Change. It happens. It’s happening a lot with me. But it’s all good. If you’ve noticed, my logo has recently changed. I wanted to wait for my new BLOGSITE to launch (more on that later), but I had a bridal show recently and I didn’t want to confuse anyone with my old logo!

I know in a previous post I mentioned that I was going to be changing my branding a bit…and wow is it different! I was struggling with my identity. Who I am as a photographer and what my photography means to you. My previous logo didn’t really convey the message I wanted. It was too young and almost screamed at you! I’m not really like that at all. I’m not in my teens and I am not a loud person =) So here is what I was using.

And now….my new brand. I decided to not only change the design but also the name of my business. Vision Photographs was something I came up with when I first started the business, but it doesn’t really hold any meaning to me today.  When you choose me to be your photographer, you aren’t just choosing me for my photography style, you are choosing me for me. That might sound off but let me explain. As a wedding photographer, I am intricately involved in the biggest day of your life. I am with you almost the entire day, talking with you, helping you with wedding day traditions, calming you when you get nervous =), picking up your dress so it doesn’t get dirty…it goes on and on. I try to not just be your photographer, but your personal helper, your confidant, your wedding day expert. But it doesn’t end there. Before the wedding day I guide you with the wedding day schedule, refer vendors you still need to secure, and offer an opinion on your details if you ask. After the wedding I guide you through your wedding album design, what products best suit your needs and budget, help design your wall art for your home, recommend imagery that really tells the story of your most perfect day….and on and on. I try to not just be your wedding photographer, I try to be a good friend. And for all these reasons, I decided to change my business name to my name. Because, really, what conveys who I am as a person and as a photographer better than my name? Nothing.

So here it is….Erica Velasco.

My new brand truly embodies who I am, and what that means to you. What do you get from me as your wedding photographer? You get unique and high end service. You get reliability. You get top notch customer service. You get a custom experience, unique to you. You get a friend. Someone you can go to for any questions you have, advice, referrals to trusted wedding vendors…anything. I’m here for you. Before, during and after the wedding day. I truly hope that all my clients turn into lifelong friends. You are that important to my life.

Hopefully in a month or two you will get the full experience with my new BLOGSITE. I will be combining my Website and my blog into one awesome site. It’s a one stop shop of yummy imagery and helpful information. The URL will be www.ericavelasco.com, you can get to my site right now by typing in that URL. So type it in and bookmark it now. Vision Photographs will be re-routed to www.ericavelasco.com for awhile, so don’t fret if you forget to bookmark it.

So this all wouldn’t have happened without the amazingly talented and super cool group at intothedarkroom! They are amazing! Anthony who helped brainstorm the idea for my brand totally got me…right away. He just got it. And that is as awesome feeling to know that someone gets you that quickly. They gave me one design. And it’s the one you see above. So thank you, thank you, thank you intothedarkroom. I can’t wait to finish the blogsite with you all!

A big move

I know, long post! But bare with me.  The other big news I have is that I have opened a new office to my business. I have always been a destination wedding photographer, traveling anywhere for weddings. I’ve been to Orange County, Mexico and Chicago to capture nuptials. But I wanted to open a new office to expand my business and allow it to continue to grow and mature. So I am officially in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It’s in southern Texas, close to Corpus Christi. Just a 4 hour drive from San Antonio. I will be specifically located in Harlingen, but will shoot weddings anywhere in the Valley.

I’ve already met amazing wedding vendors here and I hope to meet more. I will give them some love tomorrow on here, so come back to see who I’ve met and what I’ve been doing while in the Rio Grande Valley.

But don’t fret Phoenix! I am still there. I will be spending more time in Texas to start the business here, but I will be back to Phoenix every month for weddings and appointments. Eventually, I’ll probably spend half my time in Phoenix and half my time in the Rio Grande Valley. If you’d like to set up an appointment with me here in Texas, please email info@ericavelasco.com or call 956-357-6198. I will be here until May 13. After that I will be in Phoenix until May 27. To schedule a consultation in Phoenix call 480-862-3363.

Thanks to everyone who has been warm and welcoming to me in Texas. I can’t wait to get rolling and work with you on some amazing Texas weddings!

Some of you may know that I was at a wedding and portrait photography conference earlier this month. WPPI is an international wedding and portrait photography conference held every year in Las Vegas. I had such a blast learning from the top photographers in the world, meeting new people and hanging out with fellow photographer, Galaxie Andrews, my travel buddy and roomie for the week. We left the conference feeling oh so inspired and ready to take on the world! We even met some well-known photographers that we blog stalk…haha. I know it’s cheese, but what can I say…I’m easy to get excited!

Our first night we bought tickets to what was supposed to be the end all and be all of WPPI parties….and it sure was! Airhorns and Lasers was held on the first night of the conference at the exclusive club Tryst at the newly built Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. The sponsors of the party, some of my fav vendors in the industry (Southern Weddings Magazine, Smilebooth, Jose Villa, Intothedarkroom, The Wedding Chicks….), rented out the entire club for the night. How great is it to be surrounded by only photographers for one night!

