News and upcoming events.

Its been quiet, but that just means we have been busy.  The next few weeks just will keep right on being busy.

Whats in store?
This week, I am shooting a ballet school.  Next week is the Michigan spring mini sessions.  And towards the end of the month, I have a 1 year cake smash celebration!

This summer also already looks to be promising.  This week alone I have made plans to visit Michigan again for summer pictures (june 15th- 24th), photograph a birthday party, and shoot her 2 year pictures!

July will bring us back to California! So if your in the Ventura county area and want pictures please let me know!

FREE EASTER SESSIONS? is she mad?

CONTEST TIME!  I am giving away not one but two FREE EASTER SESSSIONS, here in Fredericksburg.

Its as simple as a cute kid contest!

Rules and how to enter:
Send me a picture of your munchkin at RiveraArtistry@yahoo.com
I will post the folder of pictures onto my facebook.
Send everyone you know to click LIKE on the pictures! (must also be a fan of Rivera Artistry on facebook)
The child with the most likes will win.  and I will pick at random a second winner for the door prize (free session)

Winter in Fredericksburg,Va

I was born and raised in Michigan.  I have only been in Virginia 2 seasons, Fall and Winter.  Its really neat watching the difference in seasons from here, to there.  In Michigan winter lasts for at least 4 months.  Snow storms stick around for days and sometimes weeks.  I spent a good part of last winter, trudging through the snow in my boots, photography mittens, and heavy coat.  This winter, well its a little different.  I noticed something about the snow, it seems to only stick around for hours, not days!  If I want pictures of the snow, I have to get out in the storm! Yesterday was a perfect example of this.  At school bus time, it just barely started to flurry, light tiny little flakes. You wouldnt even notice them, unless you were really looking.  By 10 am there was a a dusting on the ground.

The flowers were still standing up happy and cheery looking.

The trees had a slight coating of snow.  Like they were dusted with a bit of powdered sugar.

And the birds were happily eating at the bird feeder, playing and enjoying the day.

As time wore on, and the day passed us the snow got heavier.  This is when my husband and I decided to go out on a little adventure drive.  We never went further than 15 minutes from my house, just in case the school closed early.  We went to Loriella Park, and the national cemetary.  We stopped and grabbed lunch and at it in the car.  I should say here, my husband isnt particularly into photography.  He could take it or leave it, but he likes making me happy.  He drove, I shot.  It was alot of fun, even he, enjoyed himself.  

Like I said though, the storm got worse. The snow, heavier.

 Loriella Park

Some time around 1pm the snow stopped, and instantly started to melt.  This was around the time we reached the Fredericksburg National Cemetary. 

By the time lunch was over and we started the drive home, the snow was almost gone.  We took the long way home, down a beautiful back country road.  What is normally a 10 minute drive, took us 30 minutes down this beautiful windy road. 

 Above is the beautiful Rappahannock River, and its trees budding.

See the steamy road? this was taken at 2:36pm same day.  

Its hard to believe the weather changes so drastically in such a short time.  Thursday it was 75 degrees, perfect blue sky, Monday was a snow storm that lasted 5 hours.  Today its beautiful outside again. Its always a new adventure.  I love having the privilege of documenting it all.  I will always miss Michigan, as it was my only home for 30 years.  But Im learning to love Virginia and all its beauty.  I look forward to many more adventures exploring this vast land, I now call my home. I hope you will all join me in my adventures.