The Businda Family | Family Portrait Photographer Hampton Roads

• December 4th, 2014 •

It’s hard when your kids grow up, move away and start a family in a city and state away from you! So when you get a chance to get all your kids together, you need to take advantage of it! I had a great time photographing the Businda Family while they were all here in Virginia Beach over Thanksgiving.

It was a VERY COLD saturday morning and little Charlie was NOT happy to be out in the cold, but we made it work! To all of you, I had a great time photographing you and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and these portraits will be cherished for years to come!

Kaitlynn Senior Portraits | Senior Portrait Photographer Virginia Beach

• November 24th, 2014 •

Kaitlynn, I know you are going to great things and I am so glad I have gotten to know you over these past years! I have had a blast photographing you… Just for fun, let’s share some of the first images I took of you way back when! 🙂

Yep, you’ve always been amazing! 🙂

And now… Class of 2015!!!!! Wow!

I love photographing this girl. Of course, she is gorgeous and stunning in front of the camera, but she is also such a sweet girl! I love that next year she wants to do a year or two at a school close to home because she’s not ready to leave her mom! (Awww, all of us moms of teens are weeping right now!) Stay sweet K, thanks for always trusting me with your portraits. 🙂 <3

Jenn and Johnny are having a BABY!! | Maternity Photographer Virginia Beach

• October 28th, 2014 •

I LOVE this family! I have known Jennifer for years, in fact three years ago we served with each other on a missions trip in Colombia! She is such a sweet, genuine person. I was there to watch her fall in love with Johnny and become mom to the beautiful Cheyenne!

A year ago, they suffered heartbreak when they miscarried their first baby. We were all devastated but knew, somehow, God would heal their hearts and their dreams for growing their family would come true. And then, seven months ago, they DID! I was SO EXCITED to hear Jennifer and Johnny were expecting a baby boy and was honored they chose me to capture this amazing time of carrying him!

Since it’s October, we decided a pumpkin patch was the PERFECT place to start their photo shoot. Jennifer was the most beautiful I have ever seen her and she glowed throughout her session. I loved the vintage pram they brought that they will use with Baby Johnny, and it made for a perfect prop when we moved the session to the woods. Cheyenne did great too and was jumping for JOY as she waits to meet her baby brother!

Thanks Bradley’s for allowing me to capture this extra special time in your lives. I can’t wait to photograph your little man in just a few months!

Sedale: Class of 2015 | Virginia Beach Senior Portrait Photographer

• October 13th, 2014 •

What an honor it was to photograph Sedale. I have been facebook friends with his mom, Ellen, for many years. She and I were first “introduced” when I was in my first year of business almost five years ago! She had seen some portraits I did for a friend of hers, and she told me way back then that I would photograph her family someday! She doesn’t live in Hampton Roads though, so we knew it might be a while til we could manage the logistics. It is such an honor when people drive such a long distance just to have their portraits made by me so my heart was overflowing when we finally made it work! <3

I was able to photograph her son Sedale, a high school senior this year! (We also did some family portraits but we’re saving those images for Christmas cards so no sharing!) Sedale rocked his session and we had a blast. We had a great sunset and a perfect shoot!

Congratulations Sedale. Have a great Senior year. Kick some butt on the ball field and I can’t wait to hear what college I need to root for next year! Thanks so much Ellen for staying such a fan of my work. It truly was a blessing meeting you and capturing these portraits for your family!

Senior Rep Crew: Stephanie | Senior Portrait Photographer Virginia Beach

• October 8th, 2014 •

I LOVE my Crew Members who help me spread the word about my High School Senior Portrait business to their peers. I am working hard to grow that part of Devon Shanor Photography and my Crew Members are working hard to earn some great benefits too! My Crew Members get two portrait sessions. One is a model session, where I plan the session so we can use the images for their marketing materials and the second is their regular senior portrait session. I will be sharing each of my Crew Members Model Sessions this month as well as doing a small interview with them so you, too, can get to know them! Our 2015 Seniors are so amazing with such talent and inspiration. I would love for you to get to know them a little and keep them in your thoughts/prayers as they work through this last year of school and prepare for chasing all their dreams after high school!

Meet Stephanie K. Help her earn benefits (even a college scholarship) and contact me for your own Senior Portrait/Family session! Just tell me she referred you!

What school do you attend?

I am a senior at Hickory High School and a 4-year at The Governors School for the Arts in the Musical Theatre Department.

