used with any other offer and may only be applied one at a time.

Contact the studio through e-mail

or

Call us at 305.254.5084

♥

P.S. This post will remain at the top of the blog until July 31st.

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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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

one of the first things we are taught as children is to say “please” and “thank you”. once grown we learn that the word “thanks” itself holds only the meaning we assign to it by our intonation and use. we learn that it can be used sarcastically, or used to request things, or it can even be used to cause guilt. yet, on this one day of the year, our country withholds those definitions to celebrate the simpler and deeper meaning of “thanks”.Â

so on this wonderfully american Thanksgiving holiday, i wish for you to experience TONS to be thankful for; and thank you for allowing me to participate in your lives, for inviting me to document your history, and for welcoming me so warmly into your families; for that and much more, i am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving
xoxox
vanessaÂ

I shot this last year at dusk in Central Park in New York. I was freezing and there were people jogging wearing nothing but shorts!