Blessings,

Rachael

Check out these beautiful handmade, custom, barnwood frames.  They come in a variety of looks and finishes.  These photos are from a recent order that I will be delivering to my customer this week.  Everything comes ready to hang, with anchor screws and paper templates for you to easily hang them on your own.  

Aren't these frames just lovely!  These are purchased from a company that custom makes each individual frame.  Everything is hand made from real barn wood! This company also donates a percentage of it's profits to a non-profit each year.  This year they are donating to the Bridge2Rwanda program.  The mission of the Bridge2Rwanda Scholars Program is to create a fellowship of globally educated, entrepreneurial servant leaders working together in Africa - committed to their countries and one another.  I love that my customers can be apart of this just by purchasing frames from RaeVen Photography.  It's such a neat way to give back while purchasing beautiful art for your home.

Want to book a session with RaeVen Photography?

Contact us at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or go to the Contact Me page.

RaeVen Photography is here to help you create beautiful art for your home.

If you haven't had the opportunity to do this, then it's a must have for your family!  

We set a time for me to come to your home or a location of your choice, where I capture your family in a documentary style.

 Lifestyle photography is an approach to photography that captures authentic moments.  

A lifestyle session captures a slice of a family's life, unscripted.  

Lifestyle Sessions are a great way to capture your whole family.  

It allows both Mom and Dad to be in the pictures and capturing your life, your family just as you are now.  

I love capturing moments in your daily life that would otherwise never be captured.  

It's these daily moments that will be missed years down the road.  

Why not capture them so you can look back on them and remember them even more clearly!  

I approach Lifestyle Sessions by finding out what your family likes to do together.  

Do you all enjoy cooking together in the kitchen, reading books, playing board games, or playing in the yard?  

I'll look for the best natural light in and around your home, give you a little direction, and then start capturing beautiful, timeless images of your family.  Capturing your family just being yourselves and enjoying time together.

Interested in a Lifestyle Session?  Go to the Contact Me page and to get in touch and book a session!  

Don't let life pass you by!  A Lifestyle Session allows you to Capture those Memories so you can view them for years to come!

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!!

I'm offering a Discount to the first 5 people that book a Lifestyle Session for Dec 2015 or Jan - March 2016.

Includes a 1 hour Lifestyle Session and a 16x24 canvas for $225! ($475 Value! That's more than 1/2 off!!)

Offer is until November 30, 2015.
E-mail me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com to book your session!

Sessions will be booked on a first come, first served basis.

Digital files and additional print products may be purchased separately.

2 Dates Only!  Saturday, November 21 or Monday, November 30.  

3 Package Options to choose from!  

Contact rvenema@raevenphoto.com to reserve your spot!  

Let us help you get your Christmas Cards all ready to go!

THE DETAILS:

15 minute photo session includes 5 digital files

Donate to https://www.crowdrise.com/supporttherileys and show me verification of receipt that you have donated to their support website.

Suggested donation is $100 or more.  (Minimum required donation of $75.)

Times Available: 3:00, 3:20, 3:40, 4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00

Dates: Thursday, November 5 and Tuesday, November 10

Location: Flintstone, GA  

First come, first served.  So time slots go to those who book first.

Email rvenema@raevenphoto.com or call (423) 355-1488 to book and with any questions.

Thank you so much for supporting this sweet family!  I know they appreciate everyone's support and prayers during this time.

Blessings,

Rachael

Here are some photos for you to enjoy from our hike at Rainbow Lake on Signal Mountain, TN.  Enjoy!

Interested in Booking a Family or Lifestyle Session?

Contact me at RVenema@RaeVenPhoto.com or (423) 355-1488

I love going to new locations for family sessions and this place would be amazing!

One Day Only!  Saturday, October 3rd!  Limited Availability!

BOOK NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

RVENEMA@RAEVENPHOTO.COM

(423) 355-1488

CONTACT ME FOR TIMES AND LOCATION!

They found out they were having a baby girl.  Such exciting news for Stephanie & Josh.  This baby girl is loved by so many and a blessing from above.  Meet baby Savannah.  She's so beautiful!   Oh and another fun fact...her daddy is a football coach and Savannah's initials  are SEC (Savannah Elizabeth Craft).  Isn't that fun!  

Congratulations Kyle, Carolyn & Elliot!  I can't wait to meet your sweet baby girls!

Being in an age where people often just capture images with their cell phones and just post on facebook, instagram, etc, where images will more than likely be lost when generations go to look for them, these images I capture for my customers are all the more important.  These are prints that will be cherished by generations because there won't be many prints or images for them to look at since facebook or instagram will be something else by then and will no longer be the new popular thing.  I encourage everyone to print their images.  For you and your family to enjoy for generations to come.   Think of your images as pieces of your history, moments captured, that you will never get back.  Think of how you enjoy looking at images you have of yourself, your parents, your grandparents.  Even if it's just a few images, you cherish every one.  So print your images my friends!  I promise you, that you will never regret it.  Don't regret having no pictures to show your children and grandchildren.

