Senior Class of 2020 | Chyanne

• April 28th, 2020 •

I have been honored to photograph so many Class of 2020 high school seniors this year. Sadly their senior year came to an abrupt halt in March with COVID-19. Schools were canceled and the class of 2020 was robbed of so many special moments; proms, class trips, senior activities, graduation parties and more. It’s unfair and sad. These are moments they won’t get back.

I think it’s so important to still show the class of 2020 some love right now. Learning that life isn’t always fair is HARD. And being stripped of so much WHILE having to stay home, leave your jobs, stop your athletics and programs and have no in person interaction with your friends really hurts. So, here’s how I’m going to try to help!

I am going to be doing a feature on each of my 2020 Seniors. Introduce them a bit and show off their beautiful Senior Portraits. Then I’ll include their $cashtag through Cashapp so you can send them a little gift. (What 17 or 18 year old doesn’t love some money at graduation???) Could you spare $5-20 to say you are standing with them? Include the note “Congrats graduate of 2020!” so they know it came from this post and what it’s for. Let’s flood them with some hope and a tiny bit of joy in these unfair moments!

The Senior I’d like to introduce today is Chyanne. She is graduating from Ocean Lakes High School. She’s a laid back, beautiful young lady who’s favorite hobbies are horseback riding and sleeping. (I love that hobby myself- every chance I get to participate I do!) We didn’t incorporate the horse in this session, but it’s possible for her cap and gown session!

We had a fun session at The Narrows in Virginia Beach. Why wanted to make sure that the fall season was represented in her session. We had to reschedule a few times but the weather finally cooperated! Mom and dad tagged along and we captured some great family portraits as well. (Chyanne is an only child so I think there might be some major empty nesting when she moves out!)

Chyanne is best friends with another of my senior clients and I can’t wait to photograph these two amazing ladies together. We’re planning on doing their cap and gown session at the same time. Capturing your senior year with your BFF and “ride or die” friend is such a fun idea. If you can’t remember many Senior moments without them by your side, why not include them in your senior portraits too?

Please join me as I congratulate Chyanne on her Senior Year. Show her your support as she deals with the loss of so many Senior moments. Her cash app is $chyannew if you can send her a looking something to help lift her spirits!

Thanks Chyanne for trusting me with your senior portraits. I had such a good time getting to know you and your parents better. Everyone else, enjoy some of our favorites from her session!

If you know a high school senior who hasn’t taken their senior portraits, it’s not too late! There is SO much that the class of 2020 is missing this year, don’t let Senior Portraits be one of them. I am gifting the class of 2020 with FREE Portraits. Contact me today to discuss Portraits for your 2020 Senior!

Fine Print: The session is free. There is a $29 cost to book your session but that amount is given back as a credit towards whatever you’d like to purchase. You’ll also be given (on whichever session your choose) an additional $99 credit towards whatever you’d like to purchase. Dates for sessions are from May 1st until July 30th 2020.

Senior Class of 2020 | Ian

• April 24th, 2020 •

The Senior I’d like to introduce today is Ian. He attended Cox High. I’ve had the please of watching him since middle school as he has wrestled with my son since 6th grade. It’s hard to believe he’s a Senior!

Like many Senior guys, he wasn’t thrilled about Senior portraits. But he loves his momma and did them for her. He’s more a city guy so we skipped the woods and beach and headed to the Neon district in Norfolk. We found some amazing murals and artwork and created some pretty phenomenal senior portraits.

Ian is heading to college next year and is planning to continue wrestling. It’s a HUGE commitment to commit to a sport in college and I’m incredibly proud of him. Senior year was tough for him in more ways than just the coronavirus quarantine, but he’s shown that with perseverance and patience you can still make your dreams come true! His Cashtag is $ianbalik if you can send him a little something. Remember to include “Congrats graduate of 2020!”

Now, enjoy Ian’s Senior Portraits!

Professional Headshots- Self Portraits

• April 24th, 2020 •

Recently someone told me I need to update my headshots and make sure I was holding a camera! They were right, it’s been awhile since I had my own headshots taken. I’ve been so busy taking everyone else pictures, I forgot to make sure my own were on point!

Then… corona hit and we got locked down! No headshots for ANYONE! I thought the lockdown would be over by now and I’m impatient! So, I decided that I needed to do them myself. It’s not easy being the photographer AND the subject but I persevered and came out with a few I love.

It you are in need of new headshots, please be patient. I am working with Amplitude Karaoke for a “Headshots and Happy Hour” event when this is all over! We will set up a backdrop for some beautiful professional portraits and then drink, sing, eat and unwind TOGETHER!!! I cannot wait to hug you, photograph you and sing with you!! If interested in more information on this event, let me know and I will add you to my email list.

