I have a bit more to share from Tennessee… I got to spend the afternoon playing in the woods with a little boy. We explored the woods, splashed in the creek, dressed up and played just like a kid should. Shoots like these are exactly why I do what I do… there is something about digging into the minds of kids (I tell you, they are way more interesting than any grown ups around) ;) We wander, chat, joke, pause… and I get to watch eyes light up when they get to take on new personas and they realize that we are there for the sole reason of capturing how amazing they are.
I’d like to introduce you to one of the most cute & articulate little men I’ve had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with in a long time…
and his talented mama made these… he was SO adorable when he put on this outfit. He took it very seriously ;)
gatlinburg | TN
I just spent the last week in Tennessee. We went from Nashville (the perfect combination of yummy food, fantastic live music & great company) up to Gatlinburg (an amazing lodge retreat in the middle of the Smokey Mountains). Spending the day in the mountain air with a group of amazing women (the babbling creek and campfire made it almost surreal) was just what the doctor ordered. I can’t thank Misty enough for having me out or Jen for being the perfect travel companion…
and, of course, our adorable little models…
gatlinburg | TN
Kristin Cook: These are precious! Love the styling w/ the boy in boots! (05.04.2012 09:33pm)
sonya: i really love every thing about these photos! the models, colors, location! awesome! (05.04.2012 11:03pm)
Kelsey: Oh man! Love the boy and the tree! (05.05.2012 12:36am)
Tania: These are gorgeous as usual. I so, so love the way you embrace sun and shoot with it. I could only dream to try! Hope you had fun! xoxo (05.05.2012 11:30am)
melody dowdy photography: i had a fabulous time in tennessee & i came home both inspired and challenged. thanks for sharing your gifts with us!!! i would highly recommend your workshop. (05.05.2012 12:51pm)
Tara S.: ooh, i love, love, love these pics! the shots of the boy hanging from and behind the tree put a big smile on my face. the frog, too :) i need to send you a pic of the canvases i had printed for my living room. i look at them and think of you every single day :) (05.05.2012 07:08pm)
Kasandra: I love these and I loved spending the day with you ... you're exactly how i had envisioned you to be ... kind, smart, and real ... thanks for sharing so much with us! When Abe and I got in the car, he said, 'well that was a good day ... i got to play in the stream all day and you made new friends' ... he's completely right! (05.08.2012 01:29pm)
more workshop fun » bonny and blithe photography: [...] to learn from her. Her work astonishes me. So a week or so ago I spent all day at a workshop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with several other photographers absorbing her philosophy and approach to working with and styling children’s portraiture at [...] (05.11.2012 07:57pm)
Spent some of spring break on a little get away back ‘home’. A little spot between Seaside and Astoria where the Columbia meets the Pacific. Every time I go back I am sent right back to childhood when I still thought the whole world ended just past the beach grass & jetty, right where the ocean fell off and met the sky…
I took a few minutes to shoot the newest Wander Romper in ‘Ocean’ (appropriately enough) with the new legs ties (perfect for those summer days running through the waves)…
AND I got an email from Vol. 25 while I was away… she just launched a new template with my images (yay!!) and guess what? She said she’d like to give it to one of you!! Just comment below and I will randomly pick a winner Thursday!!
wardrobe: wander clothing
hammond | OR
Kathy: What a fun template for a child's photographer! I love the Oregon coast...although this quote: "perfect for those summer days running through the waves" obviously is not meant for our waves! It amuses me how even in August it's freezing cold water. What a beautiful session. It's always amazing when there is sunshine at the coast! (04.09.2012 02:35am)
sherry: oh, I'm not exactly sure what to do with this but if I win I'll have fun trying to work it out :) (04.09.2012 06:50am)
Tania: Gorgeous shots! Love, love, love the blue (of the romper and the sky). My fave colour! (04.09.2012 07:08am)
angela king: love that template. it's gorgeous. as are your photos. and these, the beach photos. yummmmm. :) (04.09.2012 11:43am)
kasandra: "when I still thought the whole world ended just past the beach grass & jetty, right where the ocean fell off and met the sky" ... love, love, love this! i remember this feeling :) (04.09.2012 02:15pm)
jessica: Love your pictures, as always! The album is awesome! (04.09.2012 03:07pm)
Lisa: Amazing....sigh. Love the colours in the first set. I need you to mentor me, yup. Why yes I do. Love your work so much. (04.09.2012 08:41pm)
Karen: I would put those templates to good use. They are beautiful. (04.09.2012 09:42pm)
Kelsey: Vol. 25 overlays are sooo much fun! I love the clouds and rain. Nice giveaway! (04.10.2012 01:26am)
Ashley SP: Gorge romper and wow, I love me some Vol. 25! (04.10.2012 04:52am)
Maryam Y.: I love your photography so much. It's gorgeous and the clothing and accessory designers you collaborate with are amazing! (04.10.2012 05:05am)
Roxana: Hehe, these are really cute! Love the template also. Looks like fun! (04.10.2012 08:40am)
k_grace: Oh I love these, already have ideas in mind, would love to win (04.10.2012 05:07pm)
patricia: it looks so great with your pictures! both works go so well together... (04.10.2012 08:40pm)
Okema: This template is adorable and your photos complement it so well! (04.11.2012 01:13pm)
icing designs: those templates are amazing...we would love to use them! all of our items in our shop are hand-illustrated and these are just so much fun! thank you for the giveaway! we love your blog, you are so talented and it is so inspiring! this is the first time we have commented but have been following for a long time ;) xo (04.11.2012 01:45pm)
Brendazzle*: I wish the romper came in grown-up sizes (04.11.2012 04:36pm)
Tanya: Vibrant colours and cool concept! Like it (04.11.2012 08:14pm)
jeramie ritchie: AWESOME! I adore this playsuit! SWEET and the photos capture such a different mood than I normally "feel" when I see your shoots. I love it...and I love the others too! Awesome!!!! (04.17.2012 02:14am)
Deyla Huss: This is so adorable! BTW adore the romper! must HAVE!!! (04.19.2012 08:58pm)
Jeanie Hanson-Lapenna: I love Vol. 25! (05.09.2012 07:35pm)
I am back to share my second shoot while I was in Kansas City. There is something so genuinely uplifting about spending time with like minded souls. It is so easy to go day to day in the ‘real world’… superficial interactions, niceties with acquaintences, being the ‘public’ you and keeping the ‘real’ you to yourself. For the first time in 22 years of being a vegetarian, I sat at a table full of people and could eat every single dish served (yes- even living in the crunchy NW, not a group meal goes by that I don’t get asked about my veggie ways as I snack on the side dishes- haha), I watched parents interacting with their kids just like I do and listened to chitchat about lifestyles that sounded just like mine. And I sit here reflecting on how lucky we are- lucky that we are business owners and employees that pick our own co-workers and associates, lucky that we choose our own business models and rules to live by, lucky that we dictate how our day to day will go and can surround ourselves with people that get us and encourage us to be who we are meant to be. Embrace that… don’t let it go unnoticed or fail to use up every lit bit of it you can ;)
I spent my second afternoon with Heather Roth. We chatted about artistic endeavors (the girl has it running through her veins) and goals in our photography. We had a set of adorable twins to model for our shoot for The Measure (they were super shy & unsure but way too cute for the camera not to love every minute with them) ;) I couldn’t have thought up a better way to wrap up my visit…
I will be in Gatlinburg TN next month at this glorious retreat in the Smokey Mountains. So much good stuff planned!!! Come join me here :)
wardrobe: The Measure Designs
kansas city | MO
kara Layfield: Cutsie girls!! Love the outfits and toe nail polish. :) (04.05.2012 06:01pm)
Kathy: Oh man, these two girls are so pensive and sweet! Their hand positions especially are so beautiful. Did you "pose" their hands at all, or was that just their default? (04.05.2012 06:12pm)
Natalie: adorable as always. (04.05.2012 06:41pm)
Trudy: beautiful, Shannon! those girls are just dolls - lovely as always! (04.05.2012 07:02pm)
Tania: too too cute! Love your words btw. So true. Gorgeous girls and fab clothes! xo p.s. have fun at the retreat! (04.06.2012 12:39pm)
Heather: Awww, I love that you mentioned me. :) Thanks so much for spending the day with me. You are so talented and I felt so honored to shoot with you! xox (04.06.2012 09:04pm)
Tanya: That's something.. I'm definitely your fan Shannon (04.11.2012 08:17pm)
jeramie ritchie: LOVE LOVE! It has been tooo long since I hopped over to see your latest gorgeousness! I so wish I could have been a bit closer to KC or had a free weekend to squeeze in a moment to meet you! SIGH! Someday I would love to have a cup of coffee...or tea with you! Gorgeous photos and darling little girls! (04.17.2012 02:12am)
I just got back today from a little escape to warm sunshine and good friends. I spent the weekend in Kansas City with my friends, The Solars (if you’ve read my blog then you know them from their amazing Road Trip in a Box and Indoor Adventure Guide that I’ve swooned over). I am home feeling exhausted and happy… late night conversations with true friends and fabulous days spent with other photographers left me with sore cheeks, a couple extra smiles lines and a full heart (not to mention some fun images of adorable little girls in crazy beautiful dresses). I want to thank each and every one of you that came for the day. It was a perfect group full of talent and humor… I couldn’t have asked for better!