The day started off with a forecast of rain and thunderstorms.  But as the party began there was one little sprinkle of rain and that was it.  So those who attended had plenty of room to either enjoy the beautiful yard or be inside.  After supper and the cake were served, the Peter Pan movie was showed out on the lawn.  Cute bags of popcorn were handed out for everyone to enjoy while watching the movie.  

Enjoy just a handful of photos from this lovely little girl's birthday party.  Happy 4th Birthday Adelaide!  May you never, ever grow up!

Interested in scheduling a photo session?

Contact Rae Ven Photography at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or at (423) 355-1488.

www.RaeVenPhoto.com

This was this sweet baby girl's first photo session and she is just so squishy and adorable!  Don't you just want to squish her cheeks.  

Interested in scheduling a photo session?

Contact Rae Ven Photography at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or at (423) 355-1488.

www.RaeVenPhoto.com

Moms, how often do you get in the photos with your kids?  How often do you stay out of the photos because you're embarrassed of how you look?

Think of all your excuses as to why you aren't in the photos.

Now, speed up about 20+ years from now when you are sitting down looking at images with your kids and notice how few photos you are in.  These are your kids' memories.  The photos that capture them reading a book, swinging on the swing, at the zoo, swimming in the pool, at the beach, etc.  These are the memories that have been captured for them to look back on. 

Now go find your photos from when you were a child.  Start going through the photos and look if you find very many of your own mom.  I just have a few of my mom from when I was younger. 

One last thing.  Take these questions and go ask your child the questions.

What do you see when you look at me?  What do you think of when you think of me?  What is your favorite thing about me?

I bet your child will start telling you that they think you're beautiful, kind, smart, funny, etc. (maybe in not those exact words, but in their words).  They won't say what you are thinking... I need to lose some weight, I look tired, my hair isn't perfect, I don't have makeup on, I'm still in my pj's, etc.  All your child knows is the time you've spent with them and loved them.

Now go get your camera and capture just that.  Capture yourself spending time with your children..playing, laughing, reading, cooking, etc.  Even let your child capture photos of you.

and guess what... I'm guilty of this too.  I'm a photographer...and I love being the one that captures the photos of others.  So I'm going to do this challenge as well.

So let's capture moments in 2015 of us with our kids, so one day they can remember those special times with their one and only mom.

Blessings,

Rachael

Interested in a Lifestyle Photo Session? 

Contact me today to capture photos of you with your kids.  Let me capture your story.

rvenema@raevenphoto.com or (423) 355-1488

Interested in scheduling a photo session?

Contact Rae Ven Photography at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or at (423) 355-1488.

www.RaeVenPhoto.com

Now scheduling photo sessions for 2016 Seniors.

Interested in scheduling a photo session with Rae Ven Photography? 

Contact us today at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or at (423) 355-1488.

"For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:5

Harper wanted to dress up as Thor for the photos, so instead of him wearing it during the family photos I promised he could have a little photo shoot on his own :)  Then his Grandpa joined in on the fun.  Love it!

This session was located in NW Indiana in the historic downtown Crown Point and also at the Will County Fairgrounds.  My cousin, Brittany, is gorgeous as ever and had some awesome outfits!  I still can't get over her polka dot high heels...just lovely!  

Check out this 2015 Senior's photos!  

The aspect ratio templates are to show cropping and composition of the listed sizes, not the scale (size) in relation to the other sizes prints on the page. See the examples below to see what I mean.

4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 10x15, 12x18, 16x24	5x7, 2.5x3.5	8x10, 4x5, 16x20
20x24	5x5, 8x8, 10x10, 12x12, 20x20	11x14

Here is another way to show the 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 aspect ratio comparison all on the same photo.

This visual should make it easier to determine the best print size when ordering your images.  By definition, the aspect ratio of an images describes the proportional relationship between its width and height. Therefore, the appearance of your final images (as visually noted above) may vary slightly depending on the image size you choose.  I shoot with a full frame camera so that the most images can proportionally fit inside any ration desired. This is the main reason I like to go over your order in person, to ensure that the proper crop to the original image has been selected to avoid losing vital parts of your images.

RVP offers an in person viewing session with every single photo session.  This allows me to assist you in the ordering process, so in the end you get exactly what you are wanting.  This is also helps make the process much easier for you, so you aren't overwhelmed by all the choices and options.

Interested in a photo session?  Want to know more about what RVP offers?  

