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Monthly Archives: March 2009

Nice Day Today

ablog11

Amazing, gorgeous day today. I had a session in the morning, then spent the rest of the day clearing out the back yard to prepare for a garden. I thought I had taken a “before” picture a few weeks ago, but I couldn’t find it (I didn’t look very hard though… if I come across it, I’ll show it). As pretty as these weeds were, they’re no longer welcome (or existing) in my back yard. ablog2

I won’t miss them. I’d rather take pictures of the food I’m going to grow.

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(I made it sound like I rocked the back yard all by myself. Really, DAVE rocked the backyard while I helped/supervised.)

We even discussed getting chickens. I think you can have four chickens within city limits. Our backyard neighbor has at least three wandering in his yard (even though we have pretty small yards). It cracks me up. Not that I even eat that many eggs, but I would feel really awesome if I owned a couple chickens… It probably won’t happen, but it’s kind of a fun idea.

I got all fired up when I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Thought I’d eat better and try to eat local. I even fantasized about buying a cow and making my own cheese. But it didn’t really go beyond thinking about it.  I have a tendency to have big ideas and make big plans, but then realize I don’t have the time or energy or really, the desire, to achieve them. But a garden still feels like a good idea. A couple years ago we grew a ton of tomatoes and a few strawberries and some jalepenos and it was really fun. My dad had a huge garden every year. My friend Kathi is a gardening expert. It’s time for me to join the club. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’ll pretend like I’m Pioneer Woman. In the meantime, I’ve realized that manual labor is exhausting. Pass me some peach ice cream.

March 28, 2009 - 9:58 pm Traci - If you get chickens I am going to be so insanely jealous!!!! I totally have a chicken catalog I'll share with you, though--I might need to live vicariously through you!

March 29, 2009 - 5:26 am Hilary - We're big garden freaks. We even made these giant tomato cages (that ended-up being insanely expensive)... just like to experiment with it all. Good luck!

March 29, 2009 - 6:47 pm molly - funny you should mention chickens. my big sister has a blog, and has written many times about her chickens...most recently about one of their hens that just had chicks! good luck in the chicken department!

March 29, 2009 - 6:52 pm molly - oopps! here's the link to her blog: http://thyhandhathprovided.blogspot.com/

March 30, 2009 - 9:10 am Stefani Meyer - Great post. We too are preparing for our garden. Fruit trees are also in the works. My sister (Kristen) and mom are great gardeners too. I feel so lame about it. But I keep having the dream.

March 30, 2009 - 11:55 am Andrea - You made your weeds look so pretty! My weeds, on the other hand, are ugly and way out of control. We were doing battle with the garden spot this weekend too!

March 31, 2009 - 7:07 pm Kaija - amazing grass photos! beautiful! i loved animal vegetable miracle, too.

THE STUDIO!!

Sorry I’ve been such a slacker in posting this! I really am excited about this place. It just makes me so happy. About a year ago, I envisioned what I wanted in a studio. Just a tiny place that is bright, clean, and happy. I’m pretty sure that place that I imagined came out of my head and plopped itself right onto Campbell Avenue. It’s so fun (and just a little weird) that it happened so perfectly. Totally meant to be, me and this place.studioweb-2

This image is from last November, I wasn’t quite finished yet, but I do love the door in the frame. My name on the door. It makes me smile every time I stand in front of it to unlock it.

The Open House was SO much fun. I really appreciate all of the people that came out to support me on this, and especially my friends Kathi and Kent. Kathi planned and bought/made ALL the food. I can’t even express how wonderful that was to be able to turn it over to her and know it was going to be in good hands. It freed me up to think about the billion other things I had to think about! KATHI ROCKS… I’m so lucky to have such an awesome friend. And Kent… my friend Kent is a professional party planner (her business is Events By Kent… go check it out!), so it was SO awesome to have her holding my hand, focusing me, lending me her experience and her calm head and pointing out all the details I needed to be aware of. She even made a timeline for me so I knew what needed to be done and when! I couldn’t have done this without them. Oh, and Dave.

My hero Dave. Really, this whole entire thing is due to him. While the first time I mentioned getting a studio he was pretty against it, he warmed up quickly and became my biggest supporter. He has put SO much time and effort (and money) into helping me realize this dream and I feel so incredibly lucky to have such strong support from him. He was able to transform this shabby little room into my cute little dream.studiobefore

Ok… enough talking. I know what people really want to see is pictures! Probably my favorite spot, all sunny and happy.

studio1(those blocks in the windowsill are supposed to say “smile” but they’re always getting played with… which is ok!)

studio3studio4Dave was so smart in the way he translated my vision of using this useless doorway as a little bookshelf thingy… you almost can’t even tell it was a door! This is going to change, actually… the family pics will find a new home above my desk, and more client images are going here. (ran out of time before the open house to get that final detail finished!) But I’m going to hate to move it because I love it!studio71

CANDY. :)

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Please excuse the messy desk in this one, it was minutes after the open house ended… Here’s my “&” wall… and you can also see where my collage of family pics is eventually going to go (the ones of my kids there are coming back home, ha ha).

