Shannon Holden Photography

Miss Ella is two! Ella was a Milestones client in her first year, and her parents and I became good friends over the year’s sessions. I was so thrilled to see her again for her Two Year Portraits. It’s wonderful to remember that darling, blue-eyed three month old I first met, and to see the vibrant young lady she is now becoming. I can’t wait to see where life leads this little girl.

Ella is all toddler, on the go and independent. Sitting still was not on her agenda for the evening. No worries … my ultimate goal as an artist to capture the child as she is, even at high speed.

Ella, you have forever captured a very special place in my heart. You are beautiful, strong, and sweet. Kirsten and Scott, thank you for the chance to know your amazing daughter, and to call all of you my friends.

Much love,
Shannon

No work today! We are having too much fun with the snow in Alpharetta. Hope you are having a fun day, too!

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.

It has been a year since I saw Hank for a portrait session, and when his mommy helped him out of the car, I hardly recognized him! Now two years old, he has changed from Baby to Kid! He was absolutely adorable for our session! He flashed an instant and precious smile every time I pointed my camera at him. Usually a two year old session involves me chasing a toddler all over a park, and getting lots of shots of the back of his head. But Hank was having a ball having his portrait made, and his parents and I couldn’t help but laugh at how much he enjoyed his modeling job.

Even at the end of our session, when we all thought he was “done” as we say, and as we were heading back toward our cars, Hank started saying, “More cheese!” (Now, please let me clarify that I do not encourage my subjects to “Say Cheese!” … so don’t even get that thought in your head!) It turns out “More Cheese” was Hank’s code for wanting more pictures. So he chose his own little spot to sit, and once again, flashed that picture perfect smile! I clicked away, and he even said, “One more time!” and smiled again!! I’m smiling as I type this, just remembering his cute little face. What an awesome subject he was!

As much as I enjoyed those joyful smiles, as I edited the session, I found that I loved many of his non-smiling portraits just as much. There is just something so captivating and heart-stirring about the innocence at age two, the curiosity, the depth of their souls in their eyes. Images like those truly move me as an artist.

Kevin, Heather, and Hank … it was wonderful to see you again. And Hank … keep smiling, handsome!