This morning feels almost like Christmas to me. Ever since I started my business, I had hoped that one day I would be featured on WeddingsInBc. Well, last week I finally submitted my first batch of photos to the Editor, and I woke up this morning to find a little email that read “Feature!” Although I went to bed super late last night, and was definitely not ready to wake up, I jumped out of bed excited to share the awesome news!

For some reason, Jess and Jon’s Bridal portrait session never made it to the blog(I’m crazy, I know!) so here is a few screen shots of the feature! Be sure to check it out by clicking here!

Hannah and Kyle are two of the sweetest people I know. Sweet as pie. Mmmm ;) They are also two of the most Godly and loving people I have ever met. Being around them is so refreshing.

A few months ago, I met with Hannah and Kyle over coffee to talk about their wedding taking place in Kelowna, B.C. on August 18th. That afternoon I got to know a great deal more about their characters. They both clearly love God and people. Kyle said something that day that really hit home, but I can’t remember his exact words. It was something about trusting in God, and when he said it… I paused. I left them that day feeling challenged and excited. Challenged to re-visit my childlike faith, and excited to become even better friends with such amazing people!

I have known Hannah for a few years now, but before our coffee date, I had only met Kyle once during my stay in Hannah’s family home when I went out to Kelowna to shoot her sister, Mimi’s grad. I said “Hi” to Kyle when he was passing through their house one evening. That is all.

Hannah and Kyle, you are two of the most gorgeous people inside and out. I am so excited to be a part of your wedding day, and to get to know you more! Hannah, I am so thrilled to continue on in this journey of being a Bride with you.  It’s been so much fun having you at my wedding events, and I hope to see you at my last one coming up this month! ;)

“Give me something fun to do, like a life of loving you. Kiss me quick now, baby I’m still crazy over you!”

Can’t you tell they’re in love?

Shealyn and Matt got engaged over a year ago, and are getting married this July 27th at the UBC Boathouse. I am so excited to shoot their wedding, not only because they’re amazing people, but because their love radiated throughout our entire shoot. Shealyn you are gorgeous, and Matt you are a natural in front of the cam! I wish you guys incredible blessings during this season of your lives, and zero stress (although we know this is simply impossible).

David and I had such a blast shooting you. The practice run is over. I can’t wait to do the real thing this Summer!

Hello Gorgeous!

Dear friends, 

I am so ecstatic about what has become of Shanna Elizabeth Photography!! I honestly don’t know where to start. For those of you who have never seen my work before, or have never had the chance to meet me I am so so so excited to hear from you!

As most of you may already know: I started my business back in December, just a 19 year old girl who had only had an SLR for over a year with little technical understanding, and a huge passion for taking pictures and capturing memories.  When I first launched my Facebook fan page I was still shooting in Aperature Priority, I had a little Nikon D40 and a 50 mm f/1.8 portrait lens. Though I literally had no equipment I decided to chase my dream. That wasn’t always an easy mindset for me. Growing up I didn’t believe I would ever accomplish too much. I always thought I knew what career path I wanted to take… but the truth is I didn’t.

  In August of 2009, I stumbled across Jamie Delaine Photography’s Website. I looked at her work and was literally awestruck. I fell in love with it! You know that feeling when you fall in love with an Artist’s work? I had the same feeling when I stumbled across Van Gogh for the first time in Grade 4. Not only did I find her portraits magnificent… but the fact that she was only 19 and had been working her business for two years blew my mind! The day I saw her work my life changed. I remember thinking to myself ” If she can do it, so can I!”

  Fall 2009, I enrolled in Bible College at CFN, Canada. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but only that I knew I had a hunger and thirst for the Lord’s word, and I wanted to study it, especially since I felt that I had gotten the short end of the stick by being raised in the Public School System. You see, back when I first met Jesus I was in grade 9 and I just assumed that I would go to go to Bible College once I’d graduated grade 12, and  become a Youth Pastor, or a Missionary, or a Worship Leader- yes, I do sing and play a little guitar! I just figured that was what every Christian did. Halfway through College, I realized that I wasn’t doing the right thing with my life. Don’t get me wrong, I loved learning and I am so greatful for the things I did learn about the Bible, but I knew that I had to do something else with my life! I realized that the inkling I had was God telling me not to put my dreams on hold any longer, but to pursue them! I withdrew from my studies at the beginning of second semester and have only seen success ever since.  In just over 7 months I have shot over 50 portrait sessions (That’s roughly 6 a month!) I also just began a business with Mary Kay Cosmetics to help broaden my photography network and bring confidence to women! How’s that for a “Nobody?” I firmly believe that if you give your worries and stresses to God that everything will work itself out.

In celebration of my business and the beginning of my blog I wanted to show you all a collection of my most favourite portraits!!!!!

Love,

Shanna Elizabeth

One of my very first portrait sessions!

 You are the reason I am where I am.

Click on my logo to go directly to my fan page!

Before I start, I must tell each of you that I am an awful writer. If you disagree with me leave a comment! Haha! I find it hard sometimes to say what I want to say when I can’t think of how to say it! So here goes nothing:

Yesterday I celebrated 3 years with my boyfriend, David. Our real anniversary date is August 25th but David went on a road trip to Arkansas with his friends so we had to postpone it. 3 years ago, David asked me out at Starbucks over passion tea and apple cider. I was so nervous. We talked about it today- about how when he was asking me I couldn’t even look at him because I knew what was coming! That sounds funny, right? I’ve always been that way. I get nervous and shy when something exciting and huge is going to happen! I wanted to dedicate this post to him because of what he’s done for my life, how inspirational, caring, and unrelentless he’s been when it comes to loving me.

Since I’ve started my business I have found that I have neglected shooting just for fun- a bit. When I’m shooting all the time, sometimes I just want to leave my camera behind and keep my hands free. Yesterday I decided that this needed to change. I charged my camera battery, emptied my memory card and packed up my bag for the romantic afternoon that David had planned for us! There were a few points during the day where I thought to myself “Shanna, do you really want to carry your camera around? You wont be able to cuddle as much!” David strongly encouraged me to. He’s always so encouraging. He helps to remind me all the time why it is important to “Joy shoot.” I also knew that I really wanted to blog to you guys this weekend! A note to all photographers: Don’t ever stop shooting for fun. Over the past few months I have really learned that it is important to mix work with play, and never make my passions solely a profession.

While walking through the Quay we saw a Tina Turner impressionist, Jim Pattison’s beautiful yacht, crabs and Octopus’. We walked through the inside of the Quay and all I could think was “I can’t wait to find funky things to shoot!” The Lonsdale Quay is full of awesome little shops and a lot of culture! I came across a boutique called ”Favourite” I had seen it once before, it easily became my absolute favourite store in the Quay! It’s full of the owner’s favourite gifts, her name is Carol hyslop. I  figured that since I had my camera with me, that maybe I should ask her if I could take some shots of the little details in her store! David patiently waited about 10 minutes for me, and he didn’t even get annoyed! He told me he thought it was a ”Great idea!”  Carol’s boutique is so lovely, and has so many adorable and eclectic trinquets! I recommend everyone to check it out! You will find some shots from her boutique below!

Its days like this that make me realize again why I love David so much. I finally got to do what I’d wanted to for weeks, and it was so great!

Now for some exciting news: I am shooting my first wedding on September 25th for the lovely Jodie Ruhl, District Manager of Starbucks Coffee Co. We sat down today at the Starbucks in Guildford mall to discuss the details, and chat about how the two of them met. I cannot wait to share the images with all of you! I am amazed at how well everything is coming together. I am thrilled to finally move past just shooting portraits to becoming a Vancouver Wedding Photographer!