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This is my fun rainbow wall, each is a 16×16 print on foamcore, looks tiny in that pic, but it’s not… and the suitcases that make me smile inside the tv stand that makes me smile, and an orchid from a sweet friend that makes me smile.

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So there it is! Most of it, anyway… there are a few details not shown that you’ll just have to come see for yourself. What do you think? :)

March 24, 2009 - 5:05 pm Joanna - Oooh, I love seeing all these shots of your studio, Shannon! It looks fabulous!

March 24, 2009 - 5:21 pm JIll Johnson - It looks fantastic. Great job! I want to come and hang out and look at all the pretty pics.

March 24, 2009 - 5:24 pm Rachel - it looks so amazing Shannon! What a beautiful place you created :)

March 24, 2009 - 5:41 pm lroah - SO thrilled for you - I hope to come see it one day soon! And you!

March 24, 2009 - 6:16 pm Andrea - Wow, wow, and wow. It's even cuter than I imagined! And I love seeing a couple of my family pics in your happy place. :) You are ridiculously amazing.

March 24, 2009 - 6:17 pm Hilary - Yummy. I mean, the studio AND the candy. You are very fancy. Congrats, and Dave is a good man.

March 24, 2009 - 6:22 pm Sally - It looks lovely! Congratulations!!! :)

March 24, 2009 - 6:31 pm Kaija - The studio is SO BEAUTIFUL! The rainbow wall is my favorite :) I'd love to have such a rainbow wall in my home someday. I am so sorry we weren't able to come to your open house -- we would have loved to be there! I guess we are just going to have to stop by your studio at another time. Really truly amazing. Thanks for sharing your dream!

March 24, 2009 - 6:35 pm stacy benintendi - it is WAY more beautiful than i imagined...so amazing. and since i'm not comming your way i think you need to take pics of the detail and put them up here anyway .:)

March 24, 2009 - 6:42 pm erin - I love it Shannon!! It's wonderful! So quaint and cheery and just a perfect space!! Congrats!!

March 24, 2009 - 8:03 pm Krista Lund - very beautiful! lucky you to have this space to call your own! i am so bummed i missed the open house!

March 24, 2009 - 8:15 pm Cat Logan - Wow! It really looks amazing. Congratulations, Shannon!

March 24, 2009 - 8:57 pm Lilia - Oh, WOW!! What an awesome space! Yay you!! :-)

March 24, 2009 - 10:04 pm kent - Yeah! So cool to see before and after pics. Your space has really been transformed!! Thanks for letting me help you - it was fun! And Dave is THE MAN!!

March 24, 2009 - 10:36 pm Brenda Miles - Love what you did with the door and the rainbow wall might be my fave! Congrats...you deserve it!

March 25, 2009 - 6:57 am Kathi - Yeah! I love all pictures! I feel like I'm there and that I want to go back. To take a deep breath and relax. It really is a beautiful space. Of all the people I know. The whole think it and it will come thing really works for you. Can I slip my dreams into your pocket? =) (and I had fun doing the food. When's the next party?)

March 25, 2009 - 7:15 am Jael DeYoung - holy smokes!!! this is awesome girl..... you did such a GREAT job with this, how fun!! I'm so excited for you.....

March 25, 2009 - 8:01 am Jami - Shannon- It looks SO AMAZING! I'm really sad that I missed it. I'm glad that I've been there though, even though it wasn't totally finished. It's so so cute and perfect. You are so talented.

March 25, 2009 - 9:24 am Stefani Meyer - Shannon, I had it on the calendar and everything but we ended up having a big ol' thing that day. I was still hoping to sneak away, but it didn't happen. I definitely want to come take a real life look. I have a huge list of things to do when I'm up that way again. I'll call ya. It looks FANTASTIC though! Wow! Really I love it!!

March 25, 2009 - 12:36 pm Susie - It's beautiful! Best wishes :)

March 25, 2009 - 2:40 pm Desiree Nebeker - I really really love the personal touches, its a warm and inviting spot! I must go check it out sometime! =] happy shooting

March 25, 2009 - 10:07 pm Anonymous - love it. LOVE IT! Love that it is so crisp and clean and vibrant. Don't you want to just sneak away there sometimes and hide. What is the woman's version of a "man cave"? I want one. Oh yeah, but I get that you do work there too :)

March 28, 2009 - 8:36 am Laurissa - How exciting! I can just see you there. I can't wait till we move west and can have you do some pictures . . . in about 10 years after we pay off all our debt!

March 30, 2009 - 3:26 pm chris - Jealous...and inspired! Good for you for envisioning it and then making it happen!

March 30, 2009 - 4:39 pm lisa busby - Wow Shannon that is so awesome. It looks great! Congratulations! You are so talented!

March 31, 2009 - 5:34 pm Tami H. - I am so impressed once again! I've added you as one of my few places I go to for creative inspiration. I love everything you do!

March 31, 2009 - 7:34 pm melissapepin - I LOVE LOVE LOVE it Shannon!!!! It turned out awesome!

