New Blog

Bye Bye Blogger! It's a new year, time for a new look. Not to mention, I'm happy to leave a few Blogger frustrations in the past as well.

My new blog may be found here New Blog

This blog will now be archived here 2006 Blog

See you in the new blog!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2007! Isn't it amazing how the years get shorter every year? As one might expect, I'm feeling very reflective today, looking back on the past year. I see so many changes, so much growth. The most significant is in my personal life, where my spiritual journey has brought me to an entirely new life, one that is infinitely deeper, happier, more fulfilled than I could ever have imagined. God has encircled me and offered me a life that is, simply put, complete. There is nothing more I could ask for.

As for my photography, my business has continued to grow as well, introducing me to new clients and friends, and reuniting me with previous clients. I've learned something from each and every one of you. Thank you for being YOU! And thank you for allowing me these glimpses into your lives and allowing me to share and capture some treasured moments.

Last but never least, my family has grown. We are older, wiser, and most of all, more in love! And we have grown in number, too! My boys are showing me new miracles and insights every day. My daughter brings a sparkle to our home that is all her own. And sharing this life with my husband, with his endless devotion and support, makes it all that much more wonderful!

I am so excited about this year, about the personal and professional goals for which I'm striving, and for the relationships, also personal and professional, that will continue to grow. I'll be introducing some new products, new portrait choices, and new policies. All of these will be an effort to enhance the portrait experience for my clients, while maintaining the necessary and critical balance between my work and family. Stay tuned to the blog for more news!

To kick it all off, tune in next week for some special offers on new products. Think of it as a One Day Sale! The specials will only be announced here and only available for a very short time!

I wish you all bright blessings in 2007. And many smiles!

With much love,
Shannon

Pictures Magazine

Shannon Holden Photography is honored to be featured in the current issue of Pictures Magazine. As described within the magazine, Pictures is "a fresh, new on-line magazine dedicated to the celebration of childhood, family, life, and memories through pictures." The magazine is an inspirational resource for families who appreciate the beautiful moments in life, and make it a priority to preserve them. Thank you to Pictures for inviting me to be a part of your gorgeous publication.

Please stop in for a visit at Pictures Magazine.

Emerson

I first met Emerson's family well over a year ago, when we captured the images as they anxiously awaited their baby girl's birth. And now this beautiful baby is a year old! Once again, the months have gone by in a blink. To Emerson and her family, thank you for sharing this year with me. It has been such a blessing to get to know all of you.

I love so many things about photographing Emerson, but those eyelashes are my favorite! And hidden behind that beautifully sweet smile is just the right amount of spark. I know that playful spirit will last a lifetime. Hugs for you, little Emmy!

Alaric

Meet Alaric. This was our third portrait session. Alaric is one of those babies who smiles with his eyes as much as his mouth. I love that sparkle in his eyes ... eyes as blue as the ocean. And a giggle that will win your heart the instant you hear it.

Giggles and Grins, precious boy! Thank you for bringing your own light to our world.

The Holiday Rush

Caught in it yet? I am! Even though I only accepted half as many sessions as last year at this time, given that I have a tiny baby home full time with me right now, I'm still swamped! But once again, I've been so blessed with wonderful clients this season. I've so enjoyed being with your families and sharing some winter memories together. Thank you as always for sharing these moments in your lives with me.

In my hectic schedule, I've neglected my blog for a couple of weeks. Now that the holiday portrait season is winding down, I'll try to do a better job of catching up.

Recently, I got to meet Will, just 8 days old. What a sweetheart! He was one of the best newborns I've ever worked with. He was so calm and content through our session. My daughter is only a few months old, yet I found myself marveling in Will's miraculous little toes and his deep blue eyes. How quickly they grow! These newborn moments are truly gone in a blink.

Welcome to the world, Will!

A dash more Cayenne

This week, I got the chance to visit children's boutique, Cayenne, once again to create fresh images for some of their upcoming marketing campaigns.