What are you enjoying most about being a Senior?

Even though senior year is stressful with college apps and scholarships, its just really a really exciting time. Your life is changing in such a big way, but even the small things like getting to drive my car to school are exciting!

Describe yourself in 10 words or less.

This is going to be hard, so I got a little help from my friends! Sassy, funny, loving, smart, powerful, creative, unique, ambitious, artistic and independent.

What activities are you involved in?

I go to a perfoming arts high school, which I’m very involved in. Last year I was on prom committee, I am a performance intern with Virginia Musical Theatre, I am a member of OperationSmile, National Honor Society and The National Society of High School Scholars.

Where Was your Session?

My model session was in downtown Ghent and Hague Lock Bridge.

Tell everyone a little about your session.

My session was definitely memorable! Because we were on the bridge, many people walked by and were really intrigued by what was going on, but none more than a few skateboarders who actually ended up IN one of my shots! It was spontaneous but it ended came out so cool looking!

What did you think of your portraits?

I ADORE my portraits! It was actually hard narrowing them down, but I loved the portraits with my blue guitar in the sunset, they came out incredible.

How was it working with Devon?

Devon made me feel so at ease the entire session. Nothing was ever uncomfortable or awkward, it felt really natural and fun. She kept things really upbeat the entire time.

What did your friends think about your portraits?

My friends keep asking me how Devon got the shot with my guitar above my head! I was actually up on a bench with a light behind me, but none of them could tell! My friends have been so sweet about my pictures, I think they love them just as much as I do!

Tell everyone about being a Crew Member.

Being a Crew Member for Devon has been awesome! I am loving it so far, and I’m so glad Devon is giving me this opportunity. I always wanted a little something different for my senior pictures, and thats exactly whats happening, so I’m ecstatic.

What ideas do you have in mind for your full senior session?

I am SO hype for my for my full session! I’m very open to ideas, but so far I would love to do an edgy, urban session, or an autumnal session when fall is in full swing!

It’s time to think about Christmas Cards | Virginia Beach Family Photographer

• October 8th, 2014 •

It’s Christmas card time! You all know you love all the GOOD mail you get every November/December. Seeing how much your nieces and nephews have grown and matured, seeing how much weight (and hair?) your brother is steadily losing, and how stunning Aunt Emily still looks. It’s all there to see in their yearly Christmas card which you proudly display on your wall, mantle or refrigerator!

Guess what? YOU can be that awesome family member too! Send out your own amazing Christmas cards this year! It’s time for some amazing family portraits anyway! The kids are growing up and when was the last time you captured the WHOLE family and all that awesomeness in one portrait?? Be the cool family member who “has- it -all- together- she- even- sent- out- these- cool- Christmas- cards!” as well as FINALLY create and hang that amazing wall canvas of your family you have been dying to do for years!

Contact me today to book your family portraits before Dec. 10th and I will throw in 25 FREE Christmas cards! Here a few samples with some of my awesome current clients!

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Senior Portraits: Joshee | Senior Portrait Photographer Hampton Roads

• September 24th, 2014 •

I think it was a Thursday when I received a call from John, Joshee’s Dad saying he had found me on google (I love when that happens!) and wanted to book me for Senior Portraits on Saturday! They were in town from the Eastern Shore, and Joshee wanted to have his portraits taken while they were here. It just so happened I had a slot open so I was more than happy to meet and photograph him!

What a BLAST we had! Joshee is half Korean, so we started at Red Wing Park and incorporated some of the Oriental Gardens. We got some great shots with the bridge, bamboo and pagoda. It had rained earlier and was looking a little gloomy, but we headed to the beach anyway, hoping for a decent sunset. When we arrived the sun was trying to peek through and I was satisfied with a little color. Then, a few minutes after the sun actually set, the sky went CRAZY! We got the most amazing colors and clouds. I shot for almost a half hour after sunset, making sure I got as much of the amazing sky as possible!

Joshee was awesome. Cool and laid back, willing to climb trees and sand dunes, even be a little silly when I asked! He was a blast to photograph and I hope someday, I get to photograph him and his family again!

P.S. I LOVE photographing High School Seniors. It is one of my very favorite sessions. If you know a High School Senior, or a parent of a Senior, please give them this link http://issuu.com/devonshanor/docs/complete_senior_magazine to check out my Senior Magazine, explaining everything there is to know about Senior Portraits with Devon Shanor Photography!

