Meet the Valluzzos

So despite all of the craziness of what’s been going on with my dad, I decided to make the trip to Colorado that I had been planning for several months now. It was a complete whirlwind. I got home from Tennessee last Wednesday around 6:30 pm, unpacked and repacked, and left for the airport again the next morning around 9 am. Yep! Whirlwind! But it was so good to spend time with some of my best friends, and to get to play with my little Jameson for six whole days. But more on him later. :) I had a lot of much-needed time of rest and relaxation, but I also stayed pretty darn busy while I was there, shooting six family sessions in four days. Cuh-razy! But so, so good. The Merkls and the Conways have been talking me up to all their friends, and I had the privilege of meeting and shooting not only their families, but also the families of some of their closest friends: the Haases, the Lantermans, and, first up in the blogging line, the Valluzzos!

Jamie and I originally met Mike and Jenn Valluzzo through Megan and Brandon back in Knoxville. What was so crazy is that just as we were all getting to know each other and hanging out, we all moved out west within a few months of each other: Mike and Jenn to Phoenix, Megan and Brandon to Boulder, and me and Jamie to Salt Lake City. So even though nobody lives in the same city anymore, what’s nice is that, thanks to really cheap flights on Southwest airlines, we’ve been able to meet up and visit several different times since we’ve been out here, usually at Megan and Brandon’s. I love those get-togethers! It just goes to show that you really can make those lifelong friendships, despite whatever distance is between you.

Megan and Jenn have been especially able to bond because they had their first babies within just a couple of months of each other. Sophia is only a little younger than Jameson, and everyone’s convinced that they WILL date one of these days. I mean, how awesome would that be?! This trip was the first time I’ve met Sophia, and oh my goodness, she’s adorable.

What I also loved about this trip is that I had a lot of good conversations with Jenn, who is in the beginning stages of pursuing a photography business of her own. It’s always really good to talk shop, and I can never have too many friends who are in the same boat as I am. I know we both wear our husbands out with the geeky things we get excited about, so it’s good to be able to have someone else around who can actually appreciate it! She came along with me for a couple of the sessions just to get a feel for how I work, but I warned her to not set her expectations too high, because I can sometimes be a hot mess! She insists that learned some good stuff, but I don’t know…. :) It honestly made me feel a lot more confident, being able to have at least some answers to other people’s questions. I’m pretty much an open book, because I only got to where I am because so many others have been open books for me. So to finally be on the teaching end of things, in addition to the learning, is pretty cool!

Anyway, on to the first Colorado session: The Valluzzos!

Sophia’s face here is priceless.

Megan suggested a park in Louisville for us to go to…. it was perfect! Great location, great sunset light, great-looking family… couldn’t ask for anything more!

This dress that Sophia is wearing was actually worn by Jenn when she was a baby. I love little special touches like that. :)

I don’t know about you, but I can never get too many fingers and toes shots!

Absolutely one of my faves.

And now, the slideshow! I used Jack Johnson’s “My Little Girl” because, well, it’s a great song. Especially for a family with a little girl. I used to not really like Jack Johnson at all, but this past year he’s really grown on me. I think this one’s adorable. Enjoy!