So something that not a whole lot of people know is that I actually went to school to become a teacher. I thought it would be the most fun a person could possibly have at work… giggles, playing, teaching eager little minds. Yep… Then I actually got a job that involved being a teacher for 4 & 5 year olds. Umm… yeah. In case you weren’t aware- children that age aren’t always the most eager participants in anything that doesn’t involve their own plans. There was lots of corralling, lots of ‘we don’t do that here’ & lots (‘n lots ‘n lots) of snotty noses.
Needless to say, I lasted 3 weeks at that job & I admitted defeat. I am no match against 18 three-and-a-half foot tall humans- LOL. Fast forward a few years and I discover photography. Children’s photography. And I think to myself… ‘well, that works! I mean all those psych & human development classes will give me a leg up here :)’ I have to say… it has. I have loved it. In the last couple of years though I have started mentoring. And I feel like I have found my calling. I get to teach & share with people that want to be there AND I still get to play (yep- pure play.. no lesson plans, no itineraries, just fun) with kids.
Why am I telling you this story? Cause I am still basking in the high from today. Another day, another fabulous new photographer friend & another shoot with a beyond cute kiddo. And I am feeling that everything happens for a reason and that my paths have led me to just the place I am supposed to be.
LJ and I hung out today (I wish I was half as smart/prepared as she is starting her business) talked shop & did a little bit of this…
thank you so much guys… it was fabulous :)
portland | OREGON
Took another little jaunt back to DFW & photographed Ms. Jane Aldridge again. I absolutely love photographing her & her family…
a) they come packaged in AMAZING styling (1/2 my job: done.)
2) the camera adores them
& mostly… they are sweet, talented, salt of the earth people that I truly enjoy hanging out with.
thank you so much to Jane & Judy for having me back & letting me play… (gotta check out their links- inspiring, extraordinary stylists/designers/talents)
and our images from the day …
dallas | TEXAS
Hannie: These are - as allways - absolutely gorgeous!! Love the light, love the colors, love the sparks, love the sun flare. (06.11.2010 01:43pm)
kristin cook: aaaghhhhhhh.. I lOVE these!!! The colors are so rich and beautiful!!! (06.11.2010 02:59pm)
Lroah: Good god Shannon! These are amazing. She is so gorgeous. (06.11.2010 04:42pm)
Shauna: SPECTACULAR!!! So dramatic and beautiful! (06.11.2010 06:31pm)
zalaine: You two are amazing.... (06.11.2010 06:49pm)
Chrissi Richards: Shannon, someday, when I'm as pretty as her, I'd love to have you photograph me! :) Beautiful job. (06.11.2010 10:10pm)
Sarah: Amazing work! Love it. (06.12.2010 12:22am)
gina g: i think she might be the sweetest thing ive ever seen. so beautiful, shannon. welldone. (06.12.2010 08:54am)
Tj: What a stunning girl! LOVE the red hair! My fav is the last one. AMAZING! (06.12.2010 09:24am)
Becky: WOW! Gorgeous! Love that first series of 4 the ones on that grey couch! (06.12.2010 09:41am)
stephanie mcbride: sheesh....how do you not covet what she's got goin' on? well done, well done to both of you :) (06.12.2010 10:13pm)
Jackie Jean: these are all wonderful! (06.13.2010 09:44am)
Rose: She's adorable. Wow! And the outfits? Total knock-out! I'm in awe. God you do amazing photos. Not take, you make! Stunning! (06.13.2010 11:23am)
lesley: Hahaha, all I did the first time was stare at her hair and think "I want her hair!!" Then I went back and thought..."I luv Shannon, she's amazing!" Then "I want her hair!". :) (06.14.2010 11:48am)
stacey: I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this set! This was a bit of a different look for you and I loved all of it! Nice work! (06.14.2010 07:42pm)
Tori Piercy: GORGEOUS!!! And what a beautiful girl! (06.14.2010 10:14pm)
Christine Pobke: absolutely gorgeous, shannon! :) you're right - the camera DOES love them! :) beautiful! (06.14.2010 11:05pm)
Dina: goodness gracious, great balls of fire red! this gal is beautiful...love the styling, love the poses, love the light! I've been following you forever now and am still hoping you make it out closer to me for that mentoring session I've been dreaming of for so long! keep bringing the beauty and the inspiration! (06.15.2010 07:09am)