I wish you could see these dresses in person… oh. my. They are hand painted, mixed media and sooooo gorgeous (ZozoBugBaby showing off her art skills & beyond!)…
wardrobe: ZozoBugBaby
kansas city | MO
Tania: Oh these dresses are gorgeous (so of the girls OF COURSE!!). Glad you had a lovely weekend and treasure those extra laugh lines ;) (04.03.2012 06:51am)
Roxana: The dresses look amazing, your little friends are as always adorable and looks like you had a blast shooting these! So, Peace+Love to you too! :) (04.03.2012 07:26am)
Kara Layfield: Love those dresses! Looks like a super fun session with two super cute girls! (04.03.2012 12:50pm)
Juliet Carey: AMAZING Shannon...love the PEACE and LOVE :) Those dresses...HOLY COW Julie Martin!!! (04.03.2012 03:34pm)
tara s.: what gorgeous pics! those little girls are beautiful, and the dresses are to die for!!! (04.03.2012 07:22pm)
Melissa Rieke: Beautiful images!! This was such a great workshop. It was great to get to finally meet you!! (so I am no longer a stalker right...since we have met?) he he he!! :) Thanks for a great day! (04.03.2012 09:27pm)
*blush* | zozobugbabyblog: [...] seriously overwhelmed with the wonderful comments on the two handpainted/mixed media dresses shown HERE on Shannon Sewell’s blog. Art is my passion, and it’s what I studied in college. I love that finally, I am bringing [...] (04.03.2012 11:28pm)
josh: Love these. Loved hanging with you. Can't wait to do it all again in your hood this summer! (04.05.2012 04:03am)
Casia: Awwwww these girls are adorable and so are the dresses. Heck I'd wear em'. If I'm not mistaken the blonde girl is Heather Cole's daughter??? Am I right?. If so WOW she's growing up way too fast. (04.05.2012 06:25pm)
Heather Cole: Such a beautiful job Shannon. My daughter looks too old in these. Makes me want to cry. LOVE LOVE LOVE them! :) (04.05.2012 08:05pm)
Shefali Lindsey: These are GORGEOUS!!! Where were those cute dresses when I was younger?! (04.05.2012 08:22pm)
Toni: So I went to their website ZozoBugBaby-- and these dresses weren't there! I love that fabric, and style. (04.09.2012 02:44am)
Why the High Prices? Part 3 | Carmen Carver Photography & Design :: Kansas City's Pediatric Boutique Photographer :: Kansas City's Premier Newborn Photographer :: Kansas City's Baby Photographer :: Kansas City's Children's Pho: [...] I went to (remember the workshop/continuing education expenses we discussed) with the ever fabulous Shannon Sewell. I’ll blog more about this workshop, the amazing ZozoBugBaby dresses and the fun we had in [...] (04.10.2012 07:15pm)
Tania: Gah, adorable!!! xo (05.09.2012 03:36am)
Jess Cudzilo: holy crap, amazing! (05.09.2012 05:06am)
Roxana: Spending time with kids is always rewarding! Letting them be who they really are and taking a peak into their souls... that is a gift! Wonderful images, lovely lovely boy! (05.12.2012 08:04pm)