Excuse my point and shoot blurry pictures….my 5D didn’t go with the outfit…..

We took a bus from the MGM Grand to the “secret location.”

We were all serenaded by the music styling of photographer Jesh De Rox and recording artist Amy Seeley.

The best part of the night had to be the Smilebooth! Galaxie and I probably had too much fun in it! Here are some fun ones we took. We even made the Airhorns and Lasers blog!

We also met the guys and gals from Intothedarkroom, who will be designing my new blogsite and more! I can’t wait to start working with them on it this month. Stay tuned for some lovely changes by the summer!

Here are a few more from the party…it was rocking all night long with the smooth music styling of the Human Jukebox.

It wasn’t all just a party! It was a great learning experience. It opened my eyes to some things I need to change to allow my business to continue to mature and grow. Thank you WPPI for all that I learned and hope to apply this year! See you next year!

I went to my parent’s house for Thanksgiving this year. Admittedly I didn’t take a lot of photos. I guess I was just looking for a real break! But I can share with you some yummy food shots…and it sure was yummy! So here are some photos from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, in Harlingen, where my parents live now…

My favorite wine…..Riesling…mmmm.

On another note, I have been very sick this past week, which might account for some unanswered emails and calls. I lost my voice, so not really a good time to pick up the phone! But I will be returning emails and calls this weekend and early next week. Just trying to finish recovering!

I can….

It smells like Lays potato chips, french onion dip, hot dogs, burgers, Italian sausage, subs….mmmm…it smells like football season is here!

My Saturdays and Sundays will now be officially taken up by Michigan Wolverine football and the Arizona Cardinals! GO BLUE!

OK OK maybe not totally…I’m still open to meetings with potential clients and existing clients. It just means I’m a bit limited on my availability on the weekends. It just depends on the schedules…what can I say? I love football!

But please don’t fret, I’m always able to accommodate my brides and grooms, it’s never been a problem in the past, and it certainly won’t be now =)

And don’t forget my yummy September offer of 15% off your wedding collection! Call and make your appointment today!

As you all know, I’m catching up on my posts. And this is definitely one that is more than overdue…it’s late. But what can I say…I’ve been a busy bee =)

So this year we went to my parent’s new house in Harlingen, Texas…near McAllen, Texas for those of you familiar. We had such a great time let me tell you! It was a marathon of games and I of course did pretty well…well except for the first night….

My sister and her husband came in from Chicago, IL. We went out to the store to buy some games for the week to keep us busy. While it’s really nice out there…there isn’t a whole lot to do! So instead of maybe one or two games…we bought 5….yes 5. You can tell our family likes games…and likes competition!

So we played Trivial Pursuit first. And of course, I thought, well with my superior intellect I was sure to win….eh wrong! I totally came in last! But to my defense I got the hardest questions ever and I knew almost ALL of the questions everyone else got! I think it was a conspiracy….no I know it was! It had to be! I mean seriously, how could I have lost?

I digress…so let me set up the scene….four players….Lin, Davido, Estevo and me. ( I was behind the camera, thus the semi self portrait in the ornament)

A gnarly game of Trivial Pursuit…and the winner is….my sister! OK so if you knew my family and knew the people at the table….she would have been the last person you would have expected to win. Yes I know…harsh…but the truth hurts mama and I gotta tell it like it is! Haha, but no, she had a valiant game with a little help from the hubs (obvious hints)…so again, I so should have had this game…but oh well it wasn’t in the cards for me.

This is Estevo listening to my mom and grandma talk about our usual holiday activities.

The next morning we rocket out Cranium…yes that is my mom making my sis look like a surfer….that’s how we do it in Texas….we don’t play games…well I mean, you know what i mean.

Christmas morning….ahh the fresh smell of wrapping paper!

Mom and Dad asked Estevo and Davido to hand out presents this year.

So this was a special Christmas because we all chipped in and gave my Vita (grandma) a big flat screen TV. She loves watching TV and she’s always had these crappy huge TVs. So she got a little emotional…and so did we. But she deserves it for everything she has done for us. Love you Vita!

For Estevo’s gift…we all chipped in and got him an XBox 360. We had gone to the store weeks before hand and he thought about buying one…but decided not to because they were a bit expensive. And then he looks at me and says…”Now don’t go and buy me this for Christmas, it’s too expensive.” And I shyly said “Ok sure.” Haha well too bad, I got it for you anway! And some shoes.

Here is Estevo and Davido enjoying a game of Madden.

Of course I got guitar hero for Estevo….or me…whatever.

In closing. I wanted to leave a few photos of my beloved Romeo. He’s getting up there in age and he has cancer. But he’s doing pretty well and we hope he stays around for years to come. Isn’t he the cutest with his little santa scarf?