I am so excited to share all of my thoughts with you as time draws on. I feel like I always have so much to say, I really hope to turn my chatter box into a teaching one some day. I love teaching others about photography. I can’t wait until I attend my first Photography seminar, and I hope to speak at one, as well! I have this really strange feeling that I just might.

"Favourite" Lonsdale Quay Market, Upper level!

Belt Buckles and glass ornaments

Stuffies and cute broaches by etsy design.

I hope you all enjoyed the shots I took at “Favourite” =)

Now for some shots from the rest of my day!

David and I- Off centered and not my fault! Haha

I hope none of you get grossed out easily;) =p

For the win=)

Love,

Click on my logo to go directly to my facebook fan page!

The last few days I have been staying up really late. I have come down with a cold/something I am unsure of and it doesn’t feel good. I figure it is the whole “Beginning of fall” thing. I don’t know why it is that I work better in the evening, but I just do. I’ve always been a bit of a night owl( If you haven’t figured that out by now), there is something about the wee hours of the morning that inspire me. I have to admit though, I really do not like waking up late. So how does one find balance? You tell me.

I’ve come to the realization that my business has grown very fast. I keep having people tell me: “You must be so pleased with how everything is coming along,” and ” Wow! You’re moving fast!”  When you’re in the situation yourself, you see everything from a whole different perspective. Have you seen the reality tv show about those two sisters who started their own cupcake business? Neither of them had any background in business, and yet their little store is doing phenomenal! Like them, I have no background in business, I did not go to school to get here- like them, what I do is driven by pure passion. I do not, however, suggest that you do not read into what you are wanting to pursue. I have spent many long hours on Open Source Photo Forum to get where I am. I have also spent many years delving in my passion. I have worked so hard to get here and I am still working hard and I will continue to work hard until, well-forever. PS- I do realize that my last sentence was a run-on.

As you may have noticed, I mentioned that I am doing my first wedding September 25th. Back in March I met with Jamie Delaine for coffee and a portrait session (She took all of the lovely shots of me that you see here on my blog!) we talked about a lot, I had so many questions for her, especially about Wedding Photography. I remember telling her that I really wanted to start doing weddings, let alone become professional. That was in March- it is now only September and I’ve done, and am doing both. When I write to all of you, you may notice that I seem be-wildered by all of this. I feel very humbled at this point of my life, I literally could not have done any of this without Jesus. A very wise woman once said to me ” Make everything about God, focus on him, do it because of Jesus.” I am utterly convinced that everything I will become is nothing like what I am now. I know that as I give all of my heart to Jesus, not only will I become more beautiful on the inside, but my business will also undergo so much growth

I’m excited to let you know that I had a meeting today with my Second-shooter for the upcoming wedding I am doing and I am stoaked! Her name is Debbie Thiessen and she is such an amazing person. I remember when I was first starting out( I say that like I’ve been doing this for years =p), I had a gig with a local coffee shop to do some art for their walls, and she came out just to support me and catch me in action. How awesome is that? I also am going to meet with the bride this evening and go over more plans. Everything is working out so nicely.

On another note, before I leave I really wanted to leave you guys with some shots from some of my most recent couple’s portrait sessions! As well, yesterday my family and I celebrated my brother Joey, and sister Sarah’s birthday! They are not twins but are 7 years apart in age! I also have a few shots to put up of them. I love my siblings a lot. I know that we don’t see eye-to-eye a lot, but nothing could change how much I love them.

Happy Birthday Joey and Sarah!

Sarah got Justin Bieber concert tickets!

Love,

(Click on my logo to go to my fan page and see my entire portfolio!)

I am sad that I haven’t been able to blog too many portrait sessions for all of you. In the last month I have had so much going on with my business: Getting ready for a wedding, juggling my Mary Kay business, working on a graphic logo to go along with my word logo, and designing my showit site! I have a few portrait sessions coming up at the end of the month that I am so excited to show you, so hang in there;)! I’m going to take you through the busyness that has been my life for the past month or so.

At the beginning of the month, I was at the mall buying a camera bag and getting ready to go out on a portrait sessions with my good friend and Mary Kay Director, Jenny Dorey. While in London Drugs, my old District Manager from Starbucks, Jodie Ruhl flagged me down, ” I was literally chasing after you, Shanna! I saw you but you didn’t see me!” I remember thinking: “Okay okay, what could this be about?” ” My wedding is coming up soon,” Jodie says ” Were you still interested in shooting my wedding?”

Now, about a month prior to this, I had done a family portrait session for my friend Jen Macquarrie and her family. At one of our store meetings Jen whipped the prints out to show everybody, and coincidentally Jodie was there, she saw them, loved them, and also happened to be getting married! When we talked about her wedding at the meeting, I thought I heard her say the wedding was in February- I thought wrong.

I told Jodie that I was interested in shooting the wedding, ” Oh good, it’s on September 25th! 2010! This month!” Jodie replied. I was concerned with the amount of time I was being given to prepare for the big day, but I said yes because I knew that I had to begin weddings some day, and I wanted to this year. So I bit the bullet.

Everything I have planned for the big day, and hoped for has happened! I have bought and rented all of the necessary equipment needed and I’ve found my second shooter! It’s funny, everyday I think about poses and everything that anyone could possibly think of before shooting a wedding. I think I would be lying to all of you if I told you I wasn’t nervous, but my excitement and expectancy is far above and beyond any nervousness that I feel.

When Jodie booked with me I knew that I had to get on to buying equipment and fast! I hit up Craigslist within that day… and I managed to find every piece of equipment that I needed, and a Macbook- It isn’t a pro, but it’s a start. Before I got my Macbook, I was working on my families computer, in my family room, surrounded by my family. For those of you who don’t know, I have a very big family. I have a mom, a dad, 5 brothers, 3 sisters, 5 cats, and me. That makes 16 people/ living animals in my house at all times. I have found running my business challenging under these circumstances but I have pulled through quite strongly=p. When I woke up this morning, I registered my business, not just my business name, but my business( I didn’t notice the difference a few months ago), and then decided that I wanted to tear my room apart, rearrange everything and put a desk in it. It took me 7 hours to do everything, but it is finally finished and I ADORE my room. I feel that my inspirational juices are going to start flowing more than ever! I also feel that my business and my family life can finally be separated. I can finally work in peace and quiet, and I kind of like it! Alot.

I don’t have any photos to post today, but tomorrow I will post photos of a family session that I shot at the end of August. I’ve already featured this session on my Facebook Fan Page, but I will post some of the shots that have never been seen=).

Love,

Shanna

P.S. You can find the portrait sessions of the highlighted names on my fan page!

I promised all of you that I would post portraits of a family that I shot recently, so here you go:

On August 15th I got to shoot one of my good friends Alycia Fennings and her family. Alycia was to be leaving on August 19th for Fredericton where she will be studying! My memory is a little foggy, but I believe she said she will be studying forestry! The evening before their portrait session Alycia had her going away party. It was a bittersweet affair! I hope you all enjoy these shots as much as I do!

British Columbia will miss your face, Alycia!

Love,

(Click on my logo to go directly to my fan page!)

I want to say thank you to a beautiful girl named Christina Martin. Christina has been in school for Graphic Design for about a year now, and for one of her projects she needed to re-design a logo. Now, I didn’t need my logo re-designed, but I did want to add something to it. Back when I made my word logo with my friend LT Makk, I didn’t know what I wanted. I had so many ideas for a graphic logo and I couldn’t narrow it down. When Christina asked me if she could design my graphic logo, I was so excited!!! P.S. It only took her a week.. and she did AMAZING!

I feel that from day one I knew my style. I knew what I wanted Shanna Elizabeth Photography to be all about. I wanted to be about simplicity and reality. I want to make photography look easy, and I want to make people look gorgeous, easily.  I want people to look at my work and say ” She makes it look so easy!” Seriously, that is one of the greatest compliments. None of my work is over-processed. I will be featured on a website on the first of October as a tribute to Vancouver City Artists made the very talented Maria Reyes. I am so unbelievably excited! I was interviewed and asked what set me apart from other photographers. At first I didn’t really know. I know that most photographers are fun, exciting, and generally nice, and I think I am all of those things too. Then I thought for a second. I value modesty and innocence so much, you will rarely- if ever find anything provocative in my photos, and I plan to keep it that way.

” Life In All It’s Glory” is written underneath my logo on my business cards. To me this means that.. what I’m giving you is your moments in their purest. Life. Glorious life. Not over-done. Simple. Real images.

My graphic logo is of a peony. Not only has this been my favourite flower for ever, but it also symbolizes the blossoming I have done as a budding photographer.

I just took some photos of friends yesterday for fun. I find that it is so easy to get inspired by friends and family. I am in love with the images and I hope that you guys are too! I edited 71 shots in.. 2 hours??? I have noticed a dramatic difference in the amount of time it takes me to edit on my Macbook as opposed to my parents PC. Mac is the way to go my friends!!!

Now for some images of my sister that I took last week:

Love,

(Click on my name to go directly to my Facebook Fan Page!)

Shanna Elizabeth

A Beautiful Picture of Blossoms that I took back in March

It is only two days before the wedding, and I am nervous. I had a good chat with my friend Kevin Rapati last night, he has second-shot at weddings before so he was giving me some advice. He mentioned that most “Main Shooters” get really stressed their first wedding. I like to play it pretty cool and not show my anxiousness, but I just am, or was =).

I have been going over and practicing a bunch of stuff before the wedding, and in allowing myself to get nervous… I just started praying. I realized that if this is the talent God has given me, why would he allow me to fail? Especially since all of this is for his glory. I wanted to share the simple promise that God has given me, and all of you: When you give your talents and fears and anxieties to him he will carry you. He will comfort you and restore you.

“I’m so messy and distracted” – Starfield. I had the chance to Skype with Janine Sept the other day. It was so fantastic, we talked for 4 hours… about SO much. Originially we were planning to talk about my wedding preparations, and tips that Janine had for me (Because she’s been doing it for years now!), we did talk about wedding stuff, but we also bonded on so many levels. We talked about life and its struggles and business and family.. it was so great. I opened up to Janine about how for a while I made my business number 1 in my life, and how that has not benefitted me. Trust me- there are so many things to think about, and so much time that is taken up, that you begin to lose sight of what is really important/ why you’re even doing this/ why you’re even successful. It is so important to make Jesus first in all that you do, and then he will take care of the rest. He will even make things better than you expected! I expect that as I draw closer to him that all that I am about, and all of my talent will become more beautiful and amazing.

I hope that I have encouraged and inspired some of you! I am going to go into this wedding excited, inspired, thankful, and amazed!

Love,

Shanna Elizabeth

One of my favorite images from my session with Katherine Li

It Reminds me of how small I am compared to God

I heard a blog described as ” A personal journal that others can read” scary huh? Sometimes I don’t know the fine line. Or maybe I am aware all to well and need to loosen up a bit. As of this past month I have opened a whole new chapter in my life. It seems all to funny to me, because I have visited this chapter before in my life- infact maybe only 4 months ago. However, it feels new, especially because I never thought I would return.

When I started my business, I was so inspired. I had a fresh view of what I wanted to accomplish. I knew the direction I wanted to take- and I did. As time progressed, things got in the way: losing focus of what’s important, having feelings of not being enough, and feeling like I wasn’t bringing enough to the table as a photographer. Being creative and different can take a toll on you sometimes, especially when you’re in a rut. Now I’m not sure that I am so “Different” as a creative individual, but I know the styles of photography that I love, and I try to make my own out of them.

The past month or so has been a hard one. I decided to leave my Mary Kay business behind me (but remain a “Personal Use” consultant because I love the make-up!), because trying to run two business and stay inspired is so difficult. I am ECSTATIC with my decision. Trying to do two things at once… is probably one of the biggest reasons I lost inspiration and became tired, spiritually, physically and mentally. Since I have started my business, I have had to leave certain things behind: Bible College, Starbucks, and Mary Kay. I had a fantastic realization the other day: I left those things behind not because I am a quitter, but because those weren’t the right things for my life, and I am so blessed to have figured it all out now rather than later=). God is good! I see just how much God wants to flourish my business and my dreams. He has this reality for me that he is just waiting to open up. I am overwhelmed by his goodness right now. Just two days ago I was uninspired and afraid that I wouldn’t regain my inspiration… and as of yesterday I have just seen how easily I bounced back into God’s goodness. All of those things I feared kind of just dissipated.

Years ago I left behind the lies I had believed most of my life. When I started my business, my biggest hope was that my siblings would also see that they could amount to absolutely anything they put their minds and hearts into. That they would not believe the lies that I once believed. I have the same hope for all of my readers: when you’re told in movies and books and school that you can do anything.. it is true. I believe that each of us has an incredible talent that God has given us, one that will bring only the utmost glory to his name. One that will show his greatness and unfailing love to the world.

I really want to say thank you to David, my incredible boyfriend for constantly pushing me in the tough times. You are amazing!

To view more of my portrait session with Katherine Li click on the link below!

Shanna Elizabeth Photography Fan Page

Yesterday I woke up to a beeping cellphone. After I unlocked my front screen, to my delight I was bombarded with a whole list of e-mails. E-mails of opportunity and business. Could it get any sweeter?

One of those fantastic emails was from Ida Pedrosa, my best friend Emi Visser’s (Emi blogs. She’s a fantastic writer. Check her out! You will love her collection of pictures!) sister. Throughout the years Ida has been like a sister to me as well. I grew up in the Visser household, you see. Just last year Emi left to study in for 5 months in France, and is now living in Holland where she is studying International Relations. When Emi left I didn’t see her family all too often, but everytime I have gone to visit the Vissers I have felt so at home.

Months ago, Ida asked me to come do portraits for her family and for her Massage Therapy Business. Her office is amazingly quaint and so cozy. I was so excited to be taking pictures for her. I have had the opportunity to experience Ida’s massages firsthand and they are incredible. I have fallen on my lower back a lot as a kid by rollerblading and ice skating, Ida definitely helped my back out big time=). I also must say that hours spend huddled over the computer don’t help a photographer’s shoulders either. I have been subject to that kind of back pain for a while now, and I hope to see Ida more often.

Okay, enough beating around the bush: Ida’s e-mail was to let me know that she had a copy of the add for me and she wanted me to download it! You can see a copy of it down below. I am so thrilled.

Finally, I am having the chance to hang out with a couple of lovely girls who love photography tomorrow. I think it is so important to have a network of people who love the same things as you, surrounding you. Not that it is a huge necessity, but it’s nice. One lovely lady is Michaela Putra of Michaela Putra Photography. She started her business last year and is constantly watching it grow! The other is my friend, Yaisa Barrientos. Yaisa loves photography and has had opportunities to shoot with some of the big wigs for History Maker! I always count opportunities to shoot with others a blessing, because it allows for great minds to collaborate and inspire eachother. I hope to continue to meet with other aspiring and professional photographers. If you’re interested in a date with me don’t hesitate to shoot me an e-mail!

I have been so intrigued with the teaching aspect of photography lately. It is true that when you teach, you are also being taught yourself. There is something about sharing knowledge that is so wonderful.As time draws on and I continue in my profession I hope to be able to answer lots of questions from curious fans, clients, and photographers. On my Facebook fan page I have a Discussion board. I would love for those of you who have questions about anything to hammer away!

In another light, I have been getting e-mails and messages about showing those wedding pics. I assure all of you that you will see them. Sometimes I giggle when I think of how easy it would be to put a few up. But I am just not ready yet. There are still lots of images to edit and I want to make sure I put together a collection of the best! So this is my response: Don’t ask anymore, I promise you will see them by the end of this month =).

I feel like I have so many things to write about right now, and they are all so random. Here is another tidbit: I am now offering products. I am selling canvas prints and albums and books and so many other things… actually more than I have listed, but I didn’t want to overwhelm any of you just yet. This is another huge step in my business which I am so excited about! I hope that each of you has the opportunity to get your hands on atleast one of these fantastic products. You wont regret it. In light of this, the first two people that purchase a canvas print within the next month will receive 40% off! I am also offering mini portrait sessions now. For those of you who want to keep it short and sweet be sure to check it out by clicking on the bold lettering above!

I think I’m done rambling now. This is the most unorganized post I have ever written, and I kind of enjoyed it!

Some more shots that I took for Ida:

Ida's Adorable Washroom!

Ida, the beauty herself

Love,

Shanna Elizabeth

I think a common concern that blog writers and business owners share is “How transparent can I be when writing a blog post?” How much personal information is okay to share? I say this because I’m going to get a little transparent here.

Being in my first year of business I find that I run into struggles and stresses everyday. This would probably be one of the biggest reasons why I am not blogging as much as I want to. However, I find that it is the struggles and stresses of running a business that makes things interesting. I love the feeling of  overcoming a hill and seeing what is on the other side. It is in trying my darndest to get a clients photos out on time and having a zillion other things on my list, and trying to balance my work life with my social-life. It is also in trying to find and keep my style in the midst of a growing and influential market. It is so easy to become like everyone else when you are bombarded.

When I decided to leave my studies this year at CFN, B.C. my Dean of Women told me that I would regret my decision, “It’s too competitive”  she said. I knew this. I didn’t let it stop me though. I think it is easy to feel the crunch of the competition, but it’s in those moments that it is a challenge for all of us to sit down, stop and think “What sets me aside from everyone else? What is it about myself that would make me want to book with me?”

I’m sitting writing this 2 hours later than the first portion of my post. I was looking back at my portfolio on Facebook and I noticed how much I have grown. I’m so excited because.. I have just started. I have been doing my business for less than a year. I am in the beginning stages of my career, and I am blown away at how wonderfully things have panned out thus far. I’m sitting in my room right now, about to eat thawed strawberries(Yes, because they are not in season right now..) and I feel so amazed, excited, and believe it or not.. content. The past few months have been a struggle for me. I lost inspiration, I was overwhelmed with running two businesses, and I had big decisions to make in order to have things run smoothly in my life. My walk with God was also not at its strongest.

The beautiful thing about God is that when we go through things, and when we feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders he is right here with us. Even better than this- God has a plan for my life and yours. I see how he’s blessing me. Though his blessings may not come in my time, they certainly come in his, and when I get a chance to look at the bigger picture I am amazed.

From grade 9 to grade well.. this year, I have made it a priority to attend History Maker. It’s a great weekend of worship and fellowship and all-nighters and games and finding yourself in God. When I was in grade 10, I remember spending time in prayer during worship talking to God and asking him how I could bless him with my passions. At that point I had already LOVED photography for a year and I knew that I wanted God to use me with it. I didn’t necessarily believe that this talent would become a career but I wanted God to use me. He is. I love the chances that I get to meet with people and share my passion with them, and talk about their lives and just be able to love them. Like I said- I am amazed. I really hope that as time draws on I will be given the vision that he has for me, that he will continue to inspire me, and that I will see that my photography is a love language that I share with him (I think I just realized it).

I am continually amazed at my gift. I want to be more amazed.. DAILY.

P.S. my friend Ida has launched her website! She is a local Registered Massage Therapist!

The photos I shot for her are featured on her site=).

www.idapedrosa.ca

Love.

Shanna Elizabeth Photography

Promote Your Page Too

Yesterday I edited for 10 hours. 11am-11pm. I had a two hour break. I went to bed late because I wanted to do something other than sit in front of my computer. I woke up early this morning because I had a portrait session, then went to Vancouver for dinner with my friend. Now I’m back home, I need to sleep, but all I want to do is edit all of the new shoots I have done!

P.S. This isn’t a usual day in my life, I’m not usually this crazy. Yesterday I felt like being crazy.

… just a few tidbits

I will be giving away one free couples session tonight at 8pm. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on my Facebook Fan page telling me why you love your other half. What is it about your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband or wife that still takes your breath away?? ♥

Do you have friends who would love this? Tell them! They can enter too! All they have to do is become a fan on facebook!

*I will be choosing the winner at random via random.org. All recipients must live in The Vancouver/ Greater Vancouver area to win

I can’t wait!

I need to be honest with all of you. I am a beautiful, exuberant, delightful, and loved daughter of my creator, and half of the time I don’t realize it. I believe that I am on a journey in my life to love people, and delight in God and to be delighted in. I believe that who I am as a business woman is greatly affected by how I see myself, and how I use my gifts, and how much control I choose to give God. I have not known the beauty that I hold inside for some time, and so I want to revisit a beautiful book that helped shape who I am, and more importantly, I want each of you to know the same truths about yourselves that God has shown me. I want to seek the love that the Lord has for each of us, with you. As a photographer, it is my job to find the undeniable beauty in everyone that I shoot. I want to help you find your undeniable beauty, strength, and to discover your irreplaceable role.

Back when I was in Grade 9, I read a book called“Captivating- Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” by John and Stasi Eldredge. At this point I was a new Christian and facing so many obstacles that I never thought I would. I was going through break-ups, betrayal from friends, and just genuinely trying to figure out who I was and what my purpose was. On a deeper level, I was trying to figure out if I was beautiful and captivating to the uttermost of my being. I struggled so much with my appearance as a young girl. I didn’t believe I was beautiful, I thought I had a big nose, I thought I was too skinny, and I thought that my personality was too “out there.” I tried so many times to keep myself from being me, and I succeeded. I was always the loud and outgoing one, and I came on a little too strong way too often. I hated these things about myself. I always wanted to know what it would feel like to be shy and soft spoken; to be behind the scenes, rather than always trying to be center-stage. Little did I know, instead of trying to change myself, I really just needed to realize that I was enough and that I was truly captivating to my father, and that he delighted in me more than anything. Does this longing sound familiar?

Through my most broken times, I opened this book and read the promises of God for myself that completely pulled at my heart strings. The authors of this book helped convey God’s thoughts of me as a feminine, outspoken, and sometimes-a-little-crazy woman. Reading the stories and promises in this book changed my heart, and how I saw myself and the Lord that saved me. This book opened me up to a realm of understanding of who I really am, and what my role is in this world as a woman.

Everyday we are told that we are too much or too little. Too skinny, too overweight, too sensitive- we are told everything except that we are enough, and that who we are, and what we have to offer is more than we could ever know. We don’t often realize that we are completely and utterly delighted in by the King.

I want to invite each of you to go on a journey of finding yourself, letting go, and falling in love over the next month. I will be posting snippets[gotta keep it legal;)] and thoughts of each chapter everyday. I am a photographer. I meet with people every week. This is my business. This is who I am. I feel like there is no place I want to be right now but here: diving into the secrets and promises for myself, for my clients, friends and family, and my business.

Reading this book helped me discover something that had long needed to be awakened in my soul, my heart of hearts, and I believe that there is something here for each of you. This book took me on a journey that I believe has brought me here, and there is nothing I want more than to glorify God in the journey I am on now. This is a reflection of who I really am and who God has made me to be. I am excited to see growth in myself and my business over this next month.

I am so excited to get to know all of you more intimately over this next little while. I am excited to be praying for each of my readers.

I would like to open up my Facebook Discussion Board to all of you who would like to get into deeper discussion with me and eachother.

” Every experience of beauty points to [eternity]“

-Hans Urs Von Balthasar

Love.

“Then the time came when the risk it took

To remain tight in a bud was more painful

Than the risk it took to blossom.”

- Anais Nin

” I will find you.

No matter how long it takes, no matter how far- I will find you.”

-Nathaniel to Cora in “The Last Of The Mohicans

I want to be beautiful

and make you stand in awe

look inside my heart and be amazed

I want to hear you say

who I am is quite enough

I want to be worthy of love

and beautiful

- Bethany Dillon

“The King is enthralled by your beauty.”

- Psalm 45:11

Dear friends,

I thought this would be a good place to start. A powerful place. Let these quotes sink in. What do they mean to you? What longings do they stir? I have so much to write to you tomorrow, and there is a reason I did not write it to you this evening- because I fought with my words for 2 hours, writing and deleting paragraphs and still missing something. I apologize. Stay tuned for tomorrow!

Love,

Shanna

My friends, I can’t even begin to explain to you my troubles in trying to write to you a good synopsis of what I read the other day. Part of me kept thinking to myself ” Aughhh, why did I decide to do this? I am not great at doing this kind of stuff. What was I thinking?!!” I wrote a paragraph, I wrote 4 or 5.. I was almost completely finished writing my blog post, and then I deleted it. Something didn’t fit right. I started writing a synopsis, and I didn’t want to do that. Why did I decide to write these personal blog entries? Because I wanted to revisit a book about truth and beauty, because I needed it. Therefore, I have decided to write about what I loved from this chapter. A little shorter, sweeter, and more to the point.

This is close to home for me. I am a woman. I am a feminine, romantic woman. I want to be pursued, I want to play an irreplaceable role in a story like Pocahontas. I want to be needed and I want to be beautiful. Ask yourself, honestly, what is it that you want? What are your longings? What are your deepest desires? In “Captivating- Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” John and Stasi Eldredge talk about how women have these longings to be romanced and pursued and beautiful, but somewhere along the ways of life something stole away those longings. Something made us feel like we didn’t deserve them. As children we longed to be princesses, swept away by prince charming. Now we hardly have time to revisit those dreams of our childhood. When I was in grade 1, every recess my friends and I would play “Chase” the bad guys would chase us girls, capture us and place us in a square painted on the pavement. I loved the way I felt when little Jesse [I don't remember his last name] rescued me. I always got butterflies in my stomach. As lame as it may sound, I felt like I was special, like Jesse had to fight off the bad guys to rescue me. We still have these longings today, maybe not as silly.. but don’t you long to be romanced and pursued?

When I was in grade 12,  I remember being so worried for my future and not knowing what on earth I was going to do with the rest of my life. There was no way I was going to spend the rest of my life working in a grocery store.I felt this seemingly endless pressure to measure up to the go-getter of today. I remember feeling that one day when I got married that I would not be a good wife or a good financial contributor of my family because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. As a teen I spent a lot of time believing I was lazy and that I wouldn’t amount to much, and so I felt so unlike the successful woman of today. I wanted to be a go-getter. I have spent most of my teens feeling like I was not living up to the perfect picture of femininity. Primmed, proper, together, collected and still able to do a billion things all at once. Okay I’m not married, nor do I have children, but humor me for a second: take children to school, buy groceries, pick up the kids from school,make dinner, clean the house, take Sally to dance class, pick Sally up from dance class, give the kids a bath, try to make them fall asleep for hours. Got to bed. Wake up. Repeat. It’s no wonder we are tired and not passionate. Do you ever feel this way? There are these unrelenting standards that we are trying to live up to, and sadly we are losing ourselves in the midst of them. Again, I am not married. I don’t understand what it’s like to have 10 billion responsibilities placed on top of the ones I already have, but I can imagine.  There is this model of femininity that we try to live up to. We feel that if we don’t live up to this that we are failures. We have these models but secretly, these women are tired too.

You are worth much more. You are worth playing an irreplaceable role in a story. You are worth feeling beautiful, like you possess a beauty that is worth cherishing. I have news for you: “The King is enthralled by your beauty” ( Psalm 45:11). There is a life waiting for you that is full of adventure and romance and beauty, and “You can find that life– if you are willing to embark on a great adventure. (Captivating. Chapter 1 page 19. )”

This book is not about standards that you have failed to live up to. This book is a journey to find the story we were always meant to live.

After writing this, I have decided to tone this down to maybe a few entries a week. I have to be honest, I can’t write on demand. I set myself up for this. I am much better at writing from my heart when I feel my heart needs to share. I always do this to myself. Plan something big and awesome and then need to bring it back down to reality again. I really want to know your thoughts! I could’ve written so much more. I really could have. But I seem to most definitely not be a writer.

Love.

My dearest friends,

Where have I been the last month and a half? I feel I need to ask myself the same question. I have been away trying to figure out some things in life that so impacted my business that action needed to be taken.

Just a few weeks ago, I got hired on at Lululemon. I applied only for a part-time position so that my spare-time could be made useful. Four days ago I decided that I wanted to work full-time, pay off my student loans and spend 2 weeks in Holland with my best friend Emi Visser. I am also planning on moving out sometime in the Spring so if anybody needs a roomie… let me know! Both of these decisions have made a huge impact in my life, both oh soo so much for the better. In saying this, trying to figure things out.. I have decided to just take a break from the social aspect of my biz and just lie low for a bit. It has been wonderful and so needed.

Everything that is happening right now makes so much sense, and if you are really close to me you know a bit more of the personal details. I am so thankful for all of my amazing fans that continue to check my page everyday to see if I’ve posted new pictures. Yesterday was my brother Michael’s birthday party, and his friend Miranda came up to me and said ” Somebody is quite the Photographer! I check your page a few times a day!” You have no idea how happy that made me. I am surrounded by such wonderful people who continually encourage and support me and my style and what I love doing and I LOVE it! Thank you all.

Before I leave you all to watch a Christmas movie, I must also let you know something that I am suuuuper excited about! Lululemon is such a fantastic company, they support their team’s dreams and goals and push you to reach them! They know that I am a photographer and are already using me to take pictures for the front display window in Metrotown! How AWESOME is that?! As soon as they’re in the store windows I will let all of you know so that you can go and check ‘em out!

Here are a few shots from the fam I shot a few weeks ago. If you haven’t been to my Facebook Fanpage, and this is your first time visiting my website go and visit!! (Click on the word visit and you will be immediately directed to see my full portfolio!!)

It’s taken me a bit to be able to setttle down and write this post, but here I am finally doing it.

As cliche as this is going to sound .. it all started with a BIG big dream. Before I headed off to Bible College last year, I had a little inkering in my soul to photograph people and have those people fall in love with my work. One day after chapel one evening at my school I sat down and created a facebook fan page. I laughed about it a little.. and thought to myself ” I wonder where this will go.” Here I am, a year later with 551 fans, over 65 portrait sessions shot, and instead of just being a second-shooter at a wedding( And I dreamed to maybe be a second-shooter), I shot my first wedding as the main photographer. I can say that I am nothing more than blown away and blessed. I have had some rough times this year.. with losing inspiration while trying to run two businesses, and taking a risk by leaving school to follow my dreams, but I have learned SO much about myself by overcoming those rough times.

This year I want to accomplish so much more. I am planning on accomplishing my goals by being organized, creative, relentless, and humble. I want to explore my creativity on a whole new level this year. I want to learn bucketloads of stuff, and I want to be the best at what I do all the while. So my friends, without further a due.. these are my goals for Shanna Elizabeth Photography this year:

1. Shoot a minimum of 80 portrait sessions this year

2. Second-shoot a minimum of 2 weddings

3. Develop a client base beyond Facebook

4. Work my way to full-time

5. Have portrait sessions fully edited in 1 week for clients to purchase

6. Get some form of media coverage

7. Dream BIGGER than I ever have and have something to show for it!!

8. Focus on where my talents came from. Jesus.

I am holding myself to nothing less this year. I believe that this gift I was given was made to be extraordinary, and that God has bigger plans for me than I can imagine, and I hope that this is the year that jumpstarts it all. I hope that this year I become part of something that is 10x bigger than what it was last year!

If you want to view my work from day one.. click here and view my entire portfolio!

When I fell in love with photography, I had no knowledge of the technical aspect of it. In fact, I didn’t even know that there were specific techniques that I needed to know. I always just assumed that if I was in the right place at the right time and pushed my trigger down half-way and focused on an object that I would take an incredible picture. I always expected that each image I took would turn out editorial and just as good as the pictures in IKEA and magazines. Every once in a while, my camera would do something cool like produce a lensflare or overexpose a source of colored light, and I just thought that this happened from time to time, like as if photography was all “by chance.”

In the summer of 2009, I came across Jamie Delaine’s blog, and while looking at her pictures of people I constantly wondered to myself things like ” How does she get that cool rainbow thing in her images? How does she get the background blurred out behind her subjects? How does she get that cool burst of light behind people’s heads?” Because I had never produced effects like that in my images, I just assumed she had to be using the only thing that made sense to me at the time: filters. A month or so later, I purchased 25 filters on ebay for almost $100. I was sadly dissappointed. I got filters that were different colors, filters that duplicated my subjects, and a filter that created a double exposure(Which I didn’t know how to use, I might add). None of them created what I had hoped for.

A few weeks later, I learned about prime lenses. Prime lenses have a fixed focal length, allowing them to have a larger aperature(as opposed to zoom lenses… which have variable focal lengths and generally small aperatures). At this point, I knew that if I used my 50mm lens and kept the aperature at f1.4 all of the time that my images would have a blurred background causing my subject to stand out, but that was all I knew. When I shot portrait sessions on aperature priority in broad daylight, I could never figure out why my images were so overexposed.

My brother said to me one day that ” Everyone wants to be able to take a good picture!” When he said this to me it gave me a good idea. It took me a long time to figure my camera out, and I’m still learning about it! I know that writing these posts will not only be beneficial for you, but they will also be entirely beneficial for me! I want to use my knowledge, and the techniques I’ve learned personally,  to help all of you take those pictures that you’ve always wanted to!

I hope to teach all of you who don’t know how, to be able to use your aperature, shutter speed, and ISO together in any situation. I hope to inspire each of you to try these techniques, get to know your camera better, and switch your camera’s settings from aperature, portrait, evening, landscape or sport to manual.

Over the next week I will be writing about:

Aperature:

- The difference between a small f-number and a large f-number

- How to correctly use your aperature for Portraiture and Landscape

- How to use your aperature in different lighting situations

Shutter Speed:

- How to pair it perfectly with your aperature

- How to freeze and blur motion

- How to use it in different lighting situations

Lighting:

- How to control it

- How to use your ISO properly with each situation

- Understanding your camera’s metering

Blur motion- This image used a slow shutter speed with a small aperature (Large f-number). This caused the water to be blurred. You can tell that a small aperature was used because the handle is still relatively in focus, and because the image is not overexposed. I did make the mistake of not using an extremely steady surface for this image so the water spout isn't as clear as it should be.

Stop Motion- This image used a fast shutter speed and a large aperature(small f-number) to freeze the water's motion(My tap is just slow, or else you would notice a bigger difference than the first image). You can tell that a large aperature was used because the handle is out of focus, and because the image is not under-exposed

Lens flare- This was shot by placing my subject in front and to the side of the sunlight and allowing it to directly hit my lens. Notice the "Rainbow thing" in the middle of the image;)

Controlled lens flare (That is not an actual term in photography, but I couldn't think of what to call it)- The difference between this image and the one above it is that I placed my subject in front of the sunlight( allowing her to block the sun from my lens as much as possible), and moved my camera in such a way that the sunlight was not directly hitting my lens

Just a taste of what you will be learning;)

Love,

Shanna Elizabeth

Before I shoot a portrait session, I generally set my aperature to f/1.8, I check that my ISO is set to the correct number, and that my metering is right. These are all things I will be walking you through over the next week. But tonight we’re focusing on my favourite part of the lens: the aperature.

Have you ever stood in a room in front of a mirror and turned out the lights? Your pupils will expand to adjust to the current lighting situation, and when you turn the lights back on your pupils will shrink. Such is the way that we control our camera’s aperature, only instead of using our brains to control the function, we use our fingers.

I’ve always thought of my camera’s aperature to be like my pupil. The main function of the eye is to be able to see, if your pupil didn’t adjust in different lighting situations then you would either get blinded or be in the dark. Likewise, if we don’t control our aperature on our cameras properly then our images will either be overexposed or underexposed.

Large Aperature (Small F-number):

Large aperature. Small f-number. This used to confuse me so much. I could never understand why an aperature of say f/1.8 could have a larger opening than an aperature of f/4. You just have to get past this part, and understand that if the number increases then the lens opening gets smaller, and if the number decreases the opening gets larger. However, as time has gone by, I naturally see f/1.4 as a bigger number than f/4. It’s kind of like: 1 comes first so it’s better, well in portraiture anyways=).

A large aperature is going to cause the lens to open wide and  allow more light to enter into the lens and keep your subject nicely in focus but your background blurred, this is considered a shallow depth of field. When I shoot portrait sessions I almost never go past f/2, so that I can keep that “shallowness” nice and rich.

Small Aperature (Large F-number)

A smaller aperature on the other hand, of say f/4 produces a larger depth of field. This happens because the small opening of the aperature allows less light to enter into the lens, causing you to be able to see more in the shot, and for more to be in focus.

When I shoot a family, I generally shoot with my aperature set to f/3.2-f/4. When shooting Landscape(and I’m no expert because my 35 and 50mm portrait lenses don’t really suffice on a crop sensor[Don't know what this means? Ask me!]) you should be shooting anywhere from f/8-f/16. This depends on how close you are to the scene, and how picky you are when it comes to keeping everything nice and sharp. I have shot buildings at f/6 before and I was quite happy, but I was also pretty close to them. This is where I leave it to you to test it out. Afterall, with general knowledge, the beauty of digital photography is that we are able to test what we shoot, and if we didn’t get what we wanted we just try again.

SO:

• Large Aperature= more light passes through lens: blurry background
• Small Aperature= Less light passes through lens: more in focus

The most exciting thing to me is that if you sit down and write out what you know and process it for a bit, understanding how your aperature works becomes almost second nature.

I have so much more to add to all of this, like what shutter speeds I use with each aperature and why, and exposure, and why your cameras metering makes your life so much easier. I figured though, for all of the beginners out there that it would be easier to break it up!

Love,

Shanna Elizabeth

If you liked what I’ve written and you would like me to answer questions that you have about other topics, send me an e-mail and I may write a post on that, as well!

E mail: shanna@shannaelizabeth.com

Before I start, I wanted to let all of you know how much I enjoy writing these posts. I really hope that I am helping some of you shed  light on the technical skills of photography. If I am let me know. If you already know this stuff, please pass this on to your friends. My purpose for writing these entries is to teach the photographer in all of you, cause like my brother said “Everyone wants to be able to take a good picture!”

Like I said last post, before I shoot a portrait session I set my aperature, my ISO, and my shutter speed. Before I set my shutter speed I check my camera’s metering. Though I use my metering when I set my aperature and shutter speed to help expose my images properly, I want to save talking about metering for my next post so that I don’t confuse anyone!

Just like your aperature controls how much light enters the lens, so does your shutter speed. Both work hand-in-hand. Like a large aperature, slow shutter speeds cause the lens to stay open longer allowing for more light to enter. Like a small aperature, fast shutter speeds cause the lens to close fast allowing for less light to enter. Here is where things get a bit tricky so pay careful attention! When pairing your shutter speed with your desired aperature you have to take a few things into consideration: How bright is it outside? Do you want to freeze or blur motion? Here is what I taught myself the day I learned how to use my aperature and shutter speed together.

Large aperature, fast shutter speed. Small aperature, slow shutter speed. If you paired a large aperature with a slow shutter speed your image would be completely overexposed, and in the same way if you paired a small aperature with a fast shutter speed your image would be underexposed. I am getting a headache writing this even though I know it so well! I find that jotting this down and saying it over and over again really helps to make it sink in!! =p

Sunny weather

If using a large aperature (Small f-number, remember?), you want to pair it with a fast shutter speed to keep the image from being overexposed.

Late afternoon- sunset

Large aperature- slow/medium shutter speed. At this point depending on the time of year, you will want to increase your ISO. I only stay out late enough during portrait sessions to have to increase my ISO from 400-500.

Blur Motion:

Small aperature(Large f-number), slow shutter speed. If you used a large aperature to blur motion you would overexpose the image because of the slowness of the shutter speed.

Freeze Motion:

Large Aperature, fast shutter speed. If you used a small aperature your image would be underexposed.

I find shutter speed to be quite straight forward. If you want to freeze an image and make it crisp and not blurry then you have to use a fast shutter speed. If you want to show motion in your images like a moving car or a running waterfall then you have to use a slow shutter speed. Both of these paired with the correct aperatures will make for beautiful images!

Over this next week I want to explore exposure times for the more advanced!

Stay tuned;)!

Questions? E mail: shanna@shannaelizabeth.com

I know it isn’t good to stop writing for a long time. Writing posts about how my shoots have gone and how I’m doing today is a really important way to keep connected with you guys. I really am going to try and stay on top of the blogging world!

Since I’ve last talked to you I have done a bunch of shoots, and if you’re a fan on facebook you have seen them. Today I took some time adding more images to my portfolio: if you love them, I encourage you to share my website with all of your friends, your co-workers, or anyone you think may get inspired by my work! Reading a young photographers blog changed my life, I know how powerful art is!

I love you guys, thank you for being so faithful to my work! You are all amazing!

Shanna

I had the privilege of second-shooting for Lyndsay London Photography two weeks ago at the Terminal City Club! Here is a peek of some of my favourite images! :)

… there are a few more images and details to come! :)

Like promised, here are some more beautiful shots!!

Lyndsay doing her thang! ;)

Thanks for taking a look!!! I love you guys! :)

I wanted to give you guys something to look at today… so here you go: a sneak peek of Val and Terrence’s Hycroft Manor wedding that I just happened to second-shoot with Lyndsay London Photography (Man, this is starting to become a constant thing ;p)!

Thanks for stopping by!!! I can’t wait to blog the rest of the images! :D

The more that I have the opportunity to second-shoot, the more I find I fall in love with Wedding Photography. Thanks again to Lyndsay London Photography for giving me the opportunity to shoot with you!!

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to second-shoot for Kelly Swanson Photography!! The entire day was so amazing. The groomsmen were hilarious and played video games while they got ready, and the bride was the most bubbly person I’ve ever met! The couple so obviously have a Christ-centered relationship which was so refreshing to see :). Thank you Kelly for bringing me along to help capture the day!! :D

I second-shot this gorgeous wedding last month with the amazing Lyndsay London Photography! It was such a tear jerker/blast all in one! I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do!!

Love,
Shanna

I had the privilege of second-shooting for Lyndsay London Photography AGAIN a few weeks ago, and this is the result! There are more shots to come so stay tuned! :)

Boys will be.... boys.

…. And what is to come later this week:

Stay tuned;)!

Since I know I’m going to keep you guys waiting a few more days for a legitimate post, I wanted to wet your whistles again this evening with two, fun dance floor shots! Thanks to Lyndsay for teaching me the “Quick-wrist-camera-twist trick!”  ;p

P.S. If this is your first time stopping by my blog, go on over to my Facebook Fan Page for more current work!  Click here

Grandma certainly can dance!

I love you guys!!

Hi Friends!

Here is a tiny sneak peek from the gorgeous wedding of Julie and Jae that I second-shot with Lyndsay London Photography! ! I am currently in the midst of moving out of my parents house, and keeping as busy as a bee, but I wanted to give all of you something to look at!

Julie and Jae’s wedding had such a huge faith element that was so refreshing and real! I loved every moment of the day, but most of all- the first look. When Jae saw Julie for the first time he melted like a popsicle on the 4th of July! It was the sweetest thing! I am so blessed to have experienced this day! Thank you Lyndsay for bringing me along! You are always such a blast to shoot with!

I hope you love these shots as much as I do;)!

Love!

As you have probably noticed, I do a lot of my editing at night. I find that is when I’m most inspired. Here are a few shots that I took at a wedding I second-shot months back with Lizzette Miller of Smashed Photography!

Enjoy..

and there is definitely a full blog post soon to come! ;)

 



Today, Shawn and Hannah got married, and as you read this, so are 100 other guests at their wedding. As I tirelessly started and restarted speech after speech, I realized that I wanted to do something different, something that I’m good at, and decided that maybe a blog post would be that thing.

Shawn and Hannah met at Safeway where they both work. Hannah a Starbucks Manager. Shawn an ASM. Both of them attracted to each other, but neither brave enough to share their feelings. It wasn’t until Shawn got transferred to another store that he finally scraped up the courage to confront her- on Facebook.  Shawn asked Hannah out. Hannah said “No.” Twenty four-short hours later, Hannah finally gave in to Shawn’s good looks and charm and said “Yes.” In November they began their Winter romance, and in June they were engaged to be wed 6 months later at the Bridge Community Church in Langley.



Shawn is my big brother. I was born 3 years after him, which means I’ve always been the younger sister, and that he always got to experience everything before me, and here we go again. Shawn and I have always had a close-knit relationship, he often influenced my choice of music, the boys I dated, and how badly I used to cry when he’d pick on me(which was often). Shawn is an amazing cook (when he does), and according to Hannah a great Country singer.

Shawn thank you for always listening to me when I needed to vent, and for calling me downstairs when you wanted me to listen to a song even if it sucked, and for believing in my relationship with David, I promise.. he won’t break my heart. I also just need to say this, and I’m sure that only Shawn and my Uncle Chad will get it, but because it’s your wedding day: The Canucks will win the Playoffs this year, and the Edmonton Oilers suck :).



Now, Hannah and I don’t have the same history, but in the short amount of time that we have gotten to know each other, I have learned a lot. Hannah is a book reading, Mumford and Sons-loving kinda girl. She also enjoys putting puzzles together, and playing board games. One thing I also know about her, is that she is going to have a fun time being a Broddy. Hannah, when my dad mentions the words “Politics” and “Obama” in the same sentence.. RUN, and when you come over for Christmas dinner, if my mom has it her way, you will most likely end up spending most of your time in the kitchen. The Broddy’s are well-known for their tardiness, often blaming it on the large amount of people in the family. Afterall, wasn’t this the excuse they used tonight??
Hannah, I think it’s awesome that you’re Dutch, I love that you love my brother, and I love that you love God, and most of all, I love that now I can call you my sister.



Shawn and Hannah, together you make each other better. Especially with God at the centre of your relationship. Hannah, you bring out Shawn’s calmer more relaxed and loving-side. I have noticed a change in him since you guys have been together, and I love it. Not that you needed to change, Shawn;).



Shawn, most of my life you made me a sister that was annoyed, but today you make me proud. You’ve picked such a good woman to marry.
I’m excited for the friendship that we will build as adults living in separate households. I’m excited for the relationship I’m going to build with Hannah, and I am SO excited for you guys and wish you EVERY blessing in your marriage.

Shawn and Hannah, be patient. Love constantly. Talk through your quarrels and don’t let the sun go down on your anger.



 

2011 took me places that I hoped I would always go with my business.

This year I travelled out of Province, second-shot 8 weddings, and shot two of my own. I networked like crazy and had so many wonderful opportunities thrown my way!

What 2011 has done for my business has greatly affected what is to come in 2012. I really believe that within the next two years my business will be taken full-time, and I want to thank all of you for this. Thank you for believing in me!

Every time I struggled with my business this year, I asked God to take my business and do with it what he wanted and to exceed my expectations. God did that in every session that I shot. I see his vision for me unfolding in my work. I am constantly learning, always searching and never giving up!

Stay tuned over the next few days for a post on my goals for the New Year! I will also be comparing my goals for 2011 with what I actually accomplished! :)

2011 started off with some epic Portrait Sessions

An amazing Fashion Shoot with Ladybird Goods

An awesome shoot with my friend, and amazing Wedding Photographer Janine Sept!

A trip to Kelowna to shoot a Graduating class!

A shoot with a local Graduating class

An opportunity to travel out of Province to shoot two amazing families, one happening to be that of the incredible Crystal Lee Photography!

A couple of Engagements:)

A bunch of Couples sessions

A few of my own weddings

And the thing that took up most of my time this year, second-shooting a bunch of weddings with the Amazing Lyndsay London Photography, Smashed Photography, and Kelly Swanson Photography!

Boys will be.... boys.

On January 14th, 2012 at 12:15 am my dreams came true. The love of my life, and my best friend in the whole world asked me to marry him. I hope that I never forget that sweet, sweet memory.

David and I have been together for 4 and a half years. We met when we were 17 through our mutual friend, Emi when I got accepted to accompany Regent Christian Academy (the school they both attended) on a Missions trip to Mexico. Every Wednesday morning, before school started we all met for chapel to prepare our hearts for the trip ahead. I always caught myself looking at David from across the room, and assumed that he didn’t notice me.

My real feelings for David began when we travelled to Mexico. We didn’t really talk, I just always noticed him. One night,  we were placed in cleaning groups for the evening. I remember seeing our names listed in the same group, and I thought to myself “Oh my gosh. I’m with David. Oh my gosh.”

That night as we talked while washing dishes, I remember thinking that it would be so awesome if we dated. I also thought that he would be an amazing man to marry…. even though I barely knew him. That night, I remember telling myself that he was too good for me.

In June, David and a bunch of our friends all got together for the first time since Mexico. When he showed up, I remember hugging him and how good it felt to be in his arms. That night, I told a joke about a Panda, shoots and leaves, and that was the moment David says he fell for me, simply because I got the punch line wrong at least 10 times. That summer was the best summer of our lives. David and I fell for each other hard. It was that summer that he told me he loved me, and the summer that we spent countless nights at the beach in each others arms flabbergasted at how we ended up with each other, and how good God was for brining us into each others lives. That summer was magic.

Over the past 4 and a half years I have fallen in love with David’s patient and respectful ways. He has made me believe that purity in love does exist, and that I really can be loved for me, pale skin and all. David makes the best food, plans the best dates, is so considerate and such a good friend. I love that David loves going on long walks as much as I do, and I love that his first response when I ask him what he wants to do on a date is “Go for coffee.”

I love him.

I love talking with you and getting to know you, baby. I am so excited to be yours, forever. I can’t believe that our dreams are coming true and that I am going to wake up to you every morning. You are so amazing and I am so in love with you. Our relationship has been so full of ups and downs. Every single “down” has brought us closer together, and every “up” has celebrated our perseverance. I love your gorgeous smile, and the way you look at me. I love the way you look in your jeans, and how often you check the oil in your truck. I love how you are such a hard worker and that you’re following your dreams, too.

At 12:15 am, on January 14th in Coal Harbour, in front of a flower shop, and amongst the snow and cold wind, my best friend in the whole world kissed me and held me close before he asked me to spend my life with him. I responded by saying “No… Shut up…!!!!!” (in a state of shock) then moments later realized that I forgot to say yes. Yes. The answer is yes.

Thank you all for your kind words. They mean the world to us. We hope to have you a part of our lives as we grow together.

A few months ago, 14 couples entered to win a session on top of Grouse Mountain with me! Unfortunately because of harsh weather conditions, Grouse didn’t work out, but fortunately for Stephanie her entry into my contest did!

I photographed Steph and Troy two days after I got engaged. The day after I got engaged I shot a newborn and family session. The morning I got engaged I was up until 5 am. Needless to say, that weekend I was running low on steam! Lucky for me, shooting Stephanie and Troy was such a breeze. While David (my fiancé ;p) and I waited for the two of them to arrive in Vancouver, I got a text from Stephanie reading “Troy wants me to warn you [that] we are really un-photogenic, haha…” This couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Stephanie and Troy, shooting you both was such a delight! I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else two days after my engagement. That weekend felt like a fairytale, and shooting you guys was the cherry on top!

Love,
Shanna

A few weeks ago, I got to spend my entire day with Heidi and Ivan, a spunky couple who met over tea. But not just any tea.

” Hello! I have a tea sample for you!” Heidi said enthusiastically as Ivan walked into his local Davidstea. Ivan accepted, and over intelligent conversations of tea, infusers, and quantifying, Ivan confidently asked Heidi out to dinner, and so began their 8 month relationship. Heidi and Ivan are so in love, and so good together. I have gotten to learn very much about this couple over the past 5 months, because Heidi is my ASM. If you didn’t know it, you now know my second identity. I’m a tea connoisseur. Or at least I try to be…  .

Heidi, Ivan and I started shooting at Ivan’s gorgeous condo located on the Fraser River, and later made our way over to East Vancouver to shoot in a grungy alley way. We stopped for lunch at La Taqueria (the best little taco place ever), and then made magic happen for one more hour at Stanley Park!

Heidi and Ivan, it was so much fun working with both of you! I’m so glad you love your images!

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Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you…

Tonight I am so enamoured with love as I search for music to play at my wedding. This endeavour has caused me to stay up late for many nights.

2:04 am picking my wedding processional song with my gorgeous sister!

Choosing my wedding music has been my favourite part of planning, to date. Every time a new song plays I reflect on mine and david’s relationship and am moved either to tears or laughter, and editing photos of couples in love all the while just makes it so much sweeter.

I have really been pondering what direction I want my business to take for this current year and the future.. and all I can say is that my heart is being pulled in the direction of my greatest passion: love.

Take my hand, and take my whole life too. Cause I can’t help falling in love with you.

Jaydee and David are engaged. I get to be a part of their love story. I am psyched! I love love. I especially love all of the engagements that are happening this year!

A few short weeks after my own engagement, Jaydee asked me to shoot her wedding September 2nd, 2012. As thrilled as I was, I said yes. Jaydee and David’s wedding will be my 7th wedding this year, which I think is crazy! I am so excited and so expecting. Expecting to go crazy at times, and expecting to feel amazing- like I am living the dream. I am so blessed to be able to experience this full wedding year with my amazing (soon-to-be) husband!

The happy couple met me at Tynehead park for their session last Saturday. It was the windiest day ever, and I had run into some complications of my own… so naturally I was enthused ;p, but when we started shooting in between gusts of wind everything fell into place. I love their images, and I loved shooting them!

David and Jaydee are so in love, and so obviously comfortable with each other. Jaydee, David is so in love with you. I witnessed this over the entire 2 hours that I was with you. The way he looks at you is amazing.

I am so excited for your road ahead. I wish you guys every blessing and all of the love and romance in the world! I can’t wait to witness your love again this Fall.

Love,

Shanna