Contact me today!  rvenema@raevenphoto.com or 423-355-1488

First, because I'm passionate about what I do.  I want to provide you with beautiful photos that you can display in your home and enjoy looking at for years to come.  I do this by assisting you from beginning to end. By picking out a location for your desired backdrop, to picking out clothes that compliment your personality, to then meeting with you in person to help you choose your favorite images from your photo session.

I have a great time with my customers.  I love capturing those smiles that make a person's eyes shine, to those natural laughs that truly show ones personality... That's what I want to capture.  I don't want those posed, awkward smiles.  From a baby's sweet grin, to a child's laughter as they chase bubbles, to a mom's warm smile as she lovingly looks at her child, that's what I want to capture for you.  A wonderful memory of the stage of life you are in, of your family at this very moment in time that you will never get back and that so quickly slips away.

This is why I'm there helping you through the entire process, making sure that in the end you get what you wanted in the beginning...beautiful portraits that preserve this special moment in your life.   Often we just go for the cheapest route, but this is usually not a wise decision when it comes to getting photographs taken.  Are you going to take the time to get prints made from that cd or will it just sit and collect dust?  And if you do get prints made, will those prints not fade over time, will they last for your generations to see years down the road?  Do you know the quality you are getting?  If you're going to invest in the time and clothes and money, then why not get something you can truly appreciate in the end.

After your photo session, I will then come to your home and show you all the products I offer and help you choose your favorite portraits that you want displayed and put into albums.  These are products that will last.  They will not fade and they are of true quality.  You are not required to purchase anything at all.  It is just a service I offer, with all of my photo sessions, to assist you in choosing what images you want from your photo session.  My children love looking through their albums and at their pictures of when they were younger, as do I.  It reminds me of a sweet moment in time, that we often forget because they grow up so quickly. 

So contact me today.  I'd love to take your family's portraits and give you the RVP Experience.  I promise, you won't regret it and you will be pleased in the end to have these treasured portraits for your family to enjoy for your years to come.

Blessings,

Rachael Venema

Here's a recent photo session so you can see what the hype is all about.  These videos are fantastic!

Interested in booking a photo session?  

Contact me today at rvenema@raevenphoto.com

or use the "Contact Me" page at the top of the website.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Tana and her family went to church with us and she attends Covenant Christian High School where my husband used to teach.  She is a Senior this year.  We started off her session at a friend's house where we took shots by the grand piano.  (Special thanks to Karen H. for letting us come into her home and take shots by and even on her piano.  Karen, you're awesome...nuff said).  We then headed to Bass Lake, IN where Tana's family owns a cabin on the lake.  As we were driving there I kept looking into my rear view mirror and watching these dark clouds follow us.  I was really worried we might get poured on.  Thankfully the storm blew north of us and gave us some awesome skies for a backdrop.  And just when we didn't think we'd get a sunset, the sun peaked beneath the clouds to give us some of the most gorgeous light I've ever seen.  Check out a few pictures from her session below.

It was a gorgeous Spring day and the wedding took place in a grassy field under a beautiful tree.  Every detail was planned from the monogrammed shirts the bride & bridesmaids wore while getting ready, to chalk board signs with cute sayings, to the old fashioned car the bride rode up in.  It made for a fun day of capturing all the little details of Mallory & Ashton's wedding.  I had a great time hanging out with Lanie while capturing these special moments for this beautiful couple.  

We had a great time at Greenway Farms in Hixson, TN.  I'd love to go back and explore more of the trails there.  It's a beautiful place.

Check out this adorable family!

Congratulations to Bri, Grant & Ethan.  You have truly been blessed with a beautiful baby girl.

~ GALLERY STANDS ~

It's basically a small canvas mounted on a built-in easel for display.  You can also hang them on your wall with the hangers on the back.  

Currently they only come in size 5.5" x 7.5", but it's the perfect size to display on a shelf in your child's room or give as a gift to grandparents.  They would also be great to display on your desk at work.  

It is a beautiful, metallic print that is laminated over a solid wood construction.  

I can customize your Gallery Stand with any text you might like to add to it.

Check out this sample I ordered and received today!  You can see how shiny the metallic is on it.  So pretty! I love it!

Contact me today if you'd like to order one or several.  

These would make a perfect gift for Father's Day which is coming up on June 15th!

Book a full 2014 session by June 15 and you can get one of these for free!!!

Contact me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or through the "Contact Me" page.

So Bri, Grant, and Ethan enjoyed walking around the farm while I took their pictures. Ethan loved the animals.  Mrs. Johnson picked up a baby pig for him to pet.  They are so cute!  The neat thing about the farm is that it is all organic.  They sell eggs and milk and you can buy their meat from Main Street Meats downtown Chattanooga.   So if you're interested, check out their website.

I had a great time getting to know this sweet family.  Baby Henley was actually born two days ago as I write this. (I'm a bit behind in my blogging...oops).  She is one blessed baby girl.  I can't wait to meet her soon.

