Starting the New Year off with a bang!

BOWWinnerslogo1Black & White Bridal Portrait_Kristin VIning Photography

“Happy 2014…we’re back!!!”

The decorations are stored.  The twinks are back in school.  The big Bum’s Rum Cake season has slowed.  It’s a New Year!!

Let’s get creative again!!

I learned this past October that Kristin Vining Photography was a recipient of a Best of Wedding Award in the Bridal Portrait Category.  In September, Charlotte Wedding sent out a survey asking more than 900 Charlotte-area wedding professionals, “If you were getting married, who would you use?”  And KVP was voted by our industry’s local peers as Best Bridal Portrait Photography.

SO GRATEFUL!!!!

Be sure to pick up a copy of Charlotte Wedding Magazine on newsstands now.

Congrats to all of the newly engaged couples!!  Excited to meet you.

And to our 2014 brides…”Let’s do this!!!”

~ xo ~

I saw God today.

Baby Thorne_Kristin Vining Photography

There are very few things in this life that leave one gasping for air.  Today I experienced one of them.

Life’s entrance.

Her sweet angelic voice called at 3:39am.  “It’s time.”

I arrived at 4:25am.  Streaming tears.  Hugs.  Here we go… Every ounce of her mind, body, spirit and soul were ready.  Ready to deliver one miraculous life. Her strength mystified us all.  Less than ten pushes and he…

Was here.

John Henry Thorne.

Pink and supple.  Six pounds, 13 ounces.  Twenty and a quarter inches long.

Born 5:41 am

Congratulations, John and Lindsey Thorne!  My world has been touched more that words could ever express.  To the moon and back… We saw God today.

~ xo ~

Paul - That is one fantastic video! So incredibly beautiful, they will love this for a lifetime. Well done!!December 7, 2013 – 1:51 pm

Claudia Soto - What an amazing video. Congratulations!December 7, 2013 – 1:55 pm

Katy Clatterbaugh - Omgosh…I don’t have words
That was amazing..December 7, 2013 – 2:14 pm

Amber Palmer - You are such an Angel and there are no words to express the miracle of life. This is simply amazing. You are an amazing photographer.December 7, 2013 – 2:25 pm

Jeannie McLellan - Yay God!!! I am so happy for them. I watched this video with tears streaming down my face. I have followed their journey. Infertility carries a sorrow like none I’ve ever felt. I remember their faces in the photo shoot about a year ago when they found out that their cycle didn’t take. These photos are such a gift and treasure for those who are struggling now. There are no words! God bless little John Henry and his parents. So, so, so sweet!!! Best Christmas ever for them!!!December 7, 2013 – 2:39 pm

Lingky C Sugg - Kristin …. you’re a really amazing TRUE TRUE friend …. you were even there to document Henry’s arrival.
I am so happy for Lindsey & John …. now they can call themselves “parents” …. what a gracious name, right ? GOD is GREAT !!!!December 7, 2013 – 3:00 pm

Jeni - How amazing!!!! Love it! I admit, I cried!!!December 7, 2013 – 3:11 pm

Bergen - Absolutely heart warming! Gods miracle. So happy for them & their family. Your video made my cry! xoDecember 7, 2013 – 3:32 pm

Hope - This takes my breath away. All of the love in the world to Lindsey and John and Baby Henry! Kristin- your talent is such a gift. Love you all!December 7, 2013 – 4:03 pm

CJ Bostrom - Ditto! I’m here sitting at work crying over this video and the happiness I know they are sharing from such a beautiful gift of life!December 7, 2013 – 4:51 pm

Nina - THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!December 7, 2013 – 4:57 pm

Candice Lanning - SO THRILLED for the amazing Thorne Family!!!!December 7, 2013 – 8:04 pm

Courtney Martinez - I’m speechless … So beautiful Kristin <3 you truly captured the miracle of life ! Lindsey and John are going to be the best parents. I am so utterly happy for them and their new little family xoxoDecember 7, 2013 – 9:51 pm

mandie miller - STUNNING. tears, tears, and more tears. loved it all! xoDecember 7, 2013 – 11:16 pm

Ann Norment - Just beautiful! Witnessing the birth of a baby is so amazing. You captured it in such a lovely way! The family will cherish this forever!December 7, 2013 – 11:25 pm