wrecklessgirl: i just have one word: MAGICAL. i keep coming back to look at these--over & over. magical light, magical girl, magical colours, magical location, magical feel! (06.15.2010 09:57am)
Paige Butcher: These are so unbelievably gorgeous. There aren't even words... (06.15.2010 10:11am)
Cari Enticknap: These are stunning. The lighting is perfection. The shoes are too die for. What an amazing gal - and you two together are magic.... (06.15.2010 07:46pm)
Carrie: Stunning! The styling and photography is just divine! (06.16.2010 02:25am)
oneshotbeyond: her hair...and all the shoes + boots. WOWZER!!! :-) Brilliant shots... (06.16.2010 06:53am)
Kara Layfield: Amazing Photography & Styling!! You totally knocked these out of the park Shannon!! (06.16.2010 07:58am)
ryan: you're right...great styling and beautiful girl, but don't sell yourself short...your photos rock. (06.18.2010 04:35pm)
Jennifer Sparaco: Stunning, amazing, wonderful, gorgeous, inspirational....wow....you just keep on bringing us the good stuff Shannon!! Thank you again and again for your inspiration! (06.21.2010 08:31am)
Whitley Pollet: Love these Shannon!!! The styling is amazing and I agree, the camera does love them! :) (06.21.2010 01:56pm)
Clarice: Gorgeous images. Love the lighting and styling. (06.21.2010 09:36pm)
elizabeth pellette: these are wonderful Shannon. (06.22.2010 12:39pm)
jennifer: hands down. feet down. down down down...YOU are my favorite photographer ever. Love what you do. (06.22.2010 08:56pm)
Michelle: Wow..these are stunning! What a beautiful girl with such porcelain skin! I love the location...as always, they are amazing. And, the one with the sparkles...my favorite. I mean, what girl doesn't like something sparkly?!? (06.24.2010 12:46pm)
Kristin Laughlin: Loved how these turned out! Beautiful Shannon! XOXO (07.01.2010 09:55am)
christina: I just found your site through jane's blog and I am blown away by your photography. You have such a great eye for capturing one's beauty and character through the lens. I have to tell everyone about you and hopefully I can hire you someday!! May I ask what kind of camera did you use for jane's shoot? (07.07.2010 12:26am)
Abra Michelle: WOW! These are amazing. What a truly gorgeous girl with an amazingly fearless sense of style that kicks butt! (07.27.2010 07:06pm)
fort worth | TEXAS
Rose: Aww, gotta love their costumes and serious faces. And also the details, the crown, swords, the little boats. Beautiful. Their curiosity shines in the second to last photo and it is such a precious image. (06.07.2010 11:45pm)
angela hubbard: as always. brilliant! x (06.08.2010 12:49am)
kristin cook: holy moly....so cute!!! Love this theme. Very 'Where the Wild Things Are'! (06.08.2010 05:51am)
Jenni Wise: Oh! These turned out so great! And see not too orange! :) (06.08.2010 06:16am)
Kara Layfield: Love the theme. Perfect age and perfect spot!! I love how those capes have collars - super cute! (06.08.2010 07:34am)
Gina P.: i love little boys! where in fort worth were you??? would love to have met you :) (06.08.2010 07:41am)
Kathy Carlisle: I couldn't place them until the end...wow how these boys ever grown. I am so in love with the whole concept and the details are over the top awesome!!! The shirts (brilliant), the swords (I can see you at home constructing them), the boats (shut up!) and the crowns...well, I just don't even know what else to say because I am verklempt.. The whole execution is enough to inspire one to go run off and have an grand adventure of their own. K (06.08.2010 08:13am)
zalaine: These are perfect. the perfect childhood, captured. Oh my Miss S...perfection in every way. (06.08.2010 09:50am)
Yuka photo art: Amazing photographs...light, outfits, ideas.....these cute boys!!!! I love it! (06.08.2010 09:55am)
Corey Sewell: Very boyish and "Where the Wild Things Are" - love them! (06.08.2010 11:36am)
Vickey Weiss: I would have LOVED to be at this session - you and Fred...sigh love the styling as always!!! awesome. (06.08.2010 12:47pm)
Amy C: Just perfect! From a boy mom... :) (06.08.2010 01:14pm)
Jess Kamm: Soooo cute, are those Fred Egan's boys?? (06.08.2010 02:17pm)
Scarlette: Your themed shoots are always breathtaking. LOVE these. (06.08.2010 09:47pm)
Alexandra: I can't tell you how much I adore the creativity in this shoot. It's beautifully captured, and something they will cherish forever. Great job!! (06.09.2010 12:25am)
