Saturday, September 27, 2008

Due to illness.....

V Lynne Photography has temporarily shut its doors. If you are a current client trying to reach me, please submit a comment with your contact info (this will not be publicly posted). Comments will be monitored by a friend to make sure that each is taken care of.

More details:

Unfortunately in the spring of this year I became very ill; I have been on medical leave from my main job since that point. I thought everyone had been contacted by an associate; however, I heard from a client yesterday that shows this may not have been the case. As the current prognosis has no near term timeline for recovery, I am opting not to take on new commitments until the medical team can give me clearer answers about what to expect.

Again, if you are a current client who has been trying to reach me, please accept my apologies and comment here so someone can get in touch with you.

Blessings & best wishes to you all,
Victoria

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Vegas baby!

We'll be out of the office from 3/15-3/23, in Vegas at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International conference. I'm so completely psyched to be spending so many days learning from some of my favorite photographers...and so completely weirded out about being away from a full computer for so long!

I'll have the iPhone with me, so I'm hoping to be able to still respond to mail, but if you don't get an answer right away, I'm either in class or have zero connectivity. I promise to figure out where all the free wifi spots are quickly & will try to get back to each of you as soon as possible.

Can't wait to come back creatively invigorated! Those of you with upcoming e-sessions, be ready to try out some fun stuff on my return. :)

Monday, February 18, 2008

Life lessons from a giant chess set.....

I'm a packrat.

OK, the kinder, gentler phrase might be "I'm a collector of beautiful things." It still translates to "I'm a packrat." I covet stuff, more stuff than any 12 people would ever need. Clothes. Shoes, especially ones that are bad for my feet. Fossils. Schnauzers, real ones, I'd have seven if Steve would allow it. Plants, which promptly die in my care. Camera gear, of course, not just the new stuff, but every antique I can find. And weird, esoteric stuff. Like giant chess sets.

A few years ago, my friends Cheryl & Jackie (see the previous post) were part of the Street of Dreams construction event. And part of the landscape design they created and temporarily installed was a giant chess set.


It was gorgeous. And I coveted it from the beginning.

Let's get something straight up front. I don't know how to play chess. Never learned. Never interested in learning. Chess is for geeks. Never mind that I'm one of the biggest geeks I know, that's just not my kind of thing.

And besides that, if one needs a decorative chess set, there are plenty of smaller ones around. Ones that fit daintily into the corner of the living room, or can be put away into a hall closet.

But desire is never a rational thing.

And somehow....I'm still not sure exactly how in this case, except that Jackie wanted back her garage space....desire tends to manifest into reality in my life. And the giant chess set has come to live at my home.


My home, which has virtually no flat land. And no one who knows how to play chess. And nowhere to store more stuff. Especially chess pieces that are as much as a foot across, each. And weigh from 20-50 pounds apiece. But oh my, they're gorgeous.

Never mind that I now have to redesign the entire landscape. These are fabulous photo props and that means I can write off the garden redesign & installation, right? (Note to the IRS: No, I'm not serious.)

So what have I learned so far from the giant chess set?

Love is irrational. It has far reaching consequences. It requires a commitment you may not be ready for when it comes into your life.

But when you're in love, truly in love, you'll seize that opportunity when it comes your way.

(Even if it means learning to play chess.)

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Meet Axel....

My friends Jackie & Cheryl are well known for their love of anything with four legs. So it never surprises me to hear that another creature in need of a home has found its way to them. The other day, I went to photograph their latest foster furkid, Axel--a one year old purebred dachshund.



Like most critters, he wasn't too sure about the big black camera being waved in his face. But his temperment is such that he pretty quickly adapted.



He gets along remarkably well with the pack of large dogs & crazy cats he was thrust into, but his favorite place of all is still a lap. He's a real snuggler!



And frankly, he's a really handsome boy!



Like all young dogs, he's happiest with something tasty to chew. Look at him go! And I was very pleased to see that he didn't get overprotective of his bed or his chewie, in spite of me holding the camera right under his nose. He's going to make a great pet!



