Devon Shanor | Blog

Tag: Senior

  • Senior Class of 2020, I Applaud You | Creative Chaos

    Senior Class of 2020, I Applaud You | Creative Chaos

    Time as a senior is generally sacred, a right of passage… Senior skip day… the day at the beach that was allowed instead of all of those days at the beach looking over your shoulder to make sure nobody recognized you weren’t in class… prom… the day when you could get all dressed up, and dance like there’s no tomorrow… the graduation ceremony… the incredibly long ceremony that hundreds of people sit through for that 30 seconds that the person they love walks across that stage and completes the journey that is high school…

    You were robbed…. BUT….

    You have so many interesting stories to tell future generations… that masks were a fashion statement, that senior photos with toilet paper and masks were fun and that this crazy world we live in today didn’t stop you from graduating…

    YOU DID IT… Not only did you graduate, you graduated during a pandemic… a global, earthshaking pandemic. You persevered, you fought, and you did it. Senior class of 2020, I applaud you. Don’t ever stop fighting and persevering….

  • Truly Inspired by Grace

    I feel so lucky that I had the privilege to photograph Grace for her Senior Portraits. Grace is a very unique and inspiring young woman. Grace graduated High School early to give her time to dive into her art and prepare for her college experience at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

    For Grace’s portraits we traveled to downtown Norfolk and her fun and quirky personality gave life to the urban landscape around her. I was blown away by her unique look and how comfortable she was behind the camera. We got to explore her interests and her personality making this session one I will never forget. I found it extremely difficult to find only a few images from her session to share because they all embodied her fierce confidence and beauty.

    It was a pleasure getting to know Grace. I know that she will lead a very creative and fulfilling life and that makes me so excited for her and her family. VCU will be lucky to have you. I look forward to seeing you succeed in the future. Good Luck Grace!

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  • Why Hanging Portraits Help Children | Hampton Roads Photographer

    Many parents, like mine, have hung every portrait ever taken whether it be just their children or family portraits. It has been proven to boost a child’s self esteem when they see themselves in portraits hanging around the house.

    According to David Krauss, who is a psychologist from Cleveland Ohio it’s important to have those family/children portraits. It helps children see themselves as an important and valued part of the family unit. 

    As a photographer, I am biased, they say that there is something powerful in touching your fingers to an actual print. There’s  stimulation of the brain when you have that sensory experience like touching a portrait. There isn’t really any of that in the digital world with all the social media that exists. You are touching a keyboard, mouse or a touchscreen but you are not touching the actual image that involves your child or family.

    Children like to feel like they belong, especially in this world that we live in today. Photographers get to create an image where the child feels safe and protected. They can look back on this even when they’re older and remember that safe feeling.  

    So yes, not hanging portraits doesn’t do any harm, but hanging them could help your child! 

    Here are some photos from my clients of them hanging portraits I captured! 

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  • 2017 Graduate Kendall | Hampton Roads Senior Portrait Photographer

    Twelve long years of school finally come to and end!!! I have watched this young lady grow up over the past 10 years and I am so excited to see how she has blossomed and grown into this beautiful woman.  She will be starting her schooling all over next year at Liberty University, her parents Alma Mater, and couldn’t be more excited.  

    We had a great session, even if we did get attacked by gnats and bugs.  🙂  Kendal rocked every minute of her session and her portraits turned out amazing.  

    I am so very glad that we did a few family portraits at the end as well.  It’s important to do family portraits before your kids go off to college, who knows what the next few years may bring. 🙂  There might be additional family members, people may move away and spending time together as a whole family may come less and less.  It’s so important to take family portraits when you have the chance to capture your family, as your kids are born and your family is growing, as they are growing up and toothless and all legs and arms, and as they are embarking on adulthood and about to go spread their wings.   It’s moments and milestones that we remember, but havign portraits to show us those moments is such a treasure!

    So, thank you Kendal and the Farnsworth clan for allowing me to capture these moments or your family and this amazing milestone.  Kendall, I am so proud of the woman you have become.  <3 <3 

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  • Beca: Class of 2016 | Senior Portrait Photographer Hampton Roads

    Stunning.  Energetic.  Happy.  Athletