Shannon Holden Photography

Announcing a new product from Shannon Holden Photography! I fell in love with these when I saw them at the photography convention I recently attended. I ordered my first sample hours after I got home. And I love it even more now that I’m holding it in my hands!

Introducing our heirloom Memory Boxes. Custom matched to your baby’s nursery or your child’s room, each box is a work of art in itself. You choose the treasures to keep inside … baby’s hospital bracelet, a first lock of hair, and a copy of his birth announcement. Or maybe it can be a collection of snapshots from your son’s 5th year, along with the ornament he made in Kindergarten, and the note he wrote to you on Mother’s Day this year. Even high school seniors can store their memories and snapshots of senior year, their graduation announcement, and the tassle from their cap. I’m designing a box for each of my sons who were baptized this year, where they can keep their memories of their baptism day, the cards from dear friends, the photos of their baptism, and their personalized Bibles which were a gift from their aunt.

The outside measurement of the box is 9.5″ x 9.5″ x 3″ deep. The inside of the box is lined in black cloth. (Please pardon the blurred area on the sample box below. I try to keep my subjects’ last names off my blog for safety reasons.)

I just love these, and I hope you do, too! They are available now in our online store. You can find them in the Specialty Items section.

Much love,
Shannon

P.S. I’m anxious to design a few more of these, so how about an introductory offer? Everyone loves a sale, right? I am offering $50 off all boxes ordered in the next three days. Just email me or visit the online store! Sorry, this offer is only valid on current or previous sessions, not future ones. Expires February 3, 2010 at midnight EST.

Finn has arrived! Blog readers met his big sister, Rowan, last Fall. Finn was so nice and sleepy for our session. He didn’t mind a bit as we interrupted his nap for each new pose. And in excellent timing, he woke up at the end of our session for a few more images with those bright eyes open. Perfect! I think he’s going to have that same gorgeous red hair like his big sister. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my job? Finn’s portrait session was my first day back “on the job” after a short break following the holiday chaos. Admittedly, I was feeling a bit burned out after the craziness of the holiday portrait season. Many of us photographers feel that way. But the minute I started packing my camera bag to head out to meet Finn, that surge of energy and excitement came back to me, and I had a blast at his session. Simply having a camera in my hand … that’s all it takes to reawaken my inner photographer.

Ryan, Sarah, Rowan, and Finn … may God shower you with love, laughter, and blessings in your lives together. Thank you for the chance to share a little of all three with you.

Much love,
Shannon

I have two sons and a daughter. I always wanted a daughter, long before I became a parent. I’m an only child, so the “girl” world was all I ever knew. When our son was born, I was not only overwhelmed by motherhood in general, but felt completely clueless on how to raise a boy. Truth be told, I still do sometimes. But as I fell in love with my son, I realized this was one of those times where God did not give me what I thought I wanted, but he absolutely gave me what I needed.

Then a second son came along, and I was fully, happily, excitedly engaged in the role of Mom to Boys. My boys have taught me more about life, about my husband, and even about myself than I ever dreamed they could. I’ve found a fondness for trains, trucks, slimy creatures, and pirate adventures. This boy thing was working out just fine.

And then our baby girl came along. And I felt like a rookie all over again! Just when I’d figured out the boy thing, I was back in unfamiliar territory. And in the same way that my boys have changed my life, having a daughter has been nothing short of wonderful. God not only gave us a girl as our third child, he gave us a girly girl! I admit … that was a shock to my husband and me. I am not a girly girl in the least. I am a jeans and a t-shirt, very little make up, don’t own a dress, own only one pair of black shoes, kind of girl. I never thought girly-girl was even in my DNA.

My daughter loves all things pink, all things sparkly, all things frilly, and all things Princess, and I love those traits in her more than I can express! It just encompasses who she is at this tender age, when fairytales are still so real for her. At three and a half, I know that those magical days might be disappearing soon. She’ll discover Hannah Montana or some other cool trendy idol and her Princess daydreams will just be a fading memory.

At this fleeting moment in her life, spending a day as a real princess is a dream come true. That is why I am so incredibly excited to be partnering with the uber-talented Heather Lickliter of Stylized Portraiture in Athens, Georgia to offer a chance for Limited Edition Fairytale Sessions in Atlanta this Spring! Please check out Heather’s website for additional peeks at these Fairytale Sessions. Details will be forthcoming … in the meantime, drop me a note if you’d like to be on the advanced notice list for these special sessions. The number of sessions we can offer will be limited, and only for a short time.

And this next image will soon be a Gallery-Wrapped Canvas on my wall. Her daddy just about had a heart attack when he saw this portrait of his baby girl.

Much love,
Shannon

This baby girl was so precious! I recently met her and her parents for the first time, through her aunt who was a sorority sister of mine in college. This session was so much fun for me. It was a very rainy day when we met, and as a natural light photographer, rainy days can make my job very challenging. No worries for this session, though, as their house was full of large windows and beautiful light. I wish I had this kind of light in my own home!

Eva is a Daddy’s Girl. She had such sweet, adorable smiles for her daddy’s playful tricks. And she was full of curiosity for her canine sister, who was very patient and gentle as we invited her to join in for a few poses. I bet those two will be great friends in the years to come.

Bob and Ericka, thank you for the chance to meet your beautiful daughter. She is a treasure indeed!

Much love,
Shannon