My Candid Moments

I took this image last year at the Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis. We did not go this year, there was so much to do that we decided this will be an every other year tradition for us. However, this image still resonates with me. Is it perfect, no it’s not. However, it is about the magic of the season for me. A little boy who was GLUED to the window of the tent because the parade was such a magical thing. Then at the end, who comes but Santa, a larger then life Santa, to me, who at this moment was nothing more then a Mom, it was pure magic.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. I know my kids are excited about the snow — truthfully so am I. It means we will have tons of fun while they are on break from school.

Shannon

It is so easy to become wrapped up in the day to day living.  To make the little speed bumps in the road into huge mountains we need to overcome.  Then all it takes is one instant one moment for it to all come into focus.  That what I do, what we all do as parents, makes a difference. As a photographer I make it my mission to try and capture those moments, the ones that show the love, happiness and a deep connection to one another.  The image that when you view it will make every tear and shriek melt away as you gaze at an image that is just — pure love.  As we head into the busy hectic holiday season I pray for all to have theses moments to have this brief few seconds everyday when EVERYTHING is right in the world.

This portrait is two of my greatest blessings in life, my children.  The other, blessing my husband is not in this image.  However, without him I would not have these two incredible and amazing children.  Blessings this Thanksgiving to all.

Shannon

This week I am getting ready for the holiday and spending way too much time on other blogs.

This week my five on Friday are some fun things I have found for the holidays.

1. Oganinzing Your Way has a countdown for the holidays — I the suggestions and tips for getting through this hectic holiday season.

2. Minted — These are a great new card option. Now you can replace the holiday letter with a mini book of images. I love this idea and I know the Grandparents will too!

3. Vintage Pearl - I found this while surfing another photographers blog. I just love the jewelry and it is the perfect gift for a Mom.  hint hint to anyone out there who needs ideas for thier Mom!

4. Tape Swell — I have not yet found a use for this, but just LOVE the idea of the decorative tape being pretty and functional.  I am certain I will order some to use this holiday season.

5.  Blub Books – These are good quality books and a great way to share a year of images with family and friends. I hope to make a few books for holiday gifts this year, if not they will make great New Years presents.

I found this image while proofing a recent session I did for DoJo Karate.  I just love this moment I captured between my own kids!

This week I have some fun things for my Five on Friday:
1. Someone posted on Facebook — That we tell kids not to take Candy and things from people they do not know, but on Halloween we go door to door and collect candy. This is such an odd message. I tend to agree, but we will be out on Halloween!

2. I am blessed to have photography in my life — I have some amazing friends and that means the world to me! You all know who you are and THANK YOU!!

3. I want this lens — I can’t have it right now but I want it!!

4. I am so thankful for my family and their continued good health.  (I told you my thoughts were totally random).

5. I love my children — they are the world to me.  However, sometimes my favorite time of the day is when they sleep.

I have neglected my blog the past few weeks, as I get into the fall schedule of school, karate lessons and as well as the hustle and bustle of the busy season for me as a photographer.  My photographer friend Chelsey has challenged us to blog about five things on Friday.  I missed the first two weeks, but I was determined to make it this week.

Here are my Five on Friday:

1. I LOVE my clients. I know that it can not be said enough that I have been blessed with great clients.  So many of you are returning for your third and forth annual sessions with me this fall.  I am just blown away by your support and feel like I have a mini family reunion with each of you this time of year.

2. My image graces this months cover of My Healthy Beginning a local magazine that focuses on raising children naturally!  I am also very excited to report that I am also providing images for their next issue as well!

3. I love all the seasons, but there is something wonderful and unique about fall.  I love the colors, the weather which can go from cool and crisp, to warm and back to cold and rainy all in the space of two days!  Fall makes me want to cozy up with a book and read — feel free to leave me suggestions below. I need to stop by the library and get a few books anyway!

4. I am really starting to love doing MACRO photography.  It won’t replace my other passion, photographing people, but I love looking at everyday objects in a new way.  I am dying to try out water droplets — maybe one night when the kids are tucked away in bed!

5. I hate to buy shoes. That is the truth. I NEED new shoes this fall and I just dread going out and trying to find the ones that I want.  Again any suggestions would be appreciated. I am certain my husband does not want me wearing my dirty old keds much longer!

Their faces just Melt my heart!!

I am going to start a new thing here on my blog: Wordless Wendsday. I wish I could say that the idea was my own.  However, it is something I have barrowed from my friend and fellow photographer Chelsey Mach, of MachC photography in Faribanks Alaska. 

You can check out her wordless Wendsday posts here: MachC and see for yourself how a picutre really is worth a thousand words~

This is image needs no other words — because every Mom can relate to how amazing it is to get one image of two kids together and happy!

I have always loved Christmas. It, to me, is the time of year that renuews our faith in each other. That it’s the time of year when mircles can happen, and usually do. This year it seems like is has flown by. The holiday season in particular seems to have just vanished in a blink.

We have done most of our usual holiday traditions, but this year we added a new one. I took my son to the Holidazzle parade. It was a bitterly cold night the day we went, but thankfully, we had purchased tickets to sit in the “hot seats”, which are inside a heated tent. It was truly magical. He had so much fun and I managed to despite shooting in the cold and through a heavy plexi window with bars, capture the sprit of the night for him.

This photo represents what the holidays mean to me! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

As a photographer I get inspired by many different things.  I think, for me, I am most often inspired by costumes.  This is because when children put on a costume they forget about me and the camera and just have fun.  This is where I wish that my Mother’s talent with a sewing machine had rubbed off.  Anyway I digress.  This costume is amazing and the talent of the artist who created it even more spectacular!  Visit Grosgrain’s blog and check it out!

Shannon