Devon Shanor | Blog

Tag: Family portraits

  • Saying I DO all over again | Hampton Roads Photographer

    If you follow my blog you will know this family.  I have been photographing them for years, ever since they were pregnant with their beautiful little Elliegh. So when Steven called me and asked me to photograph a surprise wedding renewal for them, how could I say no?  I LOVE surprises and I love Jenna, so I was super excited to photograph them saying “I Do” again! 

    Family and friends from all over came to Virginia Beach to surprise them.  Not sure it was a complete surprise (I guess someone said something about someone coming to town in front of her) but it was a night to remember none-the-less!  I loved watching these two recommit themselves to each other and to their marriage.  Jenna and Elliegh were stunningly beautiful and Steven cleans up well too!  Blessings and love to you guys, thanks for always trusting me with your precious family memories!<3 <3

     

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    Cupcakes by the amazing Amy and Daniel with Apothecary Cupcakes.  http://apothecarycupcakes.weebly.com/

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  • When the Last leaves the Nest | Family Portrait Photographer Hampton Roads

    I met Latrice when she attended my open house in May.  Her youngest son was graduating from high school and she talked to me about senior portraits.  Her son, Emmanuel was not super excited about Senior portraits, so I talked with her about combining a family session with his Senior portraits.  That way the focus wouldn’t be on him the whole time and we’d get those family portraits she’d been putting off for way too long.  It’s important to capture the family when the last graduates, especially if there haven’t been any marriages yet.  Capture the family unit as it has been for so long… because before you know it it will be growing again! 

    Once I met her stunningly handsome sons, (Devonta, Marquis and Emmanuel)  I realized my job was going to be very easy.  They could easily model, each one of them!  I had such a great time meeting them and getting to know as little about each one of them.  Handsome, talented, kind and compassionate… Latrice- you’ve done a great job raising these young men!

    We did our shoot in the neon district in Norfolk and it was the perfect background for this family!  We got some great brothers shots, some senior portraits for Emmanuel and some beautiful family portraits for mom!   I can’t wait to see this family grow in the future… I see a few future daughter- in- laws someday! 

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  • Whitfield | Family Photographer Hampton Roads

    Can this family GET any cuter?!?!  I had so much photographing CJ’s first birthday portraits as well as their family portraits.  They haven’t done family portraits yet AND mom and dad hadn’t done any portraits together ever, so this was an extra special shoot for them.  And when I say they ROCKED this session, I meant it!  Denise and Christopher are a stunning couple and made my job so easy!  The light was perfect and CJ was such a little model and his adorable smile melted my heart!  I would have shot for another hour if it hadn’t gotten dark and chilly.  

    The images that resulted from this shoot are STUNNING!  Denise cried when she saw them and honestly, that is one of the favorite parts of my job. I know it sounds terrible, “I like making my clients cry” but when they are crying tears of joy because they have never had such beautiful images of themselves… well, I might have shed a tear or two myself!

    Denise and Christopher, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your family.  It truly was an honor and I can’t wait for our next session! 

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  • Welcome Emmanuel | Newborn Photographer Virginia Beach

    What can be better than three amazing boys?  FOUR amazing boys!  Welcome baby Emmanuel to the beautiful Lopez family.  I was so very excited to photograph this adorable, chubby little guy!  He was such a trooper during our session and was a great little model! His big brothers can’t wait for him to grow up a little more… I see lots of backyard wrestling matches and football games in their future!  Thank you Orlyn and and Alejandro for allowing me to spend time with your little guy and photograph your family.  It is such an honor too capture these moments and I hope we lots of years of family portraits in our future! 

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  • My New Office | Hampton Roads Photographer

    What a year this has been.  Last year was a pretty terrible year for me personally and I was so ready for 2016.  I was expecting a much better year, but I didn’t expect this!!!  

    Less than two weeks ago, I signed a lease on my new office space.  It has been dream of mine, to get out of my home office, for such a long time but I have been so afraid to take the leap.  With a HUGE nudge from my husband, I finally took jumped off the ledge and did it!

    My space is located at 1642 Pleasure House Rd.  Suite 108, Virginia Beach.  The downstairs space is Synergy Space, an amazing multi-use space that can be rented for multiple different uses (parties, classes, networking, meetings, etc) and the upstairs space is ALL MINE!

    It’s not a huge space, I’ll shoot newborns and professional portraits/headshots here, but I’ll still rent my other studio space for larger studio work. It is an AMAZING space though to work, edit, meet with clients and have my viewing sessions!