Rick and Diana Hocker: 25 Year Celebration

• September 24th, 2014 •

In case, you haven’t heard me say it before, I love my church, Freedom Fellowship!!! Our pastors and leaders, Rick and Diana Hocker, are a big reason why. They have been our Senior Pastors for TWENTY FIVE YEARS!

I have been a member of Freedom for almost eight years, the entire time we have lived in Virginia Beach. When we adopted our son Messay, from Ethiopia, Pastor Rick and Freedom rallied behind us and helped us raise the thousands of dollars we needed to bring him home. When my marriage was failing, Pastor Rick and Diana were instrumental in supporting us and helping us get back on track. When finances were tough, the amazing food pantry at Freedom allowed to know our family wouldn’t go hungry. My children learn about God at home, but on Sundays they also find out God isn’t BORING and they can have FUN during worship and in learning about Him. Freedom is a big a part of our lives and school and work. It’s home.

We have Rick and Diana to thank for the amazing church Freedom Fellowship has become. I could go on and on about how they have impacted our life and I know about 600 other people who could do the same. We love our church and for the past 25 years, Rick and Diana have led us. They have sacrificed and shared so much of themselves. They are a wonderful example of Pastoral love and we are so blessed to have them STILL serving, sacrificing and loving us.

I was honored and blessed to attend their 25 year Service Celebration this past weekend. So many came out to celebrate and share. We laughed at some of the old stories and pictures, we reminisced about the “way things used to be” and we talked about the amazing vision God has for our future. Thank you Rick and Diana for your quarter of a century of service. I hope to photograph the 50th anniversary as well! Here are a few highlights from the evening. If you want to see to see all the images from the night, just click on this link, http://devonshanorphotography.smugmug.com/Freedom-Fellowship-1/25-Year-Celebration .

Years ago, Pastor had a silver front tooth… Eddie and Curtis wanted to make sure we remembered that all evening! 🙂

We were so blessed to have Rick’s Dad, Marvin Hocker speak and share some stories about Rick growing up!

So many amazing speakers sharing how Rick and Diana have impacted ministries and people all over the world! happy_156 happy_149

Kids Felicia and Loren, and grandson Malachi, couldn’t be there, but they still sent their love! happy_148

Alex: Half a year old! | Baby’s First Year Photographer

• September 22nd, 2014 •

It’s a bird… It’s a plane… it’s… a drooling six month old! Alex is growing up so fast and for his six month old session he channeled his best Super man and Winnie the Pooh. (I have to say he is the cutest little superhero and childhood character I have ever seen!) He also played in a box, rode a bike with his siblings and showed me how (strong and happy) he is during some tummy time! I can’t believe our Baby’s first Year sessions are half over! Soon he’ll be one and running around after his sisters. I don’t know how mom and dad feel, but I wish time would slow down. 🙂 But since it won’t, it’s good we have these amazing portraits to help us remember his adorable his first year.

A scare and a life lesson | Personal

• September 17th, 2014 •

Life sure isn’t boring around here! No matter how much I wish “normal” was a part of my life, God just has other plans!

Last month I had one of the most terrifying moments in my life happen. Something I NEVER thought would ever happen to me happened. I was at my bank when it was robbed at GUNPOINT! No, I am not making that up. I was casually talking to my teller when she froze as she looked over my shoulders and mumbled “not today” as she immediately locked her drawer and (I assume) pushed an alarm under her counter.

I am kinda naive about things so even when I turned and saw the masked man, I didn’t realize, right away, what was going on. No, it wasn’t until I saw the gun as he jumped up on the counter, did I realize he was robbing the bank!! I am not sure how other people would react in this situation (because believe me, what you THINK you would do and what you really would do, are two different things!) but I froze. As he stood up on the counter and held the gun at one of the tellers, I simply froze and waited for him to tell us what to do. I wanted direction! Do I get on the ground? Run? Cower? Give him my purse? Scream? I needed some direction as I simply stood there in disbelief that this was actually happening.

The older ladies around me needed no direction… they ran! Yep- they just booked it right out of the building. I waited a moment or two and when no gunshot or “Freeze, don’t move” was heard, I realized he was allowing them to leave and ran myself.

This happened on a Saturday morning in broad daylight at a prominent bank in a good area.

Things I realized that day…

1. I make a terrible witness!!! I watched the guy leave the building (as I hid in my car on hold with 911) and get in his car and I still couldn’t tell the police what model car or exact clothing he was wearing. (Yes, my Marine husband teased me about that later. He would have figured out the guys shoe size with his skills of observation!) I was just hoping he didn’t see me and shoot me! I was the only one to see him leave, and even the police officer teased me about being a “key witness” who knew very little!

