First, thank you so much for all of the wonderful & kind words about this issue of Dreamer. The emails and comments have been sweeter than we could have ever expected… to say that we appreciate the amazing support is an understatement!
I had one other feature in this issue I wanted to share. It was the finishing touch on another project I have been working on for the past several months.
I have been in business for 7+ years now… the girls that I work with have moved from sweet little girls to trendy tweens. Through the transition I have found it more and more a challenge to wardrobe & style the shoots with the options out there. There are a million choices for little girls and adults but getting that older (but not too old) look that these little ladies were wanting was frustrating. I love styling and you can regularly find me ‘altering’ pieces here and there, throwing unexpected items together and playing fashion designer in my own closet. So, when Lisa and I started chatting about this dilemma, a little idea sparked. Why not do up a line of our own? (Lisa actually went to school for fashion design making this crazy idea totally doable).
We asked our girls and I interviewed my clients. We found out what they liked and what they didn’t like. We designed a line that fits every function of their daily lives while still allowing them to look totally adorable & stylish (& stay super comfy, too). Every item has been tried and tested by our little ladies, tweaked until we got nothing but oooh’s & ahhh’s (the soft cotton used in these pieces actually had the girls commenting on the fabric… when do 10 yr olds do that?) All the pieces can be mixed & matched (which was another must on their list). I finally got what I had been searching for.
I was so excited when the line was completed just in time to incorporate in my shoot for Dreamer. I love working with this age group and with a little help from Jen (art director extraordinaire) & Michelle (my go-to hair stylist), this line allowed the shoot to come together beautifully.
Without further ado… our first Wander Clothing line. I hope you love it as much as I do!
clothing: wanderclothing.com
art director: jenifer johnston
hair: michelle elliott
portland | OR
I have tons of different interests, passions, directions I like to take things… this last week has been an accumulation of A LOT of them! I am not sure if I am creatively bursting or creatively spent… I can tell you that being able to see so many visions become reality is a pretty great feeling (whether it’s pure high or pure exhaustion). If you’ve ever chatted with me or been to one of my workshops you know I am BIG on opening up your world to everything that interests you. I don’t believe in not doing something just because you haven’t done it before or because it isn’t ‘you’. I say if it seems interesting- dive in! The worst that can happen is that you learn something new to can incorporate in your life. Best thing that can happen? You find what you were born to do.
Doing the type of photography I do means I spend a lot of time with clothing designers, fashion blogs, graphic design… all of them inspire me and weave themselves into my work. I found myself being more and more drawn to these things so when Julie (Ms. ZozoBugBaby herself) and I kept bringing up how fun it would be to create a place where we could put all our ideas and interests, it became pretty apparent this was something that had to be done. Over the next few months Dreamer Journal began to take shape. There were a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of mistakes, a lot of re-do’s and start overs but, in the end, we did it. We created the place that we had dreamed of. It is with much pride & happiness (okay, there were some tears and curse words too) I share with you our second (woo-hoo) issue… the Spring issue of Dreamer Journal :)
clothing: Lisa’s Mini Mad Hattery
hair & make-up: Madeline Roosevelt
styling & photography: me
portland | OR
Kara Layfield: These girls are dolls!! Looks like such a fun shoot! LOVE the clothes. (03.07.2012 01:58pm)
sara: Wow... you can already see the kind of ladies these two beauties are going to grown into. Gorgeous expressions and perspective. LOVE Shannon! (03.07.2012 02:02pm)
Becky: the sweetness in these images just jumps off the screen!! I was so anxiously awaiting the new issue, can't wait to dive in!! (03.07.2012 03:36pm)
shannon @ Lifelong Impressions: Love it! (03.07.2012 03:37pm)
jeramie ritchie: Shannon..you are AMAZING! YOU inspire me!!! I love how you follow your interests and look at the insanely fabulous results...over and over! The issue is fantastic...and your shoot is adorable. Perfection! (03.07.2012 09:12pm)
Tiona Fuller: Your shoots look like they are so much fun! I love all of the styling...and of course - the images!! (03.13.2012 06:57pm)
Dreamer Journal just gave away the rockin’ little disco outfit from Ritchie Rags so that means it’s time to share another feature so they can give away another prize!!
This shoot was so much fun to do… giddy little girls, amazing craftiness, beautiful colors & adorable Zozo pj’s (that you can win if you just hop on over to the Dreamer Blog). The Christmas Style feature even tells you how to make your own Zozo inspired tree ;)
wardrobe: ZozoBugBaby & Hoo Hats
Ashley Madsen: How fun are all of these colors?!?! I love it!!! (12.13.2011 05:32am)
zalaine: Over the top and out of this world! This is Christmas! (12.13.2011 07:06am)
Ellie A.: Seriously I would totally rock one of those hats myself ha! These colors are so vibrant and fun. Those faces are way too sweet you of course rocked it once more! (12.13.2011 09:19am)
Shayna Shipley: Aww Shannon! I love you! Your pictures always make me smile! Great job!!! (12.13.2011 02:24pm)
Lisa: You are simply my hero, Love your work always! (12.14.2011 01:17am)
anita: aww so much fun! love the inspiration i get here. particularly love the one of the two girls on the floor screaming at each other =) (12.14.2011 06:26am)
Kara Layfield: Love the energy...love the colors...totally inspiring! (12.15.2011 05:16pm)
janee: Ok I love your ideas...what a cute tree..LOVE it! And I too would totally wear one of those adorable hats.Thanks again for being so awesome. (12.17.2011 03:50am)
Josh Mitchell: Fantastic colors! (12.26.2011 03:40am)
I wanted to slip in another Dreamer feature… this one is a little more personal in that the images are doing double duty as our Christmas card (errr… book- yeah, we are up to 12 pages this year. I am officially out of control and must be stopped).