It was a beautiful, crisp fall day, and we had a blast with the kids and the clothes! If you haven't yet, you simply must visit this great boutique for some of the most unique children's fashions in the 'burbs. So fun!

Cayenne is located at 9700 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 160 in Duluth.

Miss Madeleine

Here is one of my favorite little miracles! Madeleine is the daughter of a very dear friend of mine. Madeleine came into this world nearly 3 1/2 months before her due date. She weighed less than two pounds. In just her first few weeks of life, she proved to all of us, including her parents, doctors, and nurses that she was strong, determined, and full of spirit. There were times that we all waited agonizingly to see what even the next hour would bring, not knowing if Maddie would pull through. But pull through she did, and look at her now!

She is 14 months old and just about the cutest little thing I've ever seen. I see a lot of babies every week in my work, and they are all magical, playful, and darling in their own way. But I must say ... This beautiful little girl has the most personality I've ever seen.

Hugs and Giggles, Miss Madeleine! We are so blessed that you are here!

The Cost of a Portrait

Matching outfits from Target, with Santa hats: $60

10.2 Megapixel Digital SLR and 28-70 f/2.8 lens, plus supporting equipment: $4,500.00

Two chocolate bars plus an evening at Chuck-E-Cheese (The Bribe): $50

Getting the perfect image for your holiday card: Priceless.

Meeting Jackson

Don't you love it when you catch a smile? I don't mean just catching a glimpse of one. I love it when I catch a smile, one that is positively contagious! This little guy shares his spirit with everyone in the room.

Jackson and I met for the first time recently, but I've known his family for a few years, having been priviledged to photograph his big brother's first year. His mother started out as a client, but is now someone I am proud to call a friend. I am so excited to witness this precious boy's growth into toddlerhood. It is sure to be a beautiful journey!

Happy Birthday, Ella!

This little girl has been a joy to photograph this past year. Those bright blue eyes are so full of sweet innocence, as they have been since I first met her at 3 months old. It is such a blessing to get to know a child and her family over time, as we meet every few months to capture her latest Milestone. And it was such a treat, as I arrived at their home last week for our 4th session together, to have beautiful little Ella greet me with such smiles and hugs!

Thank you to Ella and her family for inviting me to be a part of her first year!

In his eyes ...

When was the last time you got lost in your child's eyes? Have you really studied them lately? Have you marveled at the flecks of color, the depth, the light in them? My life has been hectic lately to say the least, and I have failed to spend some time gazing into my children's eyes. We musn't let those moments fall off our to-do list.

When my oldest was born, many people looked in his eyes and said, "Oh, he is an old soul!" And I understood and agreed. He has always had a sort of wisdom in his eyes, an expression of experience beyond his years. Now they say the same about my baby girl, and again, I agree. Like her brother, her eyes are thoughtful and wise.

My younger son, age 3, is another story. He is everything youth should be. He is glorious fire and energy. He is exuberance, passion, curiousity, and wonder. He looks at the world and sees a invitation to explore, to dream, to discover, and to conquer. He has no fear, no need of it. He sees the leaves, the wind, the clouds reaching for him, yearning for his laughter and spirit to join them. And he runs with arms open, ready to fall with exhilaration (and complete trust) into Life.

Wisdom is a wonderful thing. But so is exhilarated innocence. And I love that I can see it, right there, in his eyes.

The Photographer's Curse

There are two things that are a common challenge for a photographer.

The first is feeling the need to be A Photographer all the time. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make every shot the best we can, including and not limited to family snapshots. I use to carry my little point and shoot camera with me from room to room, throw it in my purse, always have it handy for any and every little moment that I wanted to remember. And I took hundreds of pictures each month. I filled my scrapbook with far-from-perfect shots that I still love to go back and look at, to remember those moments.