Susan Dodd: Just one word...LOVE!!!! :-) (06.09.2010 07:29am)
Tami: Boys being boys, I love it! (06.09.2010 07:36pm)
lauren clark: I would know those faces anywhere! (06.10.2010 07:01am)
lesley: Oh my goodness, I just love how simple yet fantastic this shoot is!! Fabulous once again! :) (06.10.2010 10:02am)
D Baker: Once again, you've dug into my imagination. These photos live there I just don't seem to have that creativity to pull them out. I have two boys 4 and 8 and this is sooooo them. LOVE IT! (06.10.2010 12:59pm)
janice: yeah. good one, shannon. you sure know how to undersell yourself. my goodness, i should never believe you when you are unsure about a shoot. look at the comments here. now do you believe how amazing you are?!? (06.10.2010 10:55pm)
stephanie mcbride: definitely see Mr. Egan in the curly haired son... beautiful job Shannon, loving the hats. jumping shot is my favorite ;) (06.12.2010 10:11pm)
PhotoDude: capes!! (06.13.2010 05:21pm)
Janee: Oh how I love your style...I think ALL are my favorites.!! (06.14.2010 12:32pm)
Whitley Pollet: Wow Shannon, this may be one of my favorite sessions of yours! Love the simplicity of the setting and how their curiosity and youthfulness shines through! Love love love! (06.21.2010 01:57pm)
elizabeth pellette: OH SHANNON.. Shannon Shannon.. wow.. these are all amazing.. I love these so much you have no idea (06.22.2010 12:41pm)
kylie: Wow Shannon. I love everything you do but I especially love this session. The cape made out of a man's shirt. AMAZING! You pictures are the way childhood should be remembered. Wonderful. (07.09.2010 09:57am)
Susan: Wow. What a chivalrous and fun adventure caught with amazing photography! (01.29.2013 06:17am)
In preparation for the sale of our house, I went through everything… not even a shoe box in the garage was left unturned. What I discovered is that I could easily get rid of 50% of what was there (and did- I mean who really needs a dining room set??) and that I had forgotten about little treasures that I now can’t believe I lived without. In the top section of that list would be my once-so-used-and-adored-circa-10-or-15-years-ago-slr camera. And because it was my reason for going Canon when I went digital, all my lovely little L glass lenses now fit *big smiley face*. There were a few rolls of expired film with it so what was a girl to do? Grab another photographer with expired film and go on a little film adventure of course.
one roll of agfa pro 200 (now discontinued- booo….) & a couple hours later…
** no additonal processing. developed & scanned. soooo nice :) I’ve been shooting a TON of Holga the past few months… totally inspired to scan away.
portland | OREGON
wrecklessgirl: soooo awesome! i love this post and i love your film shots! :) (06.05.2010 02:58am)
Amy C: FUN! I always look forward to your posts! You are so inspiring! :) (06.05.2010 04:27am)
Angie Higa: I love them! Isn' that something - no additional processing. Beautiful. I'm still keen to hear about Vancouver this summer :) ~Angie (06.05.2010 05:38am)
kristin cook: Wow, what rich colors! Beautiful. (06.05.2010 06:19am)
PhotoDude: yum-mee indeed! nice red geese. and the sepia, let's just say, the serendipity continues... (06.05.2010 04:33pm)
Sunny D Wright: WOW! I didn't get into photography until after the digital revolution and it sure would be fun to experiment with film. Such a neat look and I love the "realness" (if that's a word). (06.06.2010 08:26am)
Whitley Pollet: How fun!!! Looks like the expired film worked out well for ya. :) (06.06.2010 08:39am)
lesley: I've been searching for a film camera to get my hands on to experiment a little bit more, you've totally inspired me (again!) to search a little harder! :) (06.07.2010 09:08am)
Kara Layfield: Wow...I love film!! I shot with film a little when in college...so much fun! (06.08.2010 07:32am)
gina g: shut up, shut up, shut up shut up .... SHUT.UP. =) I mean this is the most wonderful of ways ... this is what i was repeating to myself as i scrolled down and these gorgeous, adorable photographs began to reveal themselves. what a gift you have... I'm so glad you're not teaching snotty nose kids! xoox #inspired (06.27.2010 09:13am)
Amy C: Best of both worlds! These are beautiful!! (06.27.2010 05:35pm)
Chrissi Richards: so good. really so good. (06.27.2010 08:13pm)