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Ritchie Rags for the adorable custom outfit. I had an idea for ruffled bloomers and she totally ran with it and gave us the perfect disco holiday set! (the best part? we are giving it away on the Dreamer Blog!! hurry… get on over there!) :)
I can’t tell you how much I loved this set. I could live in this set- disco balls and snow everywhere… pretty sure that is what heaven looks like ;)
wardrobe: Ritchie Rags
Becky: That "kiss" picture is so perfect! And the confetti? Epic! Love love love! (12.10.2011 07:13pm)
Tasha Christensen: SHut up! I want to pick your brain! Amazing photos. Was this in your studio? What camera and lens did you use? Totally breathtaking! I am serious! So jeleous! (12.10.2011 08:06pm)
kelli Taylor: If your daughter doesn't grow up to be a model, it will be a crime! (12.10.2011 08:08pm)
October: You are UH-MAZING! I just love your posts! And if this girl is your daughter...I hope you have a big burly husband with a big gun to keep the boys off of her. She is just beautiful! Someday I am going to make my way up there for a personal mentoring session. :D (12.10.2011 09:11pm)
Toria: Wow!!! I loooove it... it looks so dreamy!!! (12.10.2011 10:15pm)
Kathy Carlisle: I loved the unfolding of this concept and the images are the perfect depiction of your love and passion combusting together to create this bliss!!! (12.10.2011 10:53pm)
Kara Layfield: So cool Shannon!! LOVE the set, but your kiddos just know what to do. LOVE this so much! (12.10.2011 11:24pm)
Zalaine: I love the nightlife, I love to boogie...and what a way to say Merry Christmas! (12.11.2011 02:55am)
Kristin Cook: LOVE the up close b&w....gorgeous!!! What a fun adventure :) (12.11.2011 04:28am)
Roxana: Absolutely stunning, I'm in love! Everything falls into place and everything is magic. Just love how you tell your stories! :) (12.11.2011 10:37am)
Phillipa: As usual you rock that camera. Merry Christmas! (12.11.2011 03:45pm)
Heather F: OMG that image of your son with his hand in the air....LOVE!!! That one totally rocks, and her with sitting with the disco balls...awesomeness. These are all really great, love how your mind works chickie. I went looking for the shorts on the RR website when you posted the 1st time but didnt see them, maybe I missed it...I have my blonde moments LOL (12.11.2011 08:01pm)
janee: These are AWESOME! Love your work always! (12.12.2011 03:54am)
Marci Yochum: Love ya Shannon...nufff said! (12.12.2011 12:30pm)
amyhall: wow...so much to say but I will keep it simple! LOVELY! The dry ice (among other things) takes it to the next level! (12.13.2011 01:52am)
stephanie mcbride: holy crap! couldn't think of better words, sorry! its so fun to sit back and watch you out do yourself. every year is more amazing than the last. that one of DREW with his hand out... GET OUT!!! sheesh miss amazing... (12.13.2011 06:42pm)
Vickey Weiss: HOLY MOLY - THESE IMAGES ARE AMAZING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! (12.18.2011 03:40am)
selena: I so love your work. I am looking for clothing for boys shoots, I see you get great outfits for your daughter but do ever get stuff for your son as well? (01.10.2012 08:16am)
Jennifer: Y O U have outdone yourself. I looooove these. Oh to be you when I grow up. :) (01.23.2012 01:29am)
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Juliet Carey: Absolutely STUNNING!!! WOW girl...you rock my world!!!! (03.08.2012 12:57am)
Lisa: Starstruck! Wow. (03.08.2012 02:08am)
Alicia Thurston: I LOVE THIS SHANNON! The colours are my thing right now, as I'm revamping my branding, all of these colours are exactly what I'm going for, maybe I'm a tween at heart. ;) Can't wait to see the site up for the launch of the line tomorrow, hoping these gorgeous clothes come in smaller sizes too because I NEED that romper! Perfection in your images as usual. xo (03.08.2012 02:32am)
remi lai: I TOTALLY LOOOOOOOVE THAT FIRST GROUP PHOTO!!! TOTALLY ROCKiN'!!!!! SUPERBLY executed pose!!! Great style!! (03.08.2012 02:52am)
Scarlette: Of course you did. ;) I'm amazed and speechless and at the same time not surprised that you and your fabulous co-artists could create something even more wonderful. Love the clothes, the photographs, the art, the hair and adore these girlies I've watched grow up in life and in front of your lens. :) (03.08.2012 03:24am)
zalaine: Wander, indeed! (03.08.2012 05:48pm)
Tamara: Love these and the back drop. Did you make it or get it somewhere? (03.08.2012 10:33pm)
josh: These are f'in beautiful. (03.09.2012 02:09am)
Deyla Huss Photography: Yeah yeah yeah!!! love it! way to go girl! (03.11.2012 09:00pm)
kristin eldridge photography: wowza. such great contrast! love this shoot! (03.13.2012 02:13am)
Joni Schrantz: I am admittedly not the biggest fan of children's photography, but I absolutely adore your work. This is fabulous, it feels so fashion inspired, I LOVE it! Amazing work! (03.15.2012 12:15am)
Karen: I just wanted to drop you a line and say AMAZING styling and photography .I am so glad I have found you. You Frida Kahlo inspired shoot was AWESOME. (03.15.2012 11:57am)