This week I'm taking a quick break from posting my seniors to talk a little more about my newborns! I have been up at Hancock Health for 2 months now, and I am having a blast! I just love getting to snuggle on all the new babies. Seriously, BEST.JOB.EVER.  Here's the thing. I am getting a lot of new mommas and dads too, who are opting not to be in the photos because they "Don't look good enough" Don't be that person! Seriously, you just had a baby! No one expects you to look like a super model. You can't get these memories back. Not everyone has to see them, but you and your little one will be SO glad you're in the photos someday! If you're breast feeding (or not!) we can take feeding photos, we can just take photos of you holding your little one, we can use your hands, have you in the background kind of blurred out etc ... but be present! You won't regret it! I have found in the past weeks as I've pushed it just a tiny bit more, when I look at the galleries, guess which photos moms and dads are favoriting? You got it! The ones they are in! These aren't meant to be glamour shots! These are REAL LIFE. These are minutes and memories that will fade very quickly. These photos will be all you have left as your baby grows and changes in the weeks and months to come. So, moms and dads, even if you haven't showered or put on makeup or brushed your hair ... it's ok. Let's just show that sweet baby how in love you were from the very first moment. :)

I hardly ever get the chance to do engagement sessions because I don't do weddings, but I got the opportunity recently and I jumped on it! I forgot how much fun these can be! This couple is adorable and I had the chance to try out some fun things I had been saving up for the next chance I had to do these. Here are some of my absolute favorites! Sorry for the overload. It was a really tough choice!

 

As usual, I am behind on blogging! You can always keep up with my most recent work on my Facebook Fan Page. www.facebook.com/shawnamariephotography.com  there is always something new there to see! While you're at it, become a fan and join my contest! I am trying to get to 1000 fans and when I do, I will be giving away an Organic Bloom Frame! Never heard of them? You MUST check them out! Amazing frames! I am selling them now too, so if you're looking to get one, contact me!  Anyway, all you have to do to win the contest is tell your friends to go like my page and then leave a comment on my wall with YOUR NAME. That's it! The person with the most referrals wins! When I hit 1000 fans, you get your prize :)

Soooo enough about that! Let's have some photos! It's been too long!

 

This was a great chilly afternoon in late fall. We went downtown on the canal and had a lot of fun! And the photo where they are fighting in the background? NOT Staged! lol! I love it so much because who can't relate? Really fun session :)

This was another beautiful fall day at Falls Park in Pendleton. Such a great location for photos!

 

Did this session Thanksgiving weekend. What GREAT weather we had! I couldn't believe how warm it was... perfect :) And these guys were lots of fun too:)

Had the pleasure of photographing these little cuties for their Grandparents' Christmas gifts. Everyone knows how I LOVE the little babies! This was double the fun :) Great family!

So I don't think I ever blogged my beach session. Being from Indiana, this is something I only dream of for my clients, but my daughter is a softball player and last summer her team went to Nationals in Panama City, FL . As much as I LOVE watching her play softball, I was most excited about getting my kids out on the beach for a photo session. Now all of my fellow photographers know how difficult it can be to photograph your own children, and in the back of my head, I knew it would probably be tough, but the excitement of trying something new kept me optimistic. I took them shopping to find the perfect outfits and perfect color combinations for the photos. I am actually really proud of the way I coordinated their outfits. They looked so great together!

So the day comes that we are going to do photos. I researched the area to find the best beach and everything. Meltdown #1 happened because my daughter wanted to hang with some friends instead of going on our photo shoot. Meltdown #2 the daughter again, didn't like her dress... melt down #3 ME. In tears because nothing was going as I'd hoped and we hadn't even hit the beach! ha! So we finally make it there, and of course I get the typical photographer's children response. No one wants to touch each other or stand close, kids making funny faces, the little one was obsessed with the ocean waves and kept running out in them *sigh*  after about 30 minutes they were all DONE and I felt like I got absolutely nothing ... buuut they don't call me a photographer for nothing! I got home and was pleasantly surprised with what I had to work with. Yes, some of them are silly, but they are all "MY KIDS" and I can't wait to get these on my walls because THIS is how I will remember my children when they are grown ... fun, silly, fighting, laughter, chaos and I wouldn't miss a second of it ... So here are a few of my faves from that crazy day! *Oh, and all that being said, I would LOVE to do a beach session with a family that is not mine, so if you are looking for  destination photographer, definitely get in touch with me!

 

What a wonderful, fun evening we had! I just love this family... I am so happy I had the opportunity to do their photos! Now of course, narrowing them down to share is going to be REALLY hard because I am in love with pretty much all of them. Sorry in advance for the large share :)















 
 

I recently had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous family over in Geist Park. Afterwards, we headed to their home to get Rylan's cake smash photos. SO MUCH FUN. I love watching babies dig into that cake for the first time! You just never know what their reaction will be. Rylan didn't know what to think at first, but once he got a taste of that yummy goodness, he was all about it! Here are a few of my favorites from our session :)

 
So much fun with these two! My daughter and my cousin's daughter. They have grown up 5 hours away, but have become good friends despite the distance :) Love our family!  Here are a few of my faves ....