But since becoming a professional, my personal photos are dwindling. It's very sad really. My little point and shoot camera hasn't been touched in years, except by my playful and semi-destructive 5 year old. And my professional camera hardly fits in my purse! I just don't do snapshots anymore, because I feel so much self-pressure to make every image I capture professional quality. And sometimes, often times, in the blur of our hectic every day lives, professional quality just isn't going to happen. I don't have time to figure the camera settings, analyze the light and reshape it, eliminate clutter in the background, and dab that spot of ketchup left on my little subject's face. Or I don't even have a camera handy! But then I miss the moments that matter ... my son handing his new baby sister a toy, my husband having a mini-food fight with his kids, or my daughter meeting her great grandmother for the first time.

So guess what! I'm charging up that point and shoot camera and giving it a new home in my purse! I'm keeping my pro camera set to Auto and ready to shoot, pop-up flash and everything! Don't miss the moments, friends. They really do go by in a blink.

The second challenge for a photographer is actually being IN a family snapshot every now and then. I look back through my scrapbooks and love seeing how we've all grown and changed. But where am I in those shots? Behind the camera of course!!

This weekend, cuddling with Erica as we watched the sunset at my dad's house, it occured to me that she was already a month old. One month old and I had not appeared in a photo with her since we left the hospital! I told my husband that she might not believe her Mommy was around these early months if someone else didn't take the photos every now and then. Thankfully he takes hints well. :) This is one of the images that my husband captured. I just love it and wanted to share. He's learned so much about photography in the last few years ... I'm really proud of this image and I hope he is too! And most of all, I will treasure this image ... just one of many moments in which I fell more in love with my daughter.

Miss Erica

Just a quick post to say hi and share our baby girl. She is now 3 weeks old, and a pure delight. She sleeps in 6 hour stretches at night, and spends her days happily gazing at her world with coos and an occasional smile. God has blessed us with this baby girl in ways we never dreamed. Her two big brothers positively adore her. Just last night, at 3 a.m. when Erica awoke to eat, my oldest son actually beat me into her room where he was rubbing her arm gently, talking to her softly and lovingly, and offering her a pacifier to help her get back to sleep.

I have been so touched by all the phone calls, emails, and gifts from clients since Erica's birth. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and for sharing this special time with my family. I love you!

Schedule is full!

I wanted to post a reminder that my session schedule is fully booked for the remainder of 2006. As I mentioned before, I have been overwhelmed with the response to my post-maternity-leave waiting list. I simply won't be able to accomodate as many sessions as requested, and I am very sorry for that. Hopefully everyone understands that I only have so many hours in the week which I may devote to photography before I start taking too much away from my family. I'm now contacting those who are on the waiting list to start arranging the schedule, so please know I'll be in touch soon!

My first available session as of now is in February 2007. I have just a couple of session appointments left for February. April and May are almost booked as well! Call soon if you would like to schedule a Spring session, as this popular time of year books quickly.

As always, thank you for your enthusiasm for my art!

But deliver us from evil ...

We are all remembering today, where we were 5 years ago when we first heard the news. I was at home, folding laundry, while my 7 month old son played on the floor next to me. My husband called from work and told me to turn on the TV. "A plane has crashed into the World Trade Center." In the next minute, a second plane had crashed. The reality had just started to hit me, the tears had just started to flow, when I watched in breathless shock as the first tower began to collapse.

This weekend, we visited a memorial set up by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta, at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. On the wide open space of the battlefield, they flew approximately 3000 American flags, one to represent each soul lost on 9/11. On the way to the memorial, I decided to tell my oldest son a little about the tragedy, to the extent that I thought he could understand at the age of 5.

The sight of the flags was beautiful. But standing in the middle of the flags, it was much deeper than just a sight to behold ... it was remembering, honoring, and realizing. The field was silent and still at first, until a slight breeze came through, almost like a spirit amongst the flags, and the rippling fabric sounded like whispers.

My son surprised us with his reaction. We could see his emotions stirring in confusion. Sadness crossed his face and he started walking back out of the field. My husband followed, and they sat down to talk. He had questions for his daddy, questions so innocently wondered by a 5 year old, and so impossible to be explained by an adult.

Daddy, why did the planes crash into the towers?
Why didn't those bad men like our country?
Why did they have to kill so many people?
Did everyone in the towers die?
Did the bad men die too?
But why did they want to hurt us?

