Session Fee | 150

• includes one 5×7 or 8×10 print
• 15-20 minute session for up to 6 people (same family)
• 10-12 edited images presented in online proofing gallery for five days
• special packages/pricing below

to reserve a session time, please shannon [at] shannonmontez [dot] com  or call 408-887-6917.

PORTRAIT COLLECTIONS:

Package 1 | 350
11×14 print
one digital file
three desk prints

Package 2 | 499
two 11×14 prints
one digital file
four desk prints

Package 3 | 650
16×20
11×14
5 desk prints
2 digital files

* with purchase of any collection, add all digital files [presented in your gallery] for an additional $475.

A LA CARTE ITEMS
desk prints [8x10 & smaller] | $65
11×14 fine art print | $110
16×20 fine art print | $175
individual digital file | $150

LOCATION ONE:

Location Two:

LOCATION THREE:

go check it out!

Thanks, SMP!! (which also stands for Shannon Montez Photography… cool!)

Ok, there’s not more… I thought I’d throw out all the sales pitches I could think of. ha ha.

Anyway…

The big day is Saturday, November 6. This year, I’m offering both a downtown Campbell location (such as the picture above) and a rustic park location.

Email me if you’re interested! shannon [at] shannonmontez [dot] com. (typed that way so the spam robots don’t get me)

Actually, I meant the “act now” part. I’m going to Japan next week to shoot a wedding (and adding in a bit of vacationing) and will be coming back only a week before the minis. And I imagine I’ll be a little behind on emails and jet-lagged when I get back. So take pity on me and act now or forever hold your peace.

(ok… sorry for all the cliche’s tonight! I’m feeling a bit punchy)

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?