Male Seniors MUCH different than Female Seniors.

I have the privilege of working with this young man's mom and when she mentioned she needed a few "in studio" portraits taken for her son, I was excited to do it.  As a "on location" photographer, I shoot mostly outdoors.  So, working in a studio is a fairly new experience for me and I love the opportunity to do so!  I had planned all these fun "manly" poses, but when I met Kyle for the shoot, his mom told me "Kyle wants you to shoot one picture and be done."  We both laughed as she remincesed about her daughters senior pictures and the amount of time that was spent picking out outfits, deciding on hair, picking a location, etc.  Yep- not true for Kyle... just shoot one and be done!

Well- I did convince him to let me shoot a few more than one, but we were out of the studio in 20 minutes! He was a trooper and I think a very handsome senior as well!

The end of the session.. had to get one with mom!

Creative Headshots

I met Vanessa a few months ago when I shot her fathers 70th birthday party.  Instantly I knew she is the kind of woman I could be friends with!  She contacted me with the request for some portraits to be used for business cards and social networking.  However, she was scared silly about being in front of the camera!  Here's some of what she wrote...

"You should probably know that I panic in front of cameras. I panic because I'm not very photogenic, and I'm not very photogenic because I panic.  I hate posing. Freezing a smile is the kiss of death for my photos. I start feeling stupid immediately, and the camera picks it right up.  I think maybe a glass of wine beforehand...and I will bring along my sis to help make me laugh."

Her sister did come and we all had a great time.  Plus, we got some amazing shots!  

 Vanessa, you are beautiful inside and out and I am glad I got the  chance to photograph you!  

What did Vanessa think of the day?  A few days after the shoot she wrote me to say...

"Unbelievably, I have good memories of Sunday. That could ONLY be because of you!"

An Engagement Shoot the way it SHOULD be done!

I am so excited to have booked this amazing couple for their February wedding 2012.  Their engagement shoot was everything a photographer hopes for and more!  I bet you are curious on what that might be right?  What does it take to get AMAZING engagement portraits?  Well, let me tell you.

First off, a great location.  Serenity and Matthew chose Red Wing park and I love that park.  We even hiked around a bit and found some amazing spots I've never seen before!  The result... AMAZING!

Second, good weather.  With all the rain we've been having, I've had many a photo shoot ruined by mother nature!  But the day arrived with clear skies and warm(ish) weather!  Yeah!

And lastly, but SUPER important for an engagement shoot, a couple that is comfortable with each other in front of the camera.  Yep- I mean PDA!  I am definitely going to ask you to kiss each other so I can get loving, romantic shots we need for an engagement portrait.  And I have to tell you, Serenity and Matthew needed no help in this department.  (In fact, I had to tell them to stop kissing a few times, to get some of the other shots I wanted!!)   They were very comfortable with PDA and I loved every minute of capturing it for them.  They are hopelessly in love and just spending an hour with them made me reminisce about my own engagement... cause you know 11 years and three kids later, sometimes you have to stop and find the time to just love on eachother a bit.

I love LOVE.  Yep- you read that right.  I am in love with LOVE.  I immensely enjoyed photographing Serenity and Matthew and seeing their love for eachother so strong.  The biggest reason I love my job is being able to photograph LOVE and preserve that moment of love forever.  So when the three kids are driving you crazy, the car breaks down and the roof needs replacing... you can take a moment and remember when the only thing that mattered was each other.  Congratulations Serenity and Matthew, on finding love and taking time to express it everyday.  I am so excited to be a part of your engagement and soon, your wedding day!

Spring break + 600 miles + Virginia Beach= Amazing Senior Portraits

About six months ago, I had a young lady contact me about how much she loved my photography and wanted me to do her senior pictures.  Only down side, she was in Ohio.  She said she was going to try and schedule her spring break in Virginia Beach so we could do her portraits.  I said that would be great and to just keep me informed of her plans.  A few months go by and I get an e-mail saying she did it!  She convinced mom and dad to let her come down so I could be her photographer.

I have to say, that is an honor.  Having someone cherish your work enough to drive 600 miles, stay two nights and then drive 600 miles back home.  I was honored... and nervous!  The pressure was on to make this a fabulous shoot.

The big day arrives and I check the weather... rain and thunderstorms starting early evening.  NO!  That is when we are shooting.  So we move it up a bit- the clouds should help lesson the harsh mid-day light.  We end up getting through almost the entire shoot before the skies open it and we make it back to our cars just in time!  

The end result was a very happy senior 

and a happy mom too.  

"It was so worth the long drive.  I absolutely LOVE my pictures.  You did a great job."    

 And those words, make for a very happy 

photographer as well.  

FREE Frozen Yogurt or Coffee and Amazing Photography- a GREAT combination!

It's getting warm and I'm feeling very happy!  Couples are out walking and holding hands, kids are out playing, motorcycles are revvin, the birds are singing... ahh how I love spring. 

 In honor of spring,   I am giving away 

FIVE 

$25 STARBUCKS or  SKINNY DIP  gift cards!   

(I was going to do just Starbucks, but it's spring... I'd choose the Frozen Yogurt over the coffee myself!)

 How does it work?

  

Simply share my business with your friends and family and when they book 

YOU get the Free gift card!  That is it!  Simple.  They get amazing spring portraits, you get a spring treat!  

But I can only do this for the first five to schedule, so make sure you get to sharing right away!  And make sure your friends know to tell me who to send the gift card too!    

Happy Spring!

757-337-9024

devon.shanor@gmail.com

70 Years Young

I had a great time photographing this 70th birthday party with a "backyard fun" theme.  From corn hole, (if you aren't from the south you probably have no idea what this is) to football, a pinata to a guitar serenade and even a chance to catch up on the family gossip, there was something for everyone!  The weather was cloudy but the rain stayed away long enough for me to capture all the fun.