    It’s been a long two weeks getting it ready and I am SO THANKFUL to everyone who helped me.  Jeris at Smartgiraffe (www.smartgiraffecs.com) was amazing at helping me get my computer up and running and a new screen projector installed and working.  My friends were amazing and stepped up helping me paint, decorate, rewrite and organize.  My husband Brett did a majority of the work while I was out of town and did all the heavy lifting!  I may run this business alone, but I am SO VERY thankful to those who lift me up and surround me with support.

    Here is a progression of our before and after images!!

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    My Olivia helping put up my curtains and touch up all the paint! 

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    My handsome bandyman.  I wouldn’t be here without his support and encouragement!

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    ALL DONE!!!  A few little tweaks here and there BUT I’m officially open for business!!! 

     

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     Soon, I’ll be announcing my open house date and I can’t wait to celebrate with you as I embark on this new adventure… but don’t feel you need to wait.  I’d love it if you’d stop by and say hello.  I love visitors!

     

  • Announcing Baby Mack! | Baby’s First Year Photographer Hampton Roads

    Nigel and Tia are expecting!!!!  I photographed Nigel and Tia’s engagement and am so very excited to be continuing our relationship as we head into photographing the Baby’s First Year!  

    I was SO excited to get the call from Tia telling me the news…. they are expecting a HONEYMOON baby! YAY!!!

    I LOVE that I was one of the first to know as they wanted me to photograph the announcement.  Nigel is deployed so we wanted to do a shoot that incorporated him across all the miles, you’ll see him in the phone pointing at a picture of the ultrasound!   I love how the images turned out and am so excited to do a maternity session in six months or so.  Tia is already glowing and I can’t wait to see how she transforms into the amazing mom God has called her to be.

    Congrats Nigel and Tia!  So very excited for you and can’t wit to meet your little blessing.  photography_653 photography_654 photography_655 photography_657 photography_658 photography_660

     

  • Waiting for blessing #6 | Maternity Portraits Virginia Beach

    This beautiful momma is Christy and she is expecting blessing number SIX!  So very excited to celebrate with her and I can’t wait to meet little Brandon!  After her baby shower at our church, we took a few portraits outside, as she’s already 8 cm dilated and we didn’t think she’d make it many more days being pregnant!  But over two weeks later, little Brandon is still warm and snug in the womb!  He’ll come when he’s good and ready!

    Christy, you are a beautiful momma-to-be!  Enjoy these last few days before you welcome this last little Sawyer!  I know his brothers and sisters can’t wait to meet him 🙂 

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  • Thee boys = a FULL house! | Newborn/Family Photographer Virginia Beach

    Welcome baby Judah!  He joins big brothers Elam and Kenan, making mom and dad some very blessed and tired parents!  As Judah was a bit older than most newborns during their session (he was just a month old during his session!) he didn’t do a lot of sleeping. .. so we worked with that and we got to see lots of his beautiful, inquisitive eyes!

    If you have ever tried to photograph a two year old and a one month old at the same time, you’ll know we had our work cut out for us!  Teenage brother Kenan was a GREAT assistant to me though, helping wrangle Elam and helping me soothe little Judah in between setups!  Finally, we were even able to pull off some beautiful family portraits showcasing this loving, amazing, beautiful family! 

    Melinda and Jeff- thanks for sharing your boys with me.  It might have been a hectic session but I am so very pleased with our results and was so blessed to have met you both!   May God bless you and grant you sleepy boys and sleep filled nights! 

     

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  • Happy 80th Birthday Sandy | Virginia Beach Family Portrait Photographer

    Sandy is 80 years young and still showing everyone around her how to love life!  Her smile and her family wanted to surprise her with a birthday celebration!   Her granddaughter Liz serenaded her with some amazing Jazz music and family from all over came to surprise her! 

  • Welcome Noah | Newborn Portrait Photographer

    Look at this adorable little guy!!!  He was such a rock star during his session and I LOVE how his portraits turned out.  We don’t know if he’ll be a little bookworm or a Harley Riding tough guy, so we tried to capture both in his portraits!  

    Layake and Matt, you make adorable babies… I think you should have about half a dozen more!  🙂  happy_505 happy_506 happy_507 happy_508 happy_509 happy_510 happy_511 happy_512 happy_513happy_518 happy_514 happy_515 happy_516 happy_517