Announcing May Mini Sessions! Downtown Campbell. May 22.

Cost: $150, includes one 11×14 print. Contact me for details, shannon [at] shannonmontez [dot] com

Last time I did mini sessions was last November. I loved so many of the images, I’m going to have to break the sharing into two posts.

More tomorrow…

I gather all the leftovers and whatever I can find around the house (raisins, pretzel mix, a bag of peanuts) and assign it a weird name, make up a menu, and have the family order from the menu. Here’s the file: Montez Family Annual April Fools Gala Dinner, if you want to try it next year. It’s really no more work than a regular dinner, except for putting together the menu, which makes me giggle and is kind of fun. A celebration without more work? That’s the best!

Anyway, I was nice this year. The only non-edible thing on the menu was grass (springfling, and almost everyone ordered it!). Other than that, it was orange chicken (from Costco) if they chose right, or cereal, leftovers or dog food if they chose wrong (with the name of  “dinnypup” everyone figured it out). Sophie was disappointed that her dessert was ice (while others got ice cream), but other than that, everyone had fun with it. Good times.

In another, completely unrelated event… Please go vote for Shannon and Jason, an SMP bride and groom, who are up for Best Bouquet on The Knot’s Real Wedding Awards!

The flowers were done by the wonderful Lani and Elizabeth at Lani Elizabeth. They really were amazing.

In the spirit of trying to get you to go vote, here are more of the amazing flowers!

They were amazing. Even on the hottest day of the year!

NOW GO VOTE.

But anyway…

I think it will be fun and I was flattered and excited when they asked me to participate. I’m the “crazy family life/successful business/trying to balance it all” angle.  I don’t know that I’ve mastered my life in any way, I’m probably more an example of “what not to do” at times, but I HAVE learned a lot about life and business in this journey! I always love it when people get together to share what they know and help each other along the way. While I walk into it feeling nervous, I walk out of it feeling really happy and excited and inspired. So, tomorrow should be lots fun.

Of course, while I’m here, I’ve got to post pictures! I’ve got a really special place in my heart for families. Even my weddings/engagements I consider to be “family” photography because it’s really just the first family photos they ever take. It’s all people who love each other and devote their lives to each other and stand by each other and sacrifice for each other. Seriously, what could be more beautiful?

Here’s an awesome family welcoming a new member. Such a magical time, I always feel so honored to be there to witness it.

What is that supposed to mean, anyway? Because I have a dog. And that dog doesn’t do a lick of work. Laziest thing ever. (notice the Santa beard on the lazy beast? ha)

So if that’s what “working like a dog” really means, I haven’t been working like a dog, but quite the opposite. Never been busier in my entire life: those last few months of 2009… a total whirlwind!

I can’t wait to share what I’ve been up to. I plan to blog a session daily (well, weekdays anyway) for the rest of the month. If I find myself “working like a dog” [ i.e... sprawled out napping on the floor or barking in the back yard for no reason] and miss a day, I’ll send a Panera gift card to the first person to call me out. I hope I don’t miss, because I’ve sworn off eating out, and I’ll use it myself to celebrate my awesomeness. So it’s a challenge, Internet… who gets the Panera?

I think this is my new favorite “first kiss” shot. I love that you can see the people that are supporting this union standing in support. When I look at it, I feel like I’m also standing in support. (which I am…) Dave likely caught this shot, but I can’t remember for sure. He’s become an awesome photographer, and if it wasn’t for insurance and 401k that he gets at his other job, I’d be tempted to bring him on full-time with me.

The Deets:
You get a 15-minute time slot on the morning of May 9. You’ll be presented with 10-12 images to choose from in an online gallery, and every mini-session includes one 11×14 print (no substitutions, value $110). The cost is $150. Talk about a steal of a deal! I’m excited to be able to offer these occasionally, because I know that custom photography doesn’t fit into everyone’s budget, but everyone loves beautiful images of their favorite people and this is an opportunity to provide that.

These limited edition sessions book up quickly, so don’t wait! Email me to get on the list.

Last fall, we had a great time at the minis… here are some favorites!

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.

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

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

Dave 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!

CANDY.

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).

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.

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?

So… I have that big open house coming up on March 7 (and March 6, too…actually). I plan to blog every single day in the days leading up to the big open house. Don’t let me forget!

So to kick off my blog-a-day streak, let’s take a looky at miss Alicia’s session! This girl is a little miracle. Her mom told me that she had spent three years trying to get pregnant without results, and then, when she least expected it, along came this pretty little surprise!

I love that shot. I want to kiss those sweet little lips. But I never do. Because I’m pretty sure the parents don’t like that. Kind of not cool if it’s not your baby. So I restrain myself. I can’t decide if I like the color one better. What do you think?

That little hand! Again, trying not to be a weird baby kisser.

This little hand kills me too. I think she’s exhausted after a long night of partying.

I honestly can’t remember what was behind her that was yellow, and I don’t remember if I meant to capture it as a cool background, but I really dig the yellow! It was only in this one shot…

My nephew, Ian, is looking appropriately surprised and a wee bit scared. That’s kind of how I’m feeling. Because I’m announcing the date of the much awaited STUDIO OPEN HOUSE!

I can’t wait to show every one my new digs. And I’m also a wee bit party-planning phobic, because I always fear that nobody will show. So I’m going to bribe you to show. he he ha ha. If you make the effort to leave your house that day, I’ll make sure to reward you… nobody who makes the effort will leave empty-handed.

But first things first. The date. The big open house will be held on March 7, from 1-4pm. Mark your calendars!

I’ll give more details later, and plan to do a lot of blogging in the couple weeks before the open house, but for now, I think I’ll just let you see a couple more pics of the precious little guy… my baby brother’s baby. I took these during my Christmas visit… we only had about 15 minutes but it was enough!

Uh-oh… Someone told Ian about all the yummy food we’re going to have a the open house…

I’ve also set a date for my studio open house! (I’m actually planning TWO dates…) Stay tuned for details and sneak peeks! And I made a trip to Glamor Shots. Not sure if I dare to share that… but I just might.

On to the pictures…

This session came at the best time. I was in the middle of my busiest time, right before Christmas and feeling a bit frustrated and stressed out. (Getting orders out is the hardest part of the job for me.) I didn’t know if I had the creativity or energy to do a good session that day. But once I got started, I had SO much fun! I cam back from the session feeling energized and excited and ready to handle the more mundane tasks after my creative break.

These kids… the sweetest, happiest kids you could ever hope to find. We had so much fun acting crazy… I think sometimes kids are caught off guard by the fact that an adult is being such a spaz… but it works! I won’t pretend like I’m not exhausted by the end, ha ha.

Little miss K had the cutest room. I love this shot of her… the way she’s looking at the her horse as if it just told a corny joke.

Jumping on the bed? Go ahead. But only when I’m taking pictures, ok?

Mr. Man loved his trains. I loved his smile.

I love how this shot feels like I wasn’t even in the room… like I was just spying on a natural moment…

And some mom love. So fun!

This makes me smile.

These shots make me warm and fuzzy inside. The close mommy moment. The three-year old acting thirty.