Technical Difficulties

I’m sorry for my website’s downtime in the past 48 hours. My web host was doing a server migration, and apparently it caused a lot more hiccups than anticipated. I hope everything is back online and will stay so from here on.

A sneak peek of an adorable two year old is coming soon!

Isn’t this Fall weather glorious? I love to just stand outside and drink in the cool breeze this time of year. Love it!

And my phone is still ringing off the hook. Thank you all for your enthusiasm for my work!! I wish I could accept more clients, but I will not see my family until December if I do! I’ll be keeping a waiting list in the event of cancellations, and I will always do my best to work any newborns into the schedule. But otherwise, my schedule is full for the rest of 2008. Thank you in advance for making it such a fantastic year for me and Shannon Holden Photography! I am blessed by amazing clients.

Two Years Old

I was sitting here at this same desk two years and two days ago, in this same chair, looking at a client’s session images on my computer screen. Another contraction, after weeks and weeks of them, barely caught my attention. When another came stronger just a couple minutes later, I suggested to my husband that we take the boys for a walk, hoping this might actually be real labor and maybe we could help it progress.

They rode in the double stroller as my husband pushed them along on the street, and I waddled along side, rubbing my aching enormous belly every few steps. One of our neighbors waved from his front porch with a smile. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!” he called out with a snicker. An hour later, we were at the hospital. A few hours after that, our daughter let out her first cry.

And now, here I sit, looking again at my computer screen, at images of my daughter this afternoon, at her smile, her curls, her sapphire blue eyes, her long dark lashes, her pink painted toenails … how these years have gone by in a blink!

She just toddled in with strawberry scented hair wet from her bath, with yellow footy pj’s with a princess on the front, with those gigantic eyes sparkling at me. She squeezed my neck and kissed my cheek and said, “Nigh’nigh’ Mommy! I Yuv You!” In a blink, my baby girl is two.

These are not her official Two Year Portraits. I’ll get to those in a few weeks. Today just offered that irresistible combination of beautiful outdoor light, a playful, joyful toddler mood, and an afternoon without commitments. When I asked her if she’d like me to take some pictures of her, she giggled and said, “Yeah! Pictures! Erica pictures!” So how could I ever pass up that opportunity?

Let me say, we are going to have our hands full with this one. The supermodel posing is already an instinct for her. Oh boy!

As we headed inside from our portrait mini-session, Erica and her daddy passed through this amazing pool of light in our driveway. I had to make them stop for more photographs. I’m exhilarated when I find light like this, sparkling backlight with just the right reflection to illuminate the faces. Love it!!!!

Happy Birthday, Princess!

The first time I photographed this beautiful little girl, her mom asked that we schedule the session “soon, before she loses her red hair.” Well, just look at her now … one year old, with a gorgeous head of red locks! You all know I have a special fondness for carrot tops, being the mother to one. :)

Miss A is such a sweet, gentle little girl. She was even dainty and careful as she checked out her smash cake. Her smile beams with love. She is truly a joy to photograph.

Whew! My calendar filled fast!

It never fails. I get hit with a flurry of inquiries around mid-August as people start thinking about their holiday portraits. It seems so early to be planning the annual Christmas card portrait, but it’s wise to plan these things early!

I just filled the last spot on my calendar for September and October, the prime months for holiday portraits. Thanks so much to all my clients, repeat and new, for choosing me as your photographer. Let’s all cross our fingers and toes for some gorgeous weather and delicious Fall color, and let’s have a blast capturing your family’s memories!

Cancellations and reschedules do happen, so please contact me if you are still interested in a Fall session. If dates open up, I will also try to post them here. I still have a few spots left for November and December, but they are AFTER the holiday order deadline. Stay tuned … I’ll be offering some special deals for those who plan ahead for their January and February portraits!

And now, please allow me to share a truly darling baby girl that I meant to have on the blog before now! Her family already has their session presentation, so I completely missed the sneak peek opportunity! But she is just too cute not to show off on the blog. Don’t you agree?

Miss M is a Milestones baby, so I get the treat of photographing her throughout her first year. She has grown so much since our last session, already standing and just on the brink of walking, I think! She has such a sweet smile and gentle spirit. And she loved my pink pettiskirt!

AJAXed with AWP