lesley: oh my gosh Shannon, seriously?!! These are just simply awesome, and those cats! Again, amazing! Umm...when can I mentor with you?! :D Seriously... (06.27.2010 10:18pm)
Misty: That picture of the kitten on the top right is killing me. SO DANG CUTE! Love the whole shoot! Amazing as usual! (06.27.2010 11:21pm)
Sunny: HEY! The yarn balls turned out GREAT! :) Love it! See ya in the AM. And FYI....I got my teaching degree too! K-8 from WSU. GO COUGS! HA! (06.27.2010 11:48pm)
Rose: Magnificent! Love the tones, the light... amazing. And the kittens? Totally love. Wonderful session. Soooo cute and girlie! (06.28.2010 02:23am)
Tj: Beautiful work Shannon. (06.28.2010 07:40am)
amy: Dude, my cat Paris wanted me to tell you that those are her babies she never had! I am in awe of this shoot, what a talent you are! LOVE IT!!! Seriously, where are those kittens from, I want to add to my persian brood! (06.28.2010 08:11am)
Vickey Weiss: so purrrrdy! (06.28.2010 08:37am)
stacyZ: wow just gorgeous! Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!!! (06.28.2010 09:58am)
Dina: love tracing the path your life has taken...you are certainly utilizing all your God given gifts here, girl! :) so, where are you traveling to soon to offer these mentoring sessions?? near me, asap?! (06.28.2010 10:30am)
Corey Sewell: These are gorgeous and so much fun! Love the colors and the "theme"! (06.28.2010 11:59am)
Gail Zeak: OMG, Shannon, I love these! Incredible! Those kittens are so adorable and so is the model! (06.28.2010 04:06pm)
Kelly: in awe as usual - just love how you style your shoots Shannon! (06.28.2010 06:51pm)
Jeana: THESE ARE GORGEOUS!!! I love the concept and everything about them. You are amazing! (06.28.2010 08:27pm)
kyla: If my photography could marry yours - I would DEFINITELY marry yours! That was NOT meant to be creepy. I just simply ADORE every post and would DIE from sheer happiness to be mentored by you! I have my fingers crossed for someday! (06.28.2010 09:30pm)
PhotoDude: me wanna play. (06.28.2010 11:51pm)
stephanie mcbride: seriously stop it. blown' away again:) (06.29.2010 02:24am)
zalaine: Oh my! Turquoise, white and black...what a combo. The textures just jump out at your. These two lovelies are adorable and you just make thme shine, like always. Beautifully done and summer inspiring... (06.29.2010 03:56am)
julie brazeau: omg,omg,omg.sooo cool! You are the coolest! (06.29.2010 10:35am)
Hillary: Love these pictures. The colors are soooo incredible and the kitten is just too cute! (06.29.2010 12:55pm)
janice: stunning. i think this is my favorite shoot of your's to date. i know!! that's a lot for me to say, since i've followed you since the very beginning AND since i am your biggest fan...but, i love set and the girl and the color. i must say - the color is superb....thanks for being amazing, shannon. you bring a smile to my face and a bit of art into my life on a regular basis... --janice (06.29.2010 05:46pm)
jennifer: well by golly you've done it again...steller photos. love 'em. (06.30.2010 06:03am)
Jenny: i know this is probably getting REAL old but you are amazing! um, the kitten? stinkin cute! i still want to do a shoot with you but am CHICKEN! :-) (06.30.2010 08:29am)
Tami: Wow, I had to look like three times to figure out if those kittens were real...I am kinda slow sometimes. They are so cute, great concept with the yarn. I used to have cats when I was a kid, and now we just have a dog, but this has got me thinking :) PS I didn't know you went to school to become a teacher but it makes sense. You are great at sharing your knowledge with others. (06.30.2010 10:12am)
cindy: Since your titles for your blog posting are song lyrics, here are mine for you: “There are many things that I would like to say to you but I don't know how.” I also like this line: “I love you like a fat kid loves cake.” (06.30.2010 10:56am)
elizabeth pellette: Oh Shannon.. these are incredible.. wow.. and we just got a kitten like that recently.. whoohooo (07.03.2010 07:58am)
oneshotbeyond: happiness is THIS shoot! (07.05.2010 10:00pm)
christina: gorgeous photos and I'm gushing over how adorable those kittens are! (07.07.2010 12:28am)
Kara Layfield: Seriously amazing!! Inspiring and creative!! Shannon....I think you have found your calling!!! Doesn't it feel good to find your place in this big ole world! (07.13.2010 07:19am)