Why, Daddy? Why?

Perhaps, one day, as a nation we will have answers to the questions. Perhaps, one day, our children won't have to ask them anymore.

She's Here!

I'm sorry it has taken me a few days to post the great news. Life is hectic and wonderful at the moment. Thank you for the calls and emails to check on us!

Our daughter, Erica, was born in the wee hours of Saturday morning. She is perfect and beautiful, though I may be biased. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and is 21 inches long. She is taller than both of her brothers were at birth!

I'll post more photos soon. Here is just one from the hospital, when she was only 11 hours old.

Tick ... tock ... tick ... tock ...

Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock

No baby yet!

Tick
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Simplicity

The best things in life are so simple, don't you think? Why do we feel the need to complicate it all so much? Since I'm on maternity leave now, still awaiting the birth of our baby girl, my own kids are getting more than their share of camera time.

And having dinner on my dad's back porch recently, I was overwhelmed with the simplicity of the moment. It was simply ...

Childhood.
Wonder.
Brotherhood.
Bubbles.
Giggles.
Sunlight.
Wonderful.

Announcing ... Cayenne

I am so excited to share the announcement of the grand opening of Cayenne. This incredible store brings us children's fashions that are everything you've been looking for ... very fun, a little funky, and FULL of style. Just like your child, this is a place that is colorful, spicy, and spirited. As one of our pre-teen models said during our photo session, "These are the kind of clothes I want to wear, not just the kind my mom would choose for me." Although, I can tell you that I can't wait to shop for my own children.

I was honored to be invited to play a small role in this store's decor by way of my photography. Not only did I get a preview of the awesome clothes, but I got to work with some of the greatest kids I've met. I had a ball and I'm so proud to now display my art in their store. I would like to express a deepfelt thanks to Lynne and Kevin for this opportunity to be a part of their exciting venture.

I hope you'll stop by to discover this great store for yourself. You can find Cayenne in the Medlock Crossing Shopping Center, at the corner of Medlock Bridge and State Bridge Roads. As you are facing the movie theater, they are just a few doors down on the left side. Please be sure to tell them I sent you!

News and No News

First, the News: I have been flattered and overwhelmed at the response for my waiting list after my maternity leave. Thank you to all of you who have shared such enthusiasm for my art. The news is that I now have many more interested clients on my waiting list than I ever expected. I will not be able to even accept that many reservations. And thus, I must now close the waiting list for the remainder of this year.

If you are on the list, rest assured that I will be contacting you once our baby is born and I know an approximate return to work. I will be scheduling Milestones sessions first, followed by the waiting list clients in the order in which you contacted me. Again, thank you for sharing my passion for capturing your child's glorious spirit!

I will not be accepting sessions for 2007 until later this Fall. I must settle some details about childcare and such before I know what my schedule will allow. If you would like me to contact you when I start accepting 2007 reservations, please email me via my contact page on my website at http://www.shannonholden.com.

The No News part: No baby yet!! She's very busy these days and growing steadily. We are both doing much better than a few weeks ago, thanks to the extra rest, lots of pampering from my husband and sons, and great care from my doctors. I'll be sure to share the announcement when our baby girl arrives. And you know, I just might throw in a few photographs, too! :)

Into Tomorrow

I'm finding myself daydreaming a lot lately, intently dreaming, about the future. So much is changing. Our world is changing. For the better? It sure doesn't seem like it sometimes. And we can get so bogged down in all the tragedy if we let ourselves. So I command myself to daydream about all the other miraculous, wondrous changes all around me. My body is changing as it grows a new life inside. Soon our lives will change when this child brings her own miracles to our family.

And I daydream about my boys, growing bigger, stronger, faster every day. My oldest will be entering Kindergarten in less than two weeks. Is it possible? How can that be? He was just a baby yesterday, wasn't he? Wasn't he just learning to walk? It was only a moment ago that he learned to get dressed on his own. Or was it a lifetime? And suddenly, I'm looking into Tomorrow, which is HERE ... NOW.

