We had the good fortune of connecting with Lacey Valentine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lacey, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing with the hopes of one day running my own business. At the time, I had plenty of excuses- mostly financial security- for not venturing out on such a risky adventure just yet. Instead, I continued to pursue my corporate career in Hospitality, managing hotels, devoting every ounce of energy and brain power to making someone else’s dreams come true. It wasn’t until I suffered a medical emergency with my second pregnancy, where we lost our baby’s twin, that I realized life is too short and I was missing out on so much with my family. Two weeks later we found out we were still pregnant with our surviving twin- a complete miracle by our doctors terms. I walked in and gave my resignation that very day. I spent the next 7 years enjoying mom life, and documenting every ounce of it that I could from behind my camera. Then, just before covid put the world on pause, our youngest son was diagnosed with a chronic illness that turned our World upside down. Then a year ago, our sweet baby girl decided to take us for another wild ride by making her debut a whole month early. I say all of this to impress upon you the fact that we had one reason after another to delay me opening my photography business. It took me almost 7 years, in fact, to stop making excuses and gather the courage; to realize that there will never be the “right” time. So, this year I finally decided it may not be the “right” time, but it WAS time to turn my dreams into a reality and start my own family photography business. As a mom of four beautiful babies, I suddenly had this overwhelming urge to teach them how to chase down their own dreams, pursue their passions, and never let risk or adversity tell them they can’t do it. As a former manager, I was always one to lead by example and never ask my staff to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself. I realized that as a mom, I needed to lead by that same example. So much of the influence we have on our kiddos is by how we live our own lives. I want mine to know that they are my reason for chasing down my dreams, not my excuse for delaying them. My husband has been incredibly supportive and encouraging. He agrees that this time I should put all of my energy and brainpower into making my own dreams come true, while still enjoying time with my family. We’ve set boundaries that enable me to live the best of both worlds. It has been a lot of work getting everything started up, but it has also been such an exciting journey, and my only regret is that I waited so long! I couldn’t be more thrilled to capture happy moments in the lives of Arizona’s families. It truly is an honor to be trusted with documenting milestones that families will get to remember forever.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Happy Valentine Photography exists today because as a mom of 4, I have witnessed first hand just how fleeting the incredible little moments with our littles can be. One moment they are stretching our bellies beyond their limits, the next they are wrinkly, fuzzy, squishy little bundles of pure joy, and the next they are running off to experience their next great adventure or marrying the love of their life. It happens in an instant! And all too often, our memories just can’t keep up with all the little details. With Happy Valentine Photography, you can be sure you will walk away with those details secured for all of time, just the way you saw them unfold- with a magical pop! I love rich, true to color portraits that tell the story of what that moment in time was like. I want you to feel like you could step into the frame and be a part of the story. I want you to see every freckle, hair, and dimple of your child’s face, or the intricate detail in your dress on the most special day of your life. I am just so incredibly passionate about creating something you will cherish forever, which has made every bit of work on this journey feel so incredibly fulfilling. Easy? No. But so incredibly fulfilling. When I am able to deliver a breathtaking image to a client, it makes all the countless hours of education, selecting the right gear, determining the best business systems and processes, practicing, and editing, worth it. The feeling I get in that moment lets me know that I will always go the extra mile for my clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We absolutely LOVE living in Arizona because there are just so many different things you can see, do and taste! As a resident of the Upper West Side of Phoenix, we usually start our visitors off with a delicious breakfast at Biscuits or Hot Bagel. We’d then take them on a gentle hike up Sunrise or Thunderbird Mountain to experience the peace of the desert and the glorious views it has to offer. We’d then refresh them with a tasty beverage from Wow Wow Lemonade Stand- Strawberry Passionfruit is my favorite fresh pressed lemonade! Definitely try the toasts or açaí bowls too! If you want a good home-cooked meal for dinner (that we don’t have to cook), we’d take you to The Haymaker for a hot plate and a cold rootbeer served in a mason jar. The sweet potato fries are delicious and the kids can get pancakes all day! If you want good tacos, we’d have to go to Tacos Calafia on the west side, or Taco Guild on the East side. All of these places are incredibly kiddo-friendly and approved! On our itinerary would also be the Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix Zoo, and Phoenix Children’s Museum. Almost every visitor takes a day to drive up and explore the beautiful red rocks of Sedona, and a day to check out the vastness of the Grand Canyon. We always recommend driving to Williams and taking their adorable train to the canyon for an easy day trip that is sure to impress your little travelers, especially when the train is “robbed” by horseback cowboys on the ride back! We also love spending time cooling off at the splash pad at Paloma Park, and our kiddos love kayaking and scouting for wild donkeys at Lake Pleasant. As much as I adore children and family friendly activities, it’s also fun to be an adult sometimes. I highly recommend contacting Sisters Sitting Services to secure a fabulous babysitter for the night, and then head over for a romantic sunset dinner at Different Point of View, followed by drinks on their breathtaking outdoor patio that overlooks the city. Lastly, To really round out the trip, and send our visitors home with fond memories and full belly, we’d have a farewell meal at Little Miss BBQ. I’m convinced they are as passionate about their brisket as I am about my photography…and don’t forget to add the Jalapeño Cheese Grits!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My local church, CCV Peoria, has been such a powerful influence in setting me up for success. For years, I mistakenly found my identity in chasing down corporate accolades and climbing the proverbial ladder. Since finding my place in the church, and learning that my identity is in Christ, I have gained so much more in life by serving as a Junior High Coach, leading our weekly neighborhood group, and attending weekly services. It has helped me discover my love for serving others, and finding ways to bring a smile to someone’s face. There really is nothing like the feeling you get from that! One boundary that I set in my photography business is that I don’t typically work Saturday afternoons and evenings…which limits my wedding availability quite substantially. But, if you ever need to find me on a Saturday, our family will most likely be on the CCV campus! Our kiddos adore the children’s ministry, the adult services are so fulfilling, worship is incredible, and hanging at the grill with our friends afterwards is something we always look forward to. It was through our church that we met some of our very best friends that have encouraged us through so many milestones and storms over the years. And these same friends have been so incredibly encouraging and supportive as I have launched Happy Valentine Photography.

Website: www.happyvalentinephotography.com

Instagram: @HappyValentinePhotography

Image Credits
Happy Valentine Photography

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