Axel is being neutered this week & then will be ready for his forever home. If you are interested in adopting this sweetie of a dog, please email me here and I'll make sure your mail is forwarded.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Gretchen -- at 32 weeks


Gretchen & I have worked together for about three years now. We've been through who-knows-how-many-reorgs, my wedding, her solo cross-country drive to pick up her beloved Mini Cooper, and more conversations than either of us could count about...well, about everything! She's been both a friend & mentor to me, and I was simply thrilled for her & her husband David when they announced they were expecting.

And they've been doubly blessed, with twin girls!

Now, I've never been through a friend's pregnancy with multiples. Watching Gretchen's belly swell has been simply amazing. I admit, there are times I've been astonished at how much she changes from week to week! We took this shot at 20 weeks as a progress report....



Back then, her wedding ring was already moved to her pinky finger. Now her rings are strung on her favorite cross.

Last week, we did a full maternity session. She & David clearly have so much fun together. They're so much in love, and so very, very happy about this pregnancy.













Here are a few of my other favorites:







These two are so playful, it was sometimes hard to keep up with them!



But like most new parents, there's a lot of quiet introspection going on as well.





Gretchen & David--you two are the best! Can't wait to meet the girls very soon!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

....is it Spring (Training) yet?

Waiting for Spring


Yes, I'm perfectly aware that it's still football season, and that the Seahawks vs. Green Bay should be uppermost in my mind. I'll watch the game, I promise. I'll even wear blue. And I'll knit while it's on...we've only ever lost one playoff game since I took up knitting during the games. I swear, I'll do my part.

But....

We're just 46 days from pitchers & catchers reporting to spring training in Peoria. And I find I can't stop checking all the baseball rumor sites to see what moves the Mariners make before then. I'm literally driving Steve nuts, muttering over my computer as I analyze each projected move & rant about not trading favorite players. It amuses the heck out of him that I can quote stats at him regarding righties vs. lefties at Safeco Field & that I'm following the pitching situation so closely.

Of course, he's the one buying Mariner ornaments for the Christmas tree, and reminding me that Fan Fest is on the 26th & 27th of this month--which day would I prefer to go?

My husband loves me so much, he even bought me Mariners socks this year. (see guys, sometimes socks DO make a good gift!)

So here's to my beloved team....and to the promise of sunny days at the ballpark, hot dogs & garlic fries, and maybe, just maybe, a playoff game or two?

Postscript: Right after I finished this post, the same "beloved" husband came up with an anagram of "Seattle Mariners"--"insert real team"--and promptly announced that no amount of trades would accomplish that. I'm not sure I'm still speaking to him....

Happy New Year!

I hope your holidays were fabulous & you got everything you wished for this season!

It's the time of year where everyone takes a hard look at themselves & how they do things...resolving to do better. By now--the 9th--a lot of resolutions have already gone by the wayside!

In my case, I'm actually about to start on my first resolution with this post, and I'm counting on all of you to help me keep it. I've been told repeatedly over the last month or so by a number of friends, fellow photographers, and clients that they count on this blog to help keep track of what's going on not only in my business, but in my life. Needless to say, the frequency of posting hasn't kept up as of late, and I'm in big trouble because of it.

All I can say is, it's nice to feel loved. :)

The second half of the issue is actually just personal. When you convert from a hobby you love to a practicing profession, you tend to lose sight of why you enjoyed the hobby in the first place. In my case, the cameras really haven't been coming out unless I'm shooting for clients, and I find that I miss just shooting for me.

So here's my resolution--I pledge to post much more frequently than in the past, with a goal of at least twice a week. And to work on the second issue, I'll be posting more photos at random, setting myself photo assignments on occasion, and taking the camera along on some of the weird & wonderful happenings in my life that have nothing at all to do with weddings and portraits.

Love the idea? Hate it? Topics ranging from life, the universe, and everything that you think I should blog about? Drop me a line through comments & let me know!