Senior Class of 2020 | Bethany

• April 21st, 2020 •

I am going to be doing a feature on each of my 2020 Seniors. Introduce them a bit and show off their beautiful Senior Portraits. Then I’ll include their $cashtag through Cashapp so you can send them a little gift. (What 17 or 18 year old doesn’t love some money at graduation???) Could you spare $5-20 to say you are standing with them? Include the note “It’s no fun learning the lesson that life’s not fair, so here’s a little something to show I care! Congrats graduate of 2020!” so they know it came from this post and what it’s for. Let’s flood them with some hope and a tiny bit of joy in these unfair moments!

The Senior I’d like to introduce today is Bethany. She attended Salem High school and we did her portraits in the fall. The colors she chose for her outfits, her hair color, it all worked so well with the beautiful fall colors we had. She is a talented musician and we had a great time incorporating that into her session. Her family jumped in for a few portraits too and it was wonderful having her big sister, Kendall, home from college to celebrate Bethany’s Senior Year!

I’ve been photographing Bethany for years. She kind, silly, compassionate, talented and has grown up to be an extraordinary young lady. She’s headed off to college after graduation and I can’t wait to see her transform even more. Her Cashtag is $BethanyRFarnsworth if you can send her a little something. Remember to include “It’s no fun learning the lesson that life’s not fair, so here’s a little something to show I care! Congrats graduate of 2020!”

Now, enjoy the beautiful Bethany’s Senior Portraits!

Senior Class of 2020 | Catherine

• April 17th, 2020 •

I am going to be doing a feature on each of my 2020 Seniors. Introduce them a bit and show off their beautiful Senior Portraits. Then I’ll include their $cashtag through Cashapp so you can send them a little gift. (What 17 or 18 year old doesn’t love some money at graduation???) Could you spare $5-20 to say you are standing with them? Congrats graduate of 2020! so they know what it’s for. Let’s flood them with some hope and a tiny bit of joy in these unfair moments!

The Senior I’d like to introduce today is Catherine- or Cat to those who know her! She attended Green Run High School and we did her portraits in the fall. We had SO much fun incorporating my big pink parachute skirt! I haven’t done any with that skirt in the woods yet so it was a treat for me! Cat has also been attending a nursing program while in school so of course we had to include that in her portraits. She even brought her baby blanket from when she was a baby. I know her momma struggled with seeing her GROWN baby hold onto the blanket she used to once swaddle her in!

Cat’s senior portrait session was amazing. Beautiful golden light and a perfect sunset. It was an honor to photographing her and celebrating her 2020 accomplishments. Let’s continue the celebration! Her Cashtag is $catellis24 if you can send her a little something. Remember to include “It’s no fun learning the lesson that life’s not fair, so here’s a little something to show I care! Congrats graduate of 2020!”

Now, enjoy the beautiful Cat’s Senior Portraits!

She’s Lost Her Mind! | Creative Chaos

• April 8th, 2020 •

Devon has lost her mind in quarantine! She has to be crazy… anybody who knows the woman knows she’s a the lovable kind of crazy, but still….. When talking to her the other day she told me she wanted to do something for those families who wanted photos, but she wasn’t able to do them due to the COVID quarantine order. So she told me about her crazy idea…

In addition to the Seniors getting their photos this year…(Seriously, that is so cool! Check that one out if you have seniors!) She is making another offer that she only makes ONCE A YEAR.

Normally reserved for Black Friday, Devon Shanor Photography is now offering 50% more when you purchase a gift certificate!

These are hard times, we miss our clients, our friends, our families… Though we are blessed and thankful for this time to focus on improving the Devon Shanor Photography workflow, we are so looking forward to seeing you when this is all over! Hang tight, this won’t last forever.

What is your favorite game? |Creative Chaos

• April 2nd, 2020 •

Do you have a favorite board game or card game? Did you have family game nights as a kid? I did! I remember we used to have family game night once a week when my brother and I were kids. We could never agree, so we always each brought one we wanted to play and my parents picked between the two.

During this difficult time when we are all self quarantining, board games and card games are making a huge comeback! Monopoly, Risk, Life, Guess Who, Phase 10, Uno, and so many more are being played more and more often! We have always enjoyed games so this is exciting for us to have time to play and Daddy home to join in the fun.

But after game after game of monopoly being whooped by my sister-in-law, my husband and somehow even my three year old, I wanted to get creative. So we are creating our own Monopoly!

We only used graph paper and markers. The movement pieces are beads I had with some hot glue on the bottom for stands! The possibilities are endless! What game would you create your own version of?