Shannon Holden Photography

I had planned on sharing another recent session on today’s blog post, but something bigger is on my heart. This morning as my children ate their breakfast before school, I was sorting and straightening one of the many stacks of paper that like to gather on our kitchen counter. I found a yellow construction-paper card mixed among the bills, with a design of red and orange lines on the front like rays of sunlight. On the card he had drawn, my 8 year old son had written a poem.

He is my sunshine when I’m scared in the dark.
He is my blanket when I am cold.
He is my pat on the shoulder when I’m sad as a boulder who wants to go over a hill.
He is my guidance when I am lost and paralyzed with fear.
Then He lets me know “I’m here.”

How blessed I am when I get these little glimpses into his heart, how blessed when I see his faith and light shining so brilliantly. How blessed I am to know that he not only knows his Savior, but loves him, trusts him. How blessed indeed.

May you be richly blessed today with sunshine, warmth, reassurance, guidance and love.

“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”” Luke 18:15-17 (NIV)

Look how much she’s grown! Abigail is a Milestones graduate. I loved seeing her grow in her first year. She has such a delicate beauty, and has since birth. But now at age 2, I got to see a new side of Abigail, a silly, energetic side that really made me smile. She is an adorable toddler! Her mom and I did a little role playing during the session to entice Abigail to pose where we wanted.

“Mom, do you think Abigail could stand here by this wall?” I would say.

Her mom would reply, “Oh, I don’t know, Miss Shannon. That is a really BIG GIRL thing to do.”

Miss Abigail was eager to prove to us that she was a big girl. Worked like a charm.

Matt, Stephanie, and Abigail, you have brought me so many smiles over the last two years. I can’t wait to see the stunning young lady Abigail becomes. Thank you for sharing this time with me. See you at church!

More favorite clients! This family holds a special place in my heart because they were one of my very first Milestones clients. Their daughter, Eden, was just a few weeks old the first time I met them. I was lucky to work with them throughout Eden’s first year, and then again when Dalia became a Milestones baby, and every year since. Seeing them again each year is truly like reuniting with old, dear friends. As I fully expected they would, the girls are growing into absolutely stunning young ladies.

I’m excited to now be sharing clients’ names on the blog, with their permission of course, because I think you can really see how a person’s name suits them in a portrait. Eden is beautiful, vibrant, passionate, breathtaking, and sweet. Dalia is strong, striking, colorful, joyful, and yet delicate. I love the unique names Alan and Devorah have chosen for their daughters. In fact, Eden was a name I’d always “saved” for my daughter one day, until I married a Holden. Eden Holden just didn’t work … too many N’s.

Alan and Devorah, thank you for the opportunity to be your family’s photographer over the years. You are one of the reasons I am where I am today in my career, and a big reason why I love my job so much. I hope I might even get to photograph the girls’ Senior Portraits one day.

I get several emails each week from new or aspiring photographers seeking advice on getting started. Each one is flattering to receive, and I wish I had the time to answer them all in depth. Unfortunately, as a Wife, Mommy, and Professional Photographer, time is my most precious resource, and the one thing I never seem to have enough of. And so, I usually can’t give each inquiry the dedicated attention I would like. In hopes of offering some insight to these rising artists, I wrote this page on my website quite some time ago. It’s been shared on many other photographers’ blogs and websites, and yet ironically, I have never shared it directly on my own blog!

Since I have gotten a whole new flurry of emails this week, I thought it was time to post it here. I hope it is helpful to those interested.

Starting a Photography Business