So when I found out that Diane was engaged I was so thrilled for her.  Having known her children for years now, I’ve seen what a wonderful and genuine person Diane is. In fact she reminds me so much of my own Mom that I can’t help but like her.

Diane actually contacted me through facebook. Gotta love facebook. :)  I was so glad that I was able to share their special day. Right off the bat she told me that it was going to be very casual. The ceremony and picnic that followed were at Newnans Lake.  With their family and friends present  they said “I DO”.  I have to say it was a perfect spot for their ceremony, lakeside with a playground for all the little ones and nothing but blue skies/

It was wonderful to see two people who were so in love and loved by so many.  Here’s the sneak peek for two anxious newlyweds.

~Hugs, Shannon

There are so many wonderful moments that a photographer gets to share with their clients. One of the most beautiful and miraculous times is when parents are expecting a new baby and even more so when we get to meet those little miracles.

When Jamie contacted me, there was an urgency in her request… Her baby was due within the week. WOW!!! This was to be a first.  Having had three beautiful children of my own I knew just how special this time was for Jamie and Paul. So we did her maternity session right away.

Jamie and I chatted through the entire session, she is wonderful person,  who felt more like a friend than a client. :)  Did I forget that she is stunning…

SO I photographed Jamie on Sunday….

And Jackson was born on Tuesday!!!  That was definitely a first.   The little man was 5 days old at his newborn session and completely adorable.

Jamie and Paul, thank you for letting me share these special moments with you.

Hugs, Shannon

Several weeks ago I got a call from Cristi, she’s a Senior at Northside Christian Academy (which happens to be about a mile away from the farm I grew up on). She wanted to have a Senior session but with it being her Senior year and having a job, she’s a busy young woman.  Luckily we were able to make it happen.

After lots of cold weather and rain here in the sunshine state we got a gorgeous afternoon to shoot some amazing photos.  So we did some studio photos, then to the lake and a couple other spots I’d been wanting to visit. Cristi was a great model, and we had a blast. Not only is she beautiful on the outside but she is a real sweetheart.

So most of my work is natural light photography, here’s a peak at a style that I’m really into right now. “Vintage”!! 

My husband calls it “artsy”, I just love the color tones and texture. Thanks Cristi for such a fun afternoon.

Hugs, Shannon

So after 11 years of marriage, three daughters, a mortgage and a mini van we make a decision that completely changes everything. We bring home a puppy!!!

A co-worker of my husband’s offers us one of the cutest little creatures you’ve ever seen.  My husband likes pets, my girls love all animals (hence the mini-farm we already have complete with bunnies, hamsters and a fish named Ben).  As for me I’m not that into them, of course we had dogs growing up but there was never any animal living in our house.  With the exception of a turtle named Fred that my highschool biology teacher gave me. So I give in and we go to visit the “puggies”.

Boy were they cute, the kids would have brought them all home if they could have. I decide that we need to think logically, pick the most docile one, the one that doesn’t bite and just lays around. So we decide on which one we want and name her Lily.  My logic was a flop I soon found out, the girls tell me daily that Lily tricked me.

So now we have this little pug that drives me crazy, I remind her daily the only reason she gets to stay is because she is so darn cute. LOL.  Right now she is 10 weeks old and growning like crazy. I will admit that she has brought many laughs into our household along with  countless “ohhh Lily” .

Without further ado…

I have such an appreciation for pet photographers now. Give me  wedding photography,  maternity portraits, newborn photos even a pair of two year olds would be easier to photograph than a puppy.  I took this particular image right before Lily’s bedtime, even with that on my side it was a challenge.  Pet photography?  That I will have to think about.

Hugs, Shannon

While we were in Tennessee for Christmas and New Years, my kids kept asking me what time it was “Tennessee time”. Explaining a time difference, even if it is only one hour, isn’t something that a five year can quite grasp.

If there was a family that ever needed a vacation it was mine. 2009 was a crazy and challenging year for us. I will say that we came out of it an even stronger family though. On our way to the cabin we were able to stay over with some family outside of Atlanta.  They were so welcoming and kind, it was really nice to spend time with them. Thank you to the Bradleys. What a blessing to not have to drive 10 hours straight to our destination with three kids.

