I’ve had the honor of working with this incredible family since big brother Hamilton was in his mommy’s belly. Through his first year portraits and beyond, Mark and Ashley became friends as well as clients. Now God has added Luke to their family, and I can tell he is going to be just as charming as his big brother.

Luke’s newborn session was photographed a bit later than my typical newborn portraits, but he cooperated beautifully. I loved the chance to get his bright, alert eyes, something that isn’t always possible in those early weeks when we usually photograph newborns. But then he curled up and slept for us, and let us create the lovely, peaceful, sleepy newborn poses as well.

I can’t believe how this year has flown by. Luke, I’ll see you and your sweet family in just a few weeks!

Much love,
Shannon

Much love,
Shannon

At the same time, as time runs away from me faster each day, I’m clinging to every single second I have with my family. It’s like trying to hold vapor in my arms. Time together is so much, much more precious than it has ever been.

Thus, the neglected blog for the last 6 months.

But now it’s time to catch up. To get back on track, I thought this would be a good time to run another of our fun Catch Me Not Blogging contests! This year, we’ll add a new twist.

If you catch me NOT blogging for a day, and you are the first to post a comment here on the blog, you will win a $50 gift certificate to Shannon Holden Photography!

Here is the new twist … Catch yourself on the blog, and you can win, too! If I post one of your past sessions on the blog, share it with your friends and ask them to post a comment. If you gather 20 comments in 24 hours, you will receive a $20 gift certificate to Shannon Holden Photography. Gather 40 comments, and you’ll win a $40 gift certificate! (Do you want to be sure I include your past session in the contest? Post a comment here to let me know!)

Here are the rules for both contests:

• Contest will run from September 1 through September 21, 2012.
• All comments for both contests must be posted here. Facebook comments will not count.
• Any gift certificates issued will expire September 1, 2013. Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash, and are not-transferable.
• Your gift certificate will only be valid on portraits, not session fees, specialty items, or shipping costs. You are welcome to use the gift certificate on a current or future session.

• I have until 12:00 Midnight (Eastern) to publish my blog post. Each “day” will be the calendar day, midnight to midnight.
• IF you catch me not blogging, you must post a comment on the most recent blog post to claim your prize. You also must post this comment by 12:00 Midnight EST the next day.
• Only one winner per day. But IF I miss more than one day, the same person can win twice!
• If two readers catch me not blogging and post at the exact same time claiming their prize, I will split the gift certificate 50/50. The blog will time stamp your comment. If two readers post within a few minutes of each other, the comment with the earlier time stamp wins. (If you have never posted a comment on my blog before, it will hold your comment for moderation by me – this is to prevent spammers. Rest assured I will receive your comment via email as soon as you post it, with the time stamp in tact.)

• Comments must be submitted by unique individuals with unique IP addresses. Duplicate IP addresses will not count. These means two people can’t post from the same house/internet connection.
• Comments must be posted within 24 hours of the blog post’s publication time to be counted. (Again – If you have never posted a comment on my blog before, it will hold your comment for moderation by me – this is to prevent spammers. Rest assured I will receive your comment via email as soon as you post it, with the time stamp in tact.)
• Comments contest awards will be limited to $40 per person.

Thank you for letting me be your first photographer, Emilye!

Much love,
Shannon

Much love,
Shannon

I am so excited for the B family that their son is here! They are long time clients who have become good friends. They have been on quite a journey to welcome their son and it hasn’t been an easy one. All babies are so precious, such blessings, and some are even more so when the wait for them was longer than we anticipated or hoped. I cried happy tears when I first heard the news of their pregnancy, and my heart fills with joy for them once again upon meeting their cherished son.

Much love,
Shannon

Another beautiful new life! Precious Maggie arrived just a few weeks ago, such a cherished gift right from the start. Her daddy has a passion for music, hence the posing with the microphone. I love the little look on her face!

I never grow tired of photographing newborns. Every single one is magical. Ah, how I love my job!

Much love,
Shannon

The first image reminded me immediately of one of my favorite quotations … “Babies smile in their sleep because they can still see Heaven there.” After I captured that image, I just sat and watched Sophia sleep for a moment, imagining the sweet songs her angels were singing to her.