My younger son, for the first time in his life, will be going to preschool without his big brother, as they will be in different schools. He's never known a life without his idol beside him. Now he will learn to be more independent, more outgoing (if that is possible for him). While I hope his bond with his brother will never change, I look forward to seeing him step forward into Tomorrow, for his spirit to expand to its full potential.

And what will this baby girl be? Will she have her daddy's curly hair? Will she have my eyes or nose? Will she have her Nana's gentle heart, just as she will share her Nana's name? What will Tomorrow hold for her?

What will Tomorrow hold for all our children? I hope ... I pray ... and I have faith in God that Tomorrow will hold Possibilities. It will hold Life, Love, and Laughter. It will hold Light and Discovery. It will hold Wonder and Dreams and Wisdom.

No matter what goes on in the world, Tomorrow will hold Hope.

Sisters

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

These adorable sisters are the essence of my favorite motto, which was also my mother's favorite ... Live, Love, Laugh! This was our 4th session together, and I have loved watching their sibling relationship blossom. Like my own children, they are each so unique, with their own special spirit. Yet their bond is obviously so strong.

I knew I wanted to share these on the blog, yet I could hardly narrow them down to just a few! This is one of my favorite sessions in a long time. I just have to smile as I look at these two, with such light in their eyes and love in their hearts! I hope you find yourself smiling too.

And PS - to the Mommy and Daddy of these two sweethearts - I'll have your session presentation online for you tomorrow. This is your sneak preview!

Oh, Little Ducks

Five little ducks that I once knew,
Fat were three and skinny were two.
But, the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He ruled the others with a quack, quack, quack!

Down to the water they would go,
Wiggle woggle, wiggle woggle, To and fro,
But, the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He ruled the others with a quack, quack, quack!

Maternity Leave

Life has been a whirlwind lately! As many know, we are expecting our third child in a matter of weeks. After a couple weeks of pre-term labor signals, including frequent contractions, my doctors were able to determine the cause a few days ago. It's nothing too serious, but enough that I'm still at risk for pre-term delivery and other complications. The good news is that my doctors are aware of the problems now and they are going to be keeping an extremely close eye on me and our baby. The bad news is that I must, under doctor's orders, begin my maternity leave early.

So as of now, I am not able to accept any new sessions until after my maternity leave ends. I do not have an exact date of return to work as yet - it will all depend on how soon the baby arrives and how we are both doing. It will likely be late Fall. I already have a waiting list in place for that timeframe, so please contact me if you would like to be added to the list.

Thanks to my notebook computer, I will be wrapping up the details of my recent sessions, including proofs, orders, etc. So please do not hesitate to contact me for anything related to your session already held.

I'll post updates here as I have them! In the meantime, please keep reading ... I'm going to take advantage of my downtime to share some past favorite images, some fun photography tips and information, and anything else that catches my attention.

Thank you for all the prayers, support, and love for me and my family. We thank God daily for the blessing of this business, and the clients to whom it has introduced us!

Mommy as Photographer

People often ask me if my home is just "full" of photos of my own children. While I certainly do have many cherished favorites up on the walls, I wouldn't say it's overflowing. Like many photographers, I find it incredibly difficult to work with my own children. They are so used to me and my camera that they have absolutely no motivation to cooperate. When it comes time for Portrait Day in my home, the children usually run and hide.

And so was the case recently when I set out to capture my son's Official 3 Year Portrait. I planned ahead of time for two days. I watched the weather channel. I made sure the outfits were clean. I scheduled the afternoon off, immediately after naptime, when he'd be fresh and happy. I talked with him about how much fun we'd have, and how he could make Mommy so happy if he'd cooperate and let me get some photographs of him. I gave him his favorite snack and promised ice cream after the session if he was a good boy. (yes, I bribe my children. I admit it.)

So, just to prove that creation of a portrait takes not only careful planning, skill with light and camera, and the proper setting ... it also takes a willing subject! That was the one element I always seem to be missing when my own children are part of the plan.

