Monthly Archives: February 2009

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Trust.

I have clients tell me all the time, ” We trust you”, “We are up for anything!”   I love it that my clients feel comfortable enough with me and my work to say this and it’s not something I take lightly.  There is a whole new level of trust when it comes to newborns.  So when I had this idea to “hang” a baby from a limb I needed to pick a client who I knew felt totally comfortable with me.  I didn’t have an image to show them and the best way I could describe it was that I wanted to hang a baby from a limb like a cocoon.  The “B” family never flinched and said, “We trust you.”  So I have been planning this set up for weeks.  From the limb (fresh cut by my wonderful husband), to the knot, to the fabric, and of course the lighting.  I have been practicing and shooting it  over and over.  I even put my dog in some fabric to test, yes my dog!  It had to be totally safe and it had to look awesome too!  Several fabrics, knots and set ups later we had a winner.  Now, all I needed was that beautiful new baby. 

 His parents were absolutely wonderful…I could not have done this without their help.   From the bottom of my heart thank you! 

If we get enough comments to this post I’ll post my dog shots.  I have some I took of Emma’s babies in it too.

I think he looks like a little birdie in the second one.  Congratulations “B” family he’s perfect and you guys rock!!

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Photographer in the making…

My friend Colleen is a bit ornery, which is probably why all my little clients love her.  Our sons are on the same basketball team this year so we get to watch the games together.  Emma was sitting with her and picked up her camera and wanted to take a picture.  She couldn’t get it to work so Colleen told her that she had to stick out her tongue and scrunch up her face in order for the camera to work.   So, Emma  did exactly that…

 

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Ha ha!  I nearly laughed my head off!!  This is her taking a picture of me…(if you look closely her tongue is still out)

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…and this is the picture she took! 

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Pretty darn good if I do say so myself.  I’m loving the composition on this one. 

Thanks for the chuckle Colleen!

Simply Beautiful…

There is something I love about black and white newborn photography.  Nothing to distract from the emotion that is felt by new parents, nothing to draw your eye away from that beautiful little face.  It’s simple and timeless.  Most times my favorite shots are just a black or white background and a perfect little newborn.  Sometimes the most powerful, storytelling images aren’t even faces…

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How about one in color.  This little carriage belonged to her mom when she was little.

 

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Congratulations to the “M” family on their beautiful baby girl!

Bittersweet.

She’s one!  I have to tell you that my first birthday sessions are always bittersweet.  While I love, love watching these kiddos grow it makes me sad I won’t be seeing them every few months.  To know I have captured these babies from sweet little newborns to expressive little people melts my heart.  I love my job, I really do.

 

I have photographed her in a cupboard, near a deer, and on a bear.

 

I have photographed her in a basket, with a hat, and on a chair.

 

I have photographed her in a carriage, on a sled, almost everywhere.

 

“I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I am.”

 

Ooops!, felt like Dr. Suess there for a minute.

 

Happy, Happy 1st Birthday “J”!!!!

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“Just leave me the chocolate and no one will get hurt!”

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An apology, a thank you, and pure sweetness!

First the apology. In the 3 years I’ve been a business I have never missed an appt. I am always on time (most times early), well except the time I ran out of gas (remember that?). Anyway, the other day I was making ham and beans, doing some laundry, mating some socks (I detest mating socks), just catching up on some things around the house. I came upstairs from switching the laundry and noticed the light on my blackberry was flashing. I listened to the voicemail and it was one of my new clients “J”. Her message:

“J”: “Hi Shannon, this is “J”, I thought you were taking pictures of my kids this morning at 10:00.”

Oh my gosh! It is now after 11:00 and I totally started to have a panic attack. I knew her session wasn’t til tomorrow, I checked my calendar just this morning and her session is not til tomorrow!! I ran to my calendar and I had written the date down in the correct spot on the monthly calendar but when I transferred it to the daily calendar I put it down on Friday instead of Thurs.!! Oh (word that rhymes with strap)!

I called her right away and apologized 10 times for my flub and she was just as sweet as can be. I felt so bad I called her again an hour later to apologize again. We rescheduled for the following Tues. So again I just wanted to tell “J” that I’m sorry and I appreciate you being so great about it. So that brings us to my thank you…

Thank you to the “S” family for referring these wonderful new clients.

Now, onto the the pure sweetness. I totally fell in love with these two kiddos. Miss “A” was so polite and full of personality. I laughed through our entire session. She chatted and sang and asked me loads of questions. “What’s this for Miss Shannon?” “What do you do with this Miss Shannon?” She got to try out my new fabric background and I think she was pretty excited. I have loads of favorites from this session. It was difficult to narrow it down to just 3 each.

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Proud Part II

Our son Ryan was picked for student of the month! The teachers select 2 students from each grade every month based on citzenship, academics, and kindness toward others. We are so extremely proud of him! Makes me feel like we are doing something right with this whole parenting thing. Way to go Ryan!!!

I don’t have any photos of him being student of the month so how about a couple from last weekends basketball game.
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