My daughter is sitting and staring at Sophia’s portraits even now as I type, asking me when she can hold her. Alas, patience is not her strong suit. She has even asked excitedly when she can babysit. So Cherice and Kevin, get ready for a date night in about 8 years! You have a sitter all lined up.

Welcome to the world, Sophia Grace. It has been waiting for you.

Much love,
Shannon

There are a lot of new babies in Atlanta! The key to newborn portrait sessions is patience. We must take our time. In my experience, you can’t rush a newborn through a formula of poses because you can’t expect her to understand our adult timetables and plans. She just knows what she needs – to be nurtured, loved, a full tummy and a warm cuddle. She wants, and deserves, to be comfortable and safe. Those are my priorities in a session and you’ll see it reflected in the images.

This beautiful baby girl was an absolutely perfect little model. Darling Rachael Rose made my job so easy! She was calm and content through our entire session. She shared those gorgeous bright eyes with us, but also dozed off happily for some sleepy shots. Isn’t she precious?

The last image you see is now a very large portrait to be displayed in this sweet family’s home. I must admit, seeing my clients embrace the impact a large print can have makes me one very happy photographer.

Much love,
Shannon

I cannot do justice to her story either. The journey she and her husband have traveled to this point, to awaiting the arrival of their baby girl, is also beyond words. It has been a journey of many years and a great deal of heartache. And to see the joy in their eyes now, to see the love they have for their baby girl as they await her birth … oh, more tears! Blessed tears!

Cherice and Kevin, it has been such an honor to capture this time for you. Thank you for being who you are, for the light and love you share with everyone you meet. Thank you for your cherished friendship and for the way you have loved my children. You are one of our greatest blessings.

Much love,
Shannon

I’ve been lucky to meet so many new little people in recent months! There has definitely been a wave of newborns in the Atlanta area. Photographing these tiny miracles stirs my heart each time. It was a joy to meet Will, and to see big sister Kate and his family again. He fits right into this sweet family!

Kate and I spent a few minutes playing together while her baby brother had a quick snack. She was excited to show me her beautiful, pink, Big Girl room. Isn’t she a doll?

Much love,
Shannon

These two handsome little men were perfect for their first photo shoot. They were awake a good bit of the time, but so calm and peaceful. They finally agreed to doze off together, and we all let out a collective “awww!” when they settled into their cuddled pose. Their big sister hovered close during our shoot, curious to watch, excited to have her portrait made, and ever so loving and nurturing toward her baby brothers. All three were simply precious.

Much love,
Shannon

Isn’t her nursery darling?
This carriage was her mother’s doll carriage from her childhood. I couldn’t wait to incorporate it into our portrait session when I saw it!!

Julie and Chad, your daughter is breathtaking! Thank you for the opportunity to be her very first photographer.

Much love,
Shannon

And now, one of my dearest friends in the world has become a mother. Peggy and I met in college, and our friendship grew closer in the years after that. It was Peggy who held my hand at 4:30 a.m. in a hospital room, as I held my mother’s, as Mom left this life behind for Heaven. I told Peggy that night that she was no longer just a friend to me. She was a sister.

Life gets hectic though, and living in different states can make it hard to stay in touch. I don’t get to see Peggy nearly as often as I’d like. But to get the chance to celebrate with her as she welcomes her first child into the world … well, that’s something that I wouldn’t miss. So with our other dear friend, Melissa, we got to spend a weekend catching up and meeting Miss Addie.

Addie was 6 weeks old when I met her. Normally that is an age that can be difficult to photograph, which is why I generally recommend that my clients schedule their newborn portrait sessions between 6 and 10 days after the baby’s birth. After the first couple weeks of life, babies learn that they can wiggle and stretch, and posing for portraits is not high on their list of favorite things. But obviously in some circumstances, it’s just not possible to schedule a portrait session in that early window. Miss Addie proved me wrong on the timing, and she was an absolute delight. She even agreed to a quick snooze during her portrait session. She might truly be one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. With a mother like Peggy, I know she will have a lifelong beauty that radiates from within.

Welcome to the world, darling Addie. What a blessing you are!

Much love,
Shannon