Shannon Holden Photography

This session was one I enjoyed tremendously. While I love that so many of my portrait sessions focus on babies and young children, it is a treat to work with older kids. As we are shooting, I often tell Mom to get her kids laughing, to bring out those natural smiles, and it’s so fun for me to hear the jokes and tidbits she uses to elicit a snicker or two. It gives me a peek of what my kids will be like in a few years.

Zach and Abby were fantastic to work with. They both show such strong, grace-filled hearts, and such genuine character. It was actually freezing the night we met for their portrait session, and Zach had very recently suffered a sports injury to his hip, yet neither of them complained one bit and they made my job so easy!

Their mom happens to be someone very important in our lives, as she is our oldest son’s teacher. I can hardly express the blessing she has been to us this year. She has poured so much love, guidance, and prayer into her students, and we are so thankful for how she has helped our son thrive in school. With only six weeks left in the school year, I am sad to see it coming to an end so soon!

I was so excited to see the M family again. At our last session, we focused on portraits of their four children, each of whom is so unique, and so photogenic! Yet they share so much in common. Each is very bright, impressively polite, and very devoted to one another. Their bond is so special to witness.

I was especially glad when Mrs. M told me that she and her husband would be joining in our session this time, with the goal of creating a portrait of them as a family. Even though I know first hand how difficult it can be on that side of the camera … I know us Moms are stressed enough getting all the outfits coordinated, the haircuts precisely timed, and getting everyone dressed and groomed the day of the session, much less the thought of actually being IN the photographs … but years from now, decades from now, I also know how much the children will cherish this image of their family. What I would give to have a portrait of my own family from my childhood! The memory of love and laughter …

Much love,
Shannon

Two weeks since my last blog post. Shame on me! Life has been a little nutty in our household. I had some minor surgery, and 6 days later my husband had a less minor surgery. Then I got hit with the Sinus Cold from You Know Where. And a weekend trip to visit our new niece (images to come soon!), and school kicking into gear (I’m Room Mom again!), and double my normal session load through all of that. Oh yeah, and I somehow got sucked into the Twilight books and lost many an hour of sleep because I couldn’t put those books down! I read the whole series in two weeks!

Now it’s time to catch up and share some of the fantastic sessions I’ve had lately. I’ve met some adorable kiddos and delightful families. Even when life feels chaotic, I still love my job so much. What a blessing!

Meet Ava and Chloe. These sweet sisters live in the Washington, DC area, and their parents are good friends with my cousin’s family. After learning about me through my cousin, they contacted me to book a session on a recent visit to Atlanta. What a treat to meet them! And thank goodness, we had awesome weather on the day of our session, because rescheduling would have been very difficult. Beautiful Ava is so natural in front of the camera, and she is such a loving big sister. She really looked out for Chloe while we were shooting. Darling Chloe was also a doll. She was curious and a little shy at first (I believe a little stranger anxiety is always healthy for a young one), but we got some great giggles out of her soon enough. She also loved the ducks at the park.

Jay and Susan, Ava and Chloe, thank you for taking some time during your visit to play at the park with me. I loved meeting all of you, and I hope we’ll see you again next time we are in DC!