2. There is no such thing as a “safe place” anymore. If people get desperate, even the nicest neighborhood/businesses can be where terrible things happen. We need to remember this and always be prepared and aware of our surroundings. Sadly, more and more people are seeing the line between “right and wrong” disappear… where if it’s RIGHT for you, then it’s not really that wrong. It’s making living in our world a scary place at times. We don’t need to live in fear, but we do need to be aware of our surroundings.

After the bank robbery, my family and I had many talks about “what to do when…” so my children would know when to run, when to fight back, when to get involved and when to get away. We talked about abductions, robberies, fights, hitchhiking and more. I PRAY nothing like that happens to them (or me!) ever (or again) but in the event it does, I want them to know how to best protect themselves!

3. I have never thanked God so much for a “professional thief” before. As I talked with the police and the other witnesses after the fact, we were all amazed at how calm, cool and collected this man was. He didn’t yell, didn’t get upset when we ran out of the building, didn’t act erratically, etc. The police said he was most likely a professional. While that may make it harder for the police to find him and the bank to gets it’s money back, it made ME so thankful. We all made it out safely and no one was hurt. I am thankful for his calm demeanor. We all, including him, walked away that day uninjured and to me, that is more important than the money he stole.

4. Life can be going along “as normal” and BAM it can change in an instant. So much could have gone wrong that day. I could have been shot. I could have had my kids with me and they could have been injured or emotionally scarred. My life COULD have drastically changed that day. That morning MIGHT have been the last time I had ever kissed my husband or children. Our “normal” average life, could have instantly changed without any notice at all.

It made me think my kids and what life without “mom” would look like. Had I hugged them enough, kissed them enough, tucked them in enough, read to them enough? Was I the BEST parent I could be? Would the love and tenderness outlive in their memories over the discipline and yelling? Had they seen me laugh enough? I am so thankful God allowed me to walk away from that scary situation, but the fact remains that no one truly knows how much time you have left.

My profession, photography takes moments and freezes them in time. It is part of why I love so much what I do. It takes the people you love and FREEZES them forever. So that people for generations to come can remember and even get to know, people they love. I hear people all the time talk about the pictures they have of their loved ones.

“I love seeing this image, it reminds me of how much she loved to laugh!”
“She always made this face when she cried!”
“He loved this red shirt so much!”
“Can’t you see how much the baby looks like grandpa in this picture?”
“This was the last time we were all together. Remember how happy grandma was?”

It makes me so sad when people give excuses for not taking family portraits. Yes, we all wish we were a little thinner or less wrinkled or less grey or more photogenic… but YOU are beautiful to your husband or wife, your kids, your future grandkids. Don’t shy away from the camera, embrace it. If, God forbid, you don’t have many tomorrow’s left… don’t you want to leave your loved ones pictures of you smiling and happy? I recently talked to a young man whose mom passed away when he was a child. He has ONE picture of her. ONE. His mental memories of her are there, but he sometimes struggles to remember her smile, her laugh, her hair. Imagine if she had left behind hundreds of pictures. All different smiles… many different captures of her laughing… lots of images to remember and see her beautiful blond hair. His memories of her would be so much more alive and vibrant.

I don’t say all this to drum up business… come to me or go somewhere else. But, please, take portraits with your family. And not always the posed smile at the camera portraits. Interact with your kids, laugh, be silly, show your laugh lines and grey hair. Be you in front of the camera. If you are married, show the love between you and your spouse. Kiss in front of the camera, be silly, LAUGH together. Create some memories not only to be stored in your brain but also be be stored and cherished and HELD in physical form. A picture truly can freeze a moment and capture it forever. It’s a lesson even I had to learn. I take pictures of my kids all the time, but it’s rare for me to take pictures WITH them. After this robbery scare, I asked myself when the last time I had been photographed with my kids. Thankfully, this summer we took some family portraits at the beach during a mini family reunion. I was so thankful because the one prior to that was a few years ago.

The lessons I learned during and after this robbery, are ones we should all remember and work to live out everyday. Make sure you hug more, yell less, say I love you often and worry less about the small things. Hopefully we all live to be 100, but in the event we don’t, make sure you leave behind a life without regrets and lots of happy memories for the ones who love you!

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