Pretending to have a camera just like Mommy. Click. Click.

Saying "Cheese" even though Mommy has asked him not to!

Crying because he doesn't want to take any more "pitchers" ... we have only been shooting for 10 minutes.

And finally ... Daddy arrives home from work, and for one split second ...

Our 3D Ultrasound

This week, we had the incredible experience of actually "seeing" our baby girl! We had a 3D ultrasound performed. This technology is just amazing. The baby didn't cooperate so well at first. She was curled up in a ball asleep, with a hand in front of her face as well as a part of the umbilical cord floating in front of her, so we really couldn't get a good look. The ultrasound tech jiggled my belly a bit (ouch) and the baby woke up a little. Then I was lucky to sneeze ... haha! ... and that woke her up! We got to see her wiggling around and moving her arms about. Did I mention it was incredible? I will be so thrilled to see how she really looks in real life when the time comes, to see how much she actually looks like these images from our "sneak peak." Those lips look so precious and she has her Mommy's nose just like her big brothers. See you soon, Baby Girl!

If any of you out there are expecting a child and would like to know where we went for these beautiful images, please email me. I'll be glad to share the details with you! This was a service performed by a private company, not a diagnostic ultrasound. We were thrilled with the whole experience. The ultrasound office was very friendly and well-run.

Schedule update

I'm sorry to have to say that I will not be able to accept any new appointments until after our baby arrives. I have been having some early labor signs, lots of contractions, and have already spent some time on bed rest. It's hard for me to take this early break from my work because I so love what I do, but I must put my family's needs first, including the health of our baby. I still have several weeks to go until my due date and I cannot risk her coming too early.

I am hopeful to fulfill my remaining sessions already booked. If you are one of those clients, I will be in touch as things progress if it will impact your session. I'm very sorry for any inconvenience. Thank you all who have called and emailed me offering your understanding and support. I've said it many times ... I'm very blessed to have clients like you. I appreciate your love and concerns more than you know.

Daddyhood

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads I've been lucky to meet, and to the Fathers in my own family.

Today I'm remembering how blessed I am to share my life with my husband. He is everything I hoped my children would have in a father. He is devoted beyond measure to his family. He is never afraid to show the depth of his love. He is an example of strength, especially in that he doesn't fear his own emotions or vulnerability. He is honest and loyal. He is wise and genuine. He isn't embarrassed to be silly in public, especially if it will make his son smile. And he trusts the Lord to lead him, as a father, as a husband, and as a man in today's chaotic world.

So to my husband I say, Thank You and I Love You, for being the man you are, the husband I prayed for, and the father our children will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Family

I had a revelation several months ago. I was watching my own children, ages 4 and 2 1/2 at the time, eating lunch together. My son was showing his little brother how to place his napkin in his lap, reminding him not to wipe his mouth on his sleeve. Not only was I incredibly proud of my son for his loving, nurturing heart, but I was struck by my own sudden awareness that my husband and I are not the only ones raising our children. Their own siblings will play a tremendous role in their upbringing. My oldest son will, for the rest of his life, be a guide in his younger brother's life. At times, his influence might even mean more than ours as the parents. Afterall, my youngest idolizes his big brother like a superhero. Later in life, that idolization may fade, but I know as brothers they will always have an impact on the other's life choices and behaviors. Sometimes the little one might resent the bigger one, and I don't fool myself into thinking that all of my older son's guidance will always be sound.

Nonetheless, that moment will live forever in my mind as a milestone in my life as a mother. Of course, my husband and I are committed to raising all of our children with love, honestly, and faith. But we aren't just doing it for them as individuals. The values we instill in them now, they will reinforce in each other. It seems like a simple principle. Seeing it played out in a simple everyday moment between my sons, it made me realize that this is what family might really be about.

When I first saw this image through the camera lens a few weeks ago, I relived that milestone again ... the two older brothers leading their baby sister bravely into the world. She looked back for a little reassurance from Mommy, but she still held their hands and followed where they led. Love. Trust. Family.