Mere loftus - So much of gods perfection love and beauty captured. Very moving. Great job!!!December 7, 2013 – 11:32 pm

Carolina Charm - absolutely beautiful. God is so good!December 8, 2013 – 10:04 am

Sunnye - Absolutely breath taking! Truly watched a miracle happen from the very start theough all of your beautiful photography! Big hugs to you and thebbeautiful Thorne family!December 8, 2013 – 12:30 pm

Whitney B - I was hoping you would be there to capture the moment. How amazing. What a blessing. God is so good! xoxoxoDecember 9, 2013 – 6:22 am

kristinvining - Oh my!! Where do I even begin?? Your words (each and every one of them) have moved me to my core. THANK YOU!!! The phrase “going through the motion, but with GREAT EMOTION” is how I will remember the physicality of being there photographing. God was all over that room!!!! He guided my shaking, unsteady hand. I THANK HIM for being my extension that morning. Without His presence who knows what we would have gotten. Lindsey Regan Thorne and John Thorne are very close and dear to my heart. Traveling this journey with them was very much a reminder of our own infertility issues. But with great patience, hope, perseverance and our Lord…He gifts us when He is ready. In His time. Gosh…and that is tough b/c we are all selfish and want it in OUR time. So we relinquish control. Then the greatest blessing happens…a baby (or babies)! What a miracle!!!! I wish everyone the merriest of Christmases. My appreciation and gratitude for the encouraging words are spirit lifting. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER!!! Love!December 9, 2013 – 12:23 pm

Lindsey Regan Thorne (Mama) - You have me… us… in tears again. I had no idea you posted our little story on your blog. Your words, once again have both John and me in tears and then we watched our video (again) and cried even harder. One week has past and it’s been the best week we ever imagined… tossed in with the most exhaustion we’ve ever felt. That being said, the best day of my life is a bit of a blur (to both of us) and I’m SO incredibly thankful that we have this video and images to reflect back on. Besides our sweet son, this IS the greatest gift. Thank you friend… for your generous heart… for loving John, myself and Henry the way that you do! For calling daily to check in during your busiest time of the year. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me. I’ll never forget the moment when you walked in the room… I’ll never forget looking up at you — needing confirmation that I was doing ok. These will be cherished for a lifetime, not only by us, but by our entire who live far away. I love you!December 15, 2013 – 1:06 pm

Lisa Bonome - Thank you Soo much for sharing this with us. There is nothing more beautiful than the gift of life!!! We are Carrie’s cousins in Massachusetts and were so looking forward to seeing this beautiful baby, never did we think we would see this beautiful video you put together, Kristen Vining, you are the best!!!!

Lisa Bonome
OxoxoxoxDecember 15, 2013 – 1:35 pm

Becky Boellstorff - Beautiful! So happy for you! Words can’t express that love you now have for your son!December 15, 2013 – 5:18 pm

Baby Henry Announcement » Charlotte NC Wedding Photographer - […] December 7th (his momma’s bday!) at 5:41am…and I witnessed it […]February 18, 2014 – 12:44 pm

Alive, Kicking and Bumming!

Bums-Rum-Cake_Kristin-Vining-Photography

 

November 11th since my last blog?  Now that is just ridiculous!  Shame, shame, shame on me.

BUT…

I promise it certainly isn’t because I’ve been shopping, having tea with the girls and spa’ing it up (don’t I wish)!

This holiday season marks my husband’s 2nd year owning A Bum’s Rum Cake (THE WORLD’S BEST RUM CAKES I MIGHT ADD!).  And yours truly learned last year to put the camera down mid November through the end of the year to focus on well let’s see… baking (yikes, me in the kitchen is scary…but I’m a great assistant and getting so much better at cracking eggs and melting butter!), marketing, packaging, shipping – and let’s not forget preparing to work a twelve day christmas show in which we moved more that ONE THOUSAND RUM CAKES!!  Woot!!  Oh – and I love that our rum supplier is the #1 distributor for our special rum (secrets in the sauce) in the state of South Carolina for the second straight year- largely due in part to Bum’s Rum!!

That’s a LOT of rum!

If you haven’t tried a cake…you must do so…they are divine!

I promise to be back in January with tons of new eye candy from 2013 that has yet to go public.

Until then, I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and a very Merry Christmas!!!

~ xo ~