My Wedding Day!!!!

It's been said so many times, but it's so true: time flies! I can't believe that I'm getting married today! It seems like yesterday Rob proposed to me and at the same time, it feels like we've always been together. I think my brides can probably understand what I mean!


So, I did promise pictures to so many of you...so here's a little teaser. Ed from Zorz Studios photographed my bridal session (a portrait session where you get dressed up, hair, makeup and all, just as you would on your wedding day) and took amazing pictures as he always does, and because of that, I can post a picture of my right away! Ones of Rob and I will have to wait though since he wasn't a part of the session. :-)





Have a very Happy New Year!!!



~VjA

Me and My hubby (in four days) are published in Engagement 101 Magazine!

Yay!!! Magazine publication 2 of 4 (of many more to come I hope!) is out! This time, it doesn't feature my photography, but the photography of Pittelli Photography! Craig shot the gorgeous picture for our save-the-dates and it made it into the magazine with an article about Rob and I (as well as the Asbury Park Press a little while ago)!

You can find this issue of Engagement 101 on the newsstands right about now, but look carefully, there are two different covers for this issue so you may have one or the other in your area! Definitely support the magazine and grab a copy!

EnJOY!!

Angel Tree

For as long as I can remember, I've been involved with Angel Tree. Angel Tree is a ministry that reaches out to the children of inmates and their families with the love of Christ by giving them Christmas gifts from their incarcerated mother or father. We buy, wrap and give these gifts to the children on their behalf. It seeks to transform the lives of these families and to reconcile them to their Heavenly Father and each other.

Angel Tree is something that really touches my heart because my father was once incarcerated before he gave his life to the Lord. It wasn't while I was alive, but it does bring the reality a little closer to home. Now, my father works with Prison Fellowship and every Wednesday, even if he's sick or if its Christmas day, my father holds a Bible study in the Monmouth County Jail. It's true, the majority of the men and women who are in jail deserve to be there, but their children don't deserve to feel the consequences of their parent's actions.

"Every child has a story. For 1.5 million American children, that story is filled with the abandonment, loneliness, and shame that comes from having a mom or dad in prison. For many, it may also include following their parents down the same destructive road to incarceration." (http://www.angeltree.org/)

My church, Long Branch Covenant Church, holds a Christmas Party for the children and their families where the gifts are given out. This year, Rob and I had the priveledge of not only buying gifts for two of the children, but also to photograph the event (again, I bet you can't tell which pictures are Rob's and which are mine!). I truly hope that through our photography you will be touched and maybe next year see how you can get involved yourself.

For more information, please visit http://www.angeltree.org/.

EnJOY and Merry Christmas!!

My First (of many) Magazine Publication!!

When I first got news of this a few months back (yes, I did keep it a semi-secret until the issue came out), I actually did a cartwheel in the hallway where I teach Spanish...yes, a cartwheel. :-)

I'm so excited to say that I have been published in Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Magazine for the TJ and Lisa's wedding that I photographed in St. Lucia over the summer! Thanks to a personal recommendation by friend and photographer (of my wedding - 12 days to go!!) Tomas Flint and of course Diane Rice who chose them. :-)

You can get this issue - their 3rd Annual WorldWide Guide - at the end of this month, so please please pick one up in support!

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of the issue!






As far as further publications go...I'm going to let the cat out of the bag. Thanks to Karinn who helped me (and by helped I mean did everything) so far I have three more publications coming up! Here are the magazines, their issues and who will be featured!!

• Engagement 101 Magazine - end of December issue featuring a story about Rob and I and our engagement (just in time for our wedding!)
• Wedding Dresses Magazine - January issue featuring the fabulous dresses of a few of my beautiful brides - they haven't told me which brides they've chosen yet
• Seacoast Bride - 2010 Edition featuring a lot of great detail shots from a few different weddings (Danielle and Nathan Sumy, Nicole and John Raebig, Andres and Kim Valenzuela, Jaime and Bobby Malone)

Lots of exciting things coming up soon. More news after I get married!!

~Vj

Baby Reade at 18 Months!!

I have to admit, I've always wanted to be an aunt! I guess that's just one of the great things that's coming my way for marrying Rob. :-)

Kelly is Rob's sister-in-law (soon to be mine!!) and her and Rob's brother, Ray, have the most ADORABLE baby boy. Kelly, who is doing my wedding invitations asked me to take pictures of Reade so Rob and I both took pictures a few Saturday's ago. So here's a compilation of both my work and Rob's. I bet you can't tell the difference!!!

Sarah and Chris' Wedding!!

This was my last wedding of the "season" (not too worry, my first of next season is pretty quick starting on January 9th!) and it was great! I was able to share it with my fiance, Rob Adams, and had Andres Valenzuela second shooting with me and even bribed the soon-to-be wedding photographer extraordinaire, Brielle (aka my MoH) to dust off the the old camera. :-)

It was a beautiful winter wedding with Christmas spirit everywhere but warm enough to take a few outside pictures. There was a really beautiful moment shared when Sarah surprised her mother by wearing her shoes; it definitely choked me up a little bit! We ended at the Shadowbrook the Shrewsbury, a perfect place for a winter wedding with the fireplace in the room and everything so beautifully decorated.

EnJOY!

Melissa and Mike's ESession!

I was so looking forwad to this engagement session when Melissa told me about her fiance, Mike, being a racecar driver. How exciting!! Unfortunately, we weren't able to use the track or his racing car for the pictures, but we were able to snag a few with his Mustang before heading over to Allaire State Park for some great photos. I can't wait until they're wedding next year in beautiful October!!

EnJOY!!

Jamie and Kevin's E-Session

Jamie and Kevin had a wonderful engagement session in Central Park right before Thanksgiving. Central Park is such a great place to shoot, but especially during this time of the year because for some reason it holds it's foliage longer than other areas in Jersey. We able to get some great bright colors and even a magnificent sky (which Jamie mentioned that she loves)!

EnJOY!!