Milestone sessions are such a fun opportunity for me to get to see how all the little babies are growing!  These two little cuties were back recently for their six month sessions and they were so sweet.  Six months is such a fun time to schedule a milestone session because that’s when babies are so expressive and you can capture all of their budding personality!  Don’t you think so, too?  It’s also a great time to capture Moms and Dads together with their little ones and see how much they have grown in just a few short months.  Enjoy these two little personalities and see how much they have grown since their very first sessions here.

Catching up on recent sessions brings me back to a favorite family session from this winter.  Yes, I did just say “winter”, specifically January.  While instinctively you may think you want your family portrait session to be a certain time of year, weather permitting any time of year can be the perfect time for your portrait session.  We were blessed with a pretty mild winter this year in Virginia, but there are plenty days throughout the year that aren’t in peak season that are also perfect days.  Don’t put off capturing your family just because it may not be the perfect time of year in your mind.  Don’t miss that opportunity, because if not time slips by way too fast for all of us.

This session was really fun as it was a two part session, covering both a family and a graduating senior.  You can find the senior session images here on a separate blog post.  The images included below cover the family part of the session.  It was a pleasure to capture generations together in the same images, and especially the beloved animal members of their close family.  I know they treasure these very much!

I was really excited to work with Elizabeth for her senior portraits.  It was definitely a fun experience to capture for her in the barn and with the horses… that’s where her heart is at!  Senior portrait sessions are all about capturing you as you are with the things you are really enjoying at this point in your life.  If you love cars, dogs, music, books, shoes, clothes, sports, or anything… it’s the perfect opportunity to make them a part of your portraits.  Even beautiful horses!  Enjoy a glimpse into Elizabeth’s senior portrait session experience with Visions by Heather.

Holly came to have her senior portraits taken in the late fall, which is such a pretty time of year.  Don’t you just love all the beautiful rich tones that complimented her dark hair and eyes so well?!  I really appreciated Holly’s eagerness to have me photograph her very special senior portraits.  By the end of the session she was a pro… and I felt like I was looking at a look-a-like Sandra Bullock.  Don’t you think so, too?  Congratulations to another member of the class of 2012.  It’s hard to believe that their graduation days are just around the corner!

It’s Wedding Wednesday again already, and I’m back with so many beautiful images of wedding centerpieces.  From the most simple, to the most extravagant, wedding centerpieces help pull together the feel and colors of your wedding day.  They don’t have to break the bank to be elegant either!  Here are my favorite centerpiece images from my clients’ weddings and some thoughts for getting the most out of your reception centerpieces.

• Consider height.  A heavy arrangement in the middle of the table does not make for easy table conversation.  Use clear or slender objects to raise your centerpieces above eye level or keep your arrangement thin.  A topiary style arrangement can be perfect to raise the arrangement but still see guests across the table.  Choose large centerpieces if they are low to the table.  Mix and match heights in a reception room for interest and less matchy tables.  Also, you can opt for a grouping of small containers versus one large arrangement to reduce costs.
• Add natural elements.  Add branches, sticks, leaves, or slices of wood to bring in a more rustic or natural feel to your arrangements.  Use them to add height, without blocking guests across the table or use them underneath your arrangements to give them a creative base.  Even use them inside your clear containers for great elements of flair.  Other options include using shells or driftwood if you are planning a beach or tropical themed wedding event.
• Use interesting filler for clear vases.  Another way to add interest to your arrangement is to coordinate a unique filler in a clear container with your flowers.  Limes, lemons, and pears are popular fruit options and make everything look colorful and fresh… citrus fruit even looks great sliced or whole!  Other fruit can tie in the season of your wedding too, so think out of the box for other options like frosted cranberries in winter or small gourds in the fall.  Besides fruit, you can fill your containers with many interesting objects such as beads, buttons, wine corks, or even coffee beans for some added scent to your tablescape.
• Consider your container.  Every table doesn’t need a clear vase of flowers.  Think more creatively about objects that tie in the feel of your event to use with your centerpieces.  Some great ideas I’ve seen are large conch shells, mason jars, colored wine bottles, watering cans, pumpkins, small crates, or teapots.  Or layer platters or plates under your containers to add interest.  Possibilities are endless!
• Skip the flowers.  Maybe not all together because I love flowers so much, but opting for unique containers above filled with candles, plants, feathers or branches is an alternative to floral arrangements for your tables.  You can add ribbons, strands of beads, a simple floating bloom or accents of leaves to your display.  Incorporate decorative items you may be able to use in your personal home decor later, too!
• Personalize your centerpieces.  Add special mementos, personalized ribbons, monograms, quotes, verses or small favors with your centerpiece arrangements.  These important details are a great way to share things you love with your guests.
• Add accent or color to your table linens.  What is under your centerpiece is as important as the centerpiece itself.  You can choose simple linens with accents or go for more expensive fabrics, but it’s equally important to coordinate your entire table.  Style your table with a runner or napkin square to add a punch of color to a plain color tablecloth.  Mix and match table linen colors and napkin colors from table to table for a less matchy look.  Or, consider unique runner or layered options… like burlap,  vintage lace or ribbons woven together.
• DIY or hire a professional.  The choice is yours.  Once you have a vision for your event, get with a planning, decor, or floral specialist and let them work their magic for you.  They are trained to interpret your vision onto your tables and have a wealth of knowledge and resources to find what you need.  However, if you feel crafty and want to add your own special touch to your wedding day centerpieces, go for it.  My advice is to keep them simple and less fussy, and get them done ahead of time!  Make sure you delegate the task of getting them to your reception and getting them in place to someone else.  You don’t want to trouble yourself on your wedding day with decorating details.  Breathe and enjoy your day!

Several of the beautiful centerpieces featured were done by the following fabulous local vendors I highly recommend!

Love is in the Air

The Arrangement Company

Petal Flower Company

All that is left is for your photographer (me!) to capture all the lovely details you planned or made youself so you can remember how beautiful they were.

Spring & Easter mini  sessions are now available!  These exclusive mini sessions are only available for a limited time.  Take advantage of the opportunity to have your favorite faces photographed in the Visions by Heather studio with the brand new spring set.  It’s perfectly simple, sweet, and country chic!  Special collection available for these exclusive mini sessions for only $199 + tax.  It includes your 30 minute studio session, a special keepsake collage of your images and then your choice of either: your images on CD *or* eight gift portraits.  It is an incredible deal worth over $330!

Here are just a few images from the new set.  Call 434.944.1264 or email heather@visionsbyheather.com to book yours today!

There have been so many beautiful little babies visit the studio lately.  These two little girls are perfect examples of all the sweetness of sugar and spice and everything nice.  They had their very first modeling sessions in the studio at just a few weeks old… the perfect time to capture all the new baby features.  I’m glad to be working with their parents to capture how beautiful they are now and what they will grow to be!  The studio has so many recent additions for newborns… perfect little hats, accessories, blankets, and wraps to customize a unique newborn session for your new arrival, too!

The seniors from the class of 2012 have all floored me with their kindness and personality just as much as their beauty and style.  Emily was also no exception.  It makes my job as a senior photographer so much fun.  She came well equipped with ideas and tons of outfits and accessories so I could help her plan the best choices for every portrait situation.  That is something I love to help with and it helps my clients to ensure their portrait experience a much better outcome.  Putting together a look for every location makes your senior portrait session unique and completely different!  Enjoy many of my favorites from Emily’s portrait session and check out all the variety captured through effective styling and communication with my clients.

Oh the beautiful little bundles of joy that have visited Visions by Heather lately.  What blessings they are to their families!  There’s nothing better than squishy sweet smelling goodness.  They are all perfect little people with beautiful new beginnings.  I am extremely happy they trusted me with their very first images to enjoy forever.  Congratulations to all the new parents, can’t wait to see you all again real soon!

Around here, she’s affectionately known as Miss Amanda.  The joyful sweet face who spent her summer hanging out on the swing and at swim practice with two of my favorite little men.  But, she’s also a lovely young lady who is graduating this year and starting a new journey along with the rest of her Class of 2012 classmates.  Being chosen for this special time in her life meant a lot to me… to preserve this moment in time for her and her family.  She’s a beautiful girl inside and out that shines through every image.  It was a real pleasure to have her in our lives for a short time.  Her senior session was so much fun, mixing some studio headshots along with some time spent around Lynchburg with her brothers and even her little dog.  Be sure to check out the fun collage we put together… she’s such a personality!

I wish only the best for Miss Amanda in the future.