March 31, 2009 - 10:45 pm Shelly Goddard - Shannon your studio looks great. Sorry we missed the open house but glad we got to see your studio in real life back in November. Question, how did you hang those 16×16 prints on the wall?

April 1, 2009 - 1:29 pm melissa deakin - this studio is amazing, shannon! wowzers. incredible. love your name on the door. i'm so happy for you.

April 11, 2009 - 5:21 pm michelle - hey your studio looks awesome. I saw our picture on the floor. I feel pretty special to be in your studio...

April 13, 2009 - 9:27 pm Adri - Shannon...I just love it. I so wish I lived near you so I could take advantage of your AWESOME talent! Seriously, you rock!

Alyssa and Albert in San Jose | San Jose Engagement Photography

I know I’m supposed to be talking about the open house and posting pics of the studio. But I don’t have the pics on this computer, so that will have to wait. But the Open House was awesome. So much fun! I’ll give a full report in the next few days. In the meantime, let’s play with Alyssa and Albert.

This session was so much fun! I picked the location for this session… most people wouldn’t think of hanging out under an overpass next to train tracks for an engagement session, but I drive past this spot weekly and have been dying to play there. Nearby is a lake, so in a really small area we had a big contrast of locations. That kind of stuff makes me so happy.

My favorite shot of the day…

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m such a sucker for the big epic shots with tiny people. It’s a good way to have a huge artsy image in your home without feeling weird about having huge pics of yourself.

This spot… just some weeds next to the railroad track. I thought it was super cool. Until we stood up to leave and realized we had thorns all over our pants! But, worth it, I think. :)

This one… we’re going have to come back on their 50th anniversary to do the “after” shot. :)

A and A… thanks so much for trusting me with this one!
If you’d like to see the full session slideshow, click here.

March 13, 2009 - 11:45 pm lroah - One of the best sessions I have seen from you - these are fabulous!!!

March 14, 2009 - 11:35 am alison - the weeds with the thorns was totally worth it!! Lovely session:)

March 14, 2009 - 11:37 am stacy benintendi - your big shots with tiny people and your shot with the sun flare totally remind me of my friend amelias phptography. your pics are great! can't wait to see the open house.:)

March 14, 2009 - 8:37 pm Krista Lund - these are so awesome! love them! i am so bummed i didn't make it to the open house. i got caught up in walnut creek and couldn't make it back in time. i am glad to hear it went well and can't wait to see/hear more about it.

March 15, 2009 - 3:21 pm Lisa Russo - Shannon, your work is magnificent. Breathtaking. Every image is a work of art - absolutely superb. (can you tell I'm a fan?). Your composition and use of whitespace are so inspiring - they draw you right in to the subject, without it being overwhelming. I would give just about anything to have you photograph my family.

March 16, 2009 - 9:51 am tina cockburn - These are fabulous, Shannon!

March 16, 2009 - 12:03 pm cblackstone - LOVE that last one - LOVE it:) Great session!

March 17, 2009 - 6:09 pm Carmen - shannon ... i love this session too! my favorite is the 1st image for sure.

March 18, 2009 - 8:56 pm davina - You've done such a beautiful job with this session. I love the intimacy and fun you've captured. Well done!

Loved this…

Came across this in Facebook the other day. I can’t get it to embed, but it’s worth the click- Check it out.

I think he has a point.

So, this blogging every day thing… yeah… not going so well, but it’s almost every other day, which is better than once a week, so I guess I’m still happy with that. Baby steps.

As I was going through all my client sessions to pick one from each for an album I put together, I came across several months where all my family pictures were still sitting untouched in folders. Kind of sad. So I took a little while and proofed for my family. Here are some random pics from my trip to Utah and Yellowstone in July. Good times.

Sophie’s Birthday.

All the ladies in my family went to Park City for a fun little sleepover.

My big haircut… I donated my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Somebody(s) found some old clogging costumes….

Sophie wasn’t too sure about the sparklers.

This is some pretty impressive rolls and dimples from my niece…

After the visit with my family, we headed up to Yellowstone for a little family camping trip.

Some of the requisite touristy shots.

My beautiful daughter.

Love this shot of the little man. Crazy bright day, it made this picture kind of cool because everything else is blown out. If I’d taken this shot in automatic mode, he would’ve been completely dark and the background would’ve been properly exposed. Learning to shoot in manual is so important.

Tomorrow (hopefully) I’ll share some of the landscape/artsy shots…

March 2, 2009 - 4:35 am Hilary - Those clogging costumes are hot. Can't believe how old S is! Kidney stones tonight, that's why I'm up at 3 am. :)

March 2, 2009 - 5:47 am Lisa - HAHAHA - your boylies look like mine when the camera comes out. LOL! Love these Shannon - your family is so adorable!

March 2, 2009 - 11:28 am Andrea - Those were good times...I'm glad you got around to looking at them!

March 2, 2009 - 3:13 pm Maren - I gotta know, so you were a clogger? Come on, fess up. I love all of Franklin's facial expressions. What a crack up.

March 13, 2009 - 9:37 pm alison - that's how long your hair was before you got it cut??? WOW:) The first picture is so darling. I love blowing out the candles pictures