Now my wonderful husband had been to the cabin several times, I’d seen the pics and heard the stories but little did I know what we were in for. He had explained what a small town it was in, I grew up in a small town so I thought I was okay with it. BUT, we’re talking  a post office, a filling station (where a 70 year old man still pumps your gas), a restaurant that offers “catfish and ribs” and a general store. You blink and you’ve missed it.  Now some of you might laugh, some might cringe ( I did at first) but I soon found out something very special about “Tennessee time”…

Something amazing happens when there isn’t all the busyness of the “daily grind”.   When you’re able to not be in a hurry, when by choice you have absolutely nothing on the agenda, life becomes so much more simple.  Christmas Eve we made ornaments to go on the tree, the kids loved it. Christmas Day, we took a drive through Standing Stone National Park and marveled over God’s amazing creations. That night we ate a delicious meal that no one had stressed and fussed over.  Life was good…

We made lots of good memories while we were there and I can guarantee you there will be many more over the years when we visit our little mountain cabin. 2010 is in full swing already but I’ve made a promise to myself that whenever I start to get caught up in our “fast paced” life, I’m going to remind myself of “Tennessee time”. Each moment we have really is a gift,  personally I plan on treasuring and using each one wisely.

So where are the photos? This is supposed to be a photography blog right?  I must admit while in Tennessee my camera didn’t see much action, here are a couple that I did capture. One of this gorgeous barn and the other of Dale Hollow Lake (can’t wait to go back in the summer).

So for those of you who do follow my blog (hi Miss Donna), the blog is going to be changing a little. I’ll be sharing more of the daily stuff that goes on in our lives and not just the photo stuff.   Look out!

Hugs, Shannon

So my first memory of the Mason Family is from over a decade ago. I walked into the church gymnasium to see an almost 2 year old Caleb hitting a baseball off of a Little Tykes batting toy like he was a professional baseball player.  Soon after Mikayla was born.   It was fun watching these two grow up, I remember talking with Tracy about all of their milestones and actually shedding a few tears over how fast they were growing up.  A few years ago they left our small town. The amazing thing about friendship, is that even if you’ve been apart for long periods of time you can still pick right back up like you’ve never been apart.

I was so excited when Tracy asked if I could take their photos over Thanksgiving break. It was great to spend a little time with them, and see what a wonderful family they still are.  Just wanted to share a few pics of  their super cute kids (sorry I should say young people). Love you Tracy, you sassy thing you…

Hugs, Shannon

Wow,  what a ride… Keeping up with three busy kids, the holidays and photo sessions this blog has a way of getting away from me.  First of all I hope that everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving.  Ours was filled with family and a ton of yummy food.

For one brief moment the night before Thanksgiving  I was left speechless. My recently turned five year old comes into the bathroom where I’m painting, yes painting (much cheaper than therapy and it makes me happy). Her  little face full of hope and adoration says to me, ” happy Easter tomorrow Mommy” and runs back to bed.  So either I’m really bad about explaining holidays or she’s hoping the Easter bunny is visiting rather than Tom the turkey. One way or the other I got many laughs off of that one little comment. 

Now let’s rewind to a few days earlier when I had the pleasure of photographing Erica and Sam’s wedding.  What a day… I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of raindrops, nothing out of the ordinary for Florida but on this day there was supposed to be a wedding and an outdoor wedding at that.  I couldn’t even bring myself to call the bride or her Mother who is one of my dearest friends.  God has a way of working things out, despite the rainy morning noontime brought the sunshine.  30 minutes before the ceremony was set to begin everything was set up again, this time outside. Sam and Erica were able to have their lakeside nuptials.

These are a little preview for the newlyweds. 

~Hugs, Shannon

Well not really if you’re in Florida. Highs in the 80s don’t give many opportunities for mugs of hot apple cider or wearing cute knit caps.  Being a native Floridian, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We had a few chilly days and I had experienced enough cold weather.

So what makes it a little Autumnesque  here in the Sunshine state? Pumpkins, caramel apples, and football.

This weekend we’ll be having a “Kid Costume Party” at the studio in Downtown Starke, if all goes as planned there will be some caramel apples and plenty of treats for the kiddies.

As for the pumpkins, I want to share some pics from a couple of sessions.  I also want to send out a big thank you to my mother-in-law, Camille and my sister-in-law, Chasity for setting up an awesome pumpkin set. Thanks ladies!!!

We’ll be seeing lots of smiling faces this weekend. Then November is going to be full of Christmas photos, weddings, Thanksgiving and my baby’s birthday, so make sure you schedule your sessions as soon as possible.

Hugs, Shannon

The change in the weather here in Florida is a sign that the holidays are almost upon us.  So take out your trusty list…  The one thing I can definitely help you with is your family photos and Christmas cards. Just give me a call at 352.258.5207 or email me at info@shannonwphotography.com to schedule you appointment.

Hugs, Shannon