Shannon Holden Photography

Meet J. It has been two years since I got to photograph his big sister just after birth. I was pregnant with my daughter at that time. Oh, how time flies!! Mr. J wasn’t too interested in sleeping for us, but with those big, gorgeous, alert eyes, how could I complain? He was so calm and sweet once we let him get cozy in the warm blankets. During a few minutes while mom tended to J, I took just a few minutes to create some portraits of his big sister. She is so much like my daughter. She loved being in front of the camera, and she has such a fun, spunky spirit.

Mr. J was the last session I was able to photograph before that awful vertigo hit. I’m happy to report that it is 90% gone, and I’m back to work tomorrow, to photograph another newborn! Tis the season!

Welcome to the world, J!

Oh my! It has been ages since I updated the blog! Well, here is where I’ve been …

A couple of weeks ago, I was struck with a very sudden, unexpected (and might I add … unwelcome) case of vertigo. I went to bed feeling fine, and woke up at 3 a.m. feeling as though someone had put the Earth’s rotational spin on high speed. I stood up out of bed and in a split second, I hit the floor as gravity seemed to turn upside down. I’ve never experienced this before and assumed it would be gone within a day or two. Long story short, it wasn’t. Yesterday, I saw a second doctor about it, and then received some therapy to hopefully turn this thing around, no pun intended. It’s thankfully nothing serious. Just a simple, classic case of BPPV, or positional vertigo. But it is overwhelming and needless to say, I have not been able to do much work.

Thank you so much to my clients scheduled in these past two weeks, who have been so incredibly understanding and patient as I had to postpone work for a bit. I am very, very hopeful that yesterday’s therapy is going to do the trick and I’ll be back to wearing my photographer hat very soon.

Sorry that I have neglected the blog as well. I’ll share some new images soon!!

For now, here are a couple of my daughter caught in a rare moment of deep sleep. I only got a few, but I love them dearly. She usually wakes up upon hearing my shutter click, so I was so happy to capture these of her in dreamland.

PS – You’ll notice these images are edited with a vintage finish. This is something I plan to do a lot more often this year for my clients. If you love the finish, be sure to let me know and we’ll strive to capture well-suited images during your session!

I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head. That seems to be true quite often. Bringing those ideas to reality is another story entirely.

But one of those ideas is well underway and I am so excited. You see, I have a goal: I would like to get through all of 2009 without ever filing another piece of paper. Ah, for a gal that detests paper work, that just sounds heavenly! And one piece of that green puzzle is my new online client session agreement. All of you with upcoming sessions will be hearing from me soon with a link to the agreement, which will be part of my client service website. Those of you who are on the schedule for this year, just let me know if you’d like an early peak at the client service website. There you will find a wealth of detail on clothing suggestions, location ideas, and other tips to help you plan for your portraits.

I am also busy at work on my new online catalog. I am so excited about some new products I’ll have available this year. Stay tuned to the blog for details, and maybe even a surprise special offer!

Is there something you’d like to see from Shannon Holden Photography? I always love to hear from clients … let me know if there is something specific that you hope I’ll offer this year. I’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions.

On the schedule this week: One, and maybe two newborns! It seems perfect to kick off the new year with new life. I can’t wait!

Have a beautiful 2009! See you soon!!

There is a little calendar icon on the taskbar of my computer, and the icon changes daily to show the correct date. Today I’ve stared at it more than once, in disbelief that it says Jan 1. Another year behind us. Another ahead.

As I always am this time of year, I’m feeling reflective. What a year 2008 was! Some of it wonderful, some of it very hard. This was the year that I finally felt my business was where I wanted it to be. I found a mostly happy balance between work and family. I reached my financial income goals that helped us as a family reach some personal goals. My husband and I have found some incredible friendships growing stronger, and we are so humbled by the people with whom we walk. Our family is healthy and whole. We are ever thankful for that gift.

In the meantime, my husband made a pretty significant career move, an exciting one, but one that has meant some major adjustments for us as a family, and thus more adjustments to that balance I strive for between family and work. We have gone through some difficult decisions and realizations in regards to our children, our two sons that is, having to find some answers and make some very emotional decisions to give them the best possible outcomes for their own unique challenges. And again with those milestones, I realized my work/life balance needed more tweaking. Thankfully, as always, God has held our hands through it, and shown us that even the uncertainties and questions were blessings, guiding us on the path to where He ultimately wanted us to be.

With the new year upon us, I am making those timely resolutions. I’m determined to sleep more. I’m going to read more books, and surf the web less. I’m going to move more, sit less. I’m going to pray more, worry less. I’m going to hug more, and analyze less. Above all, I am going to remind myself daily that this life, this marriage, these children, this career, this home, these friends, all these things are not mine, they are God’s. He has entrusted me with them, and He knows what is best for them.

I’m doing a lot of praying and a lot of soul searching now on the future of my business. Don’t worry … I’m not going anywhere!! Photography is a part of my soul and I could never give it up. My business has been a blessing to our family in ways I cannot express. All things, especially the wonderful ones, have a path to follow. I’m now seeking the landmarks and dots on the map, God’s direction, to figure out where this path will lead next. I’m very, very excited to find out what is ahead. And I know I’ll be looking to you, my amazing clients and friends, for your insight as well.

I have one more week “off work” while my kids finish up their Christmas break from school. We have playdates scheduled, a trip to the movies, some time with the grandparents, and lots of books and boardgames on our To-Do list. Oh yeah, and more Lego Star Wars on the Wii, I’m sure.

So while I’m feeling reflective and enjoying this last week before returning officially to work, I thought I’d share the images of my children from their Christmas portrait session in 2008. These three and their Daddy are my greatest blessings, the reason I live and breathe every day. I kept these off the blog when they were created because they went into a book I was designing as a gift to their grandparents. But since the Christmas Cards have gone out and the books have  been presented, I’m excited to share them now with you.

Have a very glorious 2009.