So here are the pictures! Enjoy!

Interested in booking a family session?  Email me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com!

One of the reasons I did this photo session was to promote Autism Awareness.  Samuel has been diagnosed with autism and this past year or so has been an adjustment for his parents in figuring out what is the best route to take in helping him.  I asked his mom to share some advice to parents who might find themselves in a similar situation.  I hope what she has to say here helps educate others about what parents go through,  what parents need to look out for, what steps to take when you think your child might have autism, and how we need places like the Chattanooga Autism Center to help those with autism and to help the parents in deciding which direction to turn.  I'm sure it's overwhelming trying to decide what is best for your child when there are so many options out there and you don't have a clue where to start.  Hopefully this will be a bit of encouragement to another parent that just isn't sure where to turn or what to do.  

----------------------

Advice from a Mom of a Child with Autism:

"If your gut tells you something is just not right with your child's development, look into having you child evaluated, even if your family, friends, pediatrician tells you not to worry, "it's just a phase, he will grow out of it."

Early intervention is key to having the best outcome for your child, so don't wait!

Make sure your pediatrician screens your child for autism using the m-chat at your 18 month check up.

Be aware of your options, the state offers early intervention services to children, birth to age two, who have delayed speech and other developmental delays, a diagnosis of autism is not required to start getting your child important and needed interventions at no cost to you. Once your child turns three, services are handled by the school system.

Be aware of untested methods, there are so many therapies and the latest cure-all remedy. So do your research and invest in the therapies that have a sound basis for giving your child the best outcome.

Parenting is stressful, try to find balance for yourself and your family!
Get connected to good support groups such as family, friends, your church, and the autism groups in your community. 

Supporting local groups such as the Chattanooga Autism Center with your time and donations helps build autism awareness and provides much needed resources to families in the community.

Your child is a blessing from God, aim for the best life possible for your child by setting short and long term goals. Remember while  working towards those goals, it's a marathon not a sprint!

Pray and ask others to pray for you and your family. While it's true, you are your child's greatest advocate on this earth. Your child's Heavenly Father is far greater!  

The steadfast love of The Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. 
Lamentations 3:22-23"

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To support this cause I am donating 10% of any 2014 sessions,

that are booked in April, to the Chattanooga Autism Center.  

Also, I am giving a $75 print credit to any family with a child that has special needs.  

Please join me in supporting this cause. Thank you.

Love these photos?  Do you want pictures like this of your kids or family?

Interested in booking a photo session?  Contact me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com!

Book your session today!  Contact me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or 423-355-1488.

Plus these albums are printed and made using wind power.  Meaning, by ordering from this company we are helping the environment.  How awesome is that?!?

Once you see these albums in person, you will see the quality and why I am so excited about them. 

Here are some sample pictures for you to check them out!

Interested in purchasing this product?  Contact me today!  

Book your Photo Session and at your viewing session you can see all the products I have to offer.

Ask me for my Pricing Guide which shows you all the products that are available to you.

Contact me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

I'm going to pose my kids this Saturday and get examples for you all to see.    But to give you an idea of the set up there will be a white flowy tent held up by branches, along with a quilt on the ground and several vintage type props from suitcases to wooden crates to a cute wooden chair, and lots more fun things.  I can't wait to see it all come together.  

If by chance, the weather doesn't cooperate we will reschedule for another date as soon as possible.

I can't wait to for you all to see the beautiful pictures from this event.  

Sign-up today before all the spots are taken!

Contact me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or call me at 423.355.1488.

**Update**

I worked on the tent today.  Please excuse the cell phone pic.  But the set up is coming along nicely! (Don't worry It will be even prettier when it's all set up with the props, etc.)

So to start things off I thought I'd show you the Brag Book.  It's such a cute little book that can easily be put in your purse or bag so you can carry it around to show your friends your pictures.  It also works well as a display piece since you can set it up like an accordion file on a shelf or your desk.  Inside are 8 pictures, 4 on each side.  The books comes in 9 different colors and when closed up it's nicely tied with a ribbon.

This is the perfect gift for grandparents since they can use it to show off pictures of their grandchildren.   Parents! It's good for you too.  We all love showing people pictures of our kids.  Why not get your recent pictures printed in a beautiful book so you can proudly show them off to your friends and family.

So here is the cute and beautifully crafted Brag Book:

Are you interested in this product?  Book a photo session today and you will get to choose from this and many other beautiful products that I have to offer you.  Contact me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com or by phone at 423.355.1488.

Want to book a Newborn or Family Session?  Email me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com!

Book your family session today!  Email me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com

This last picture makes me laugh.  AC is such a diva!  I love it!

Book your family session now!  Email me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com!

Book your family session now!  Email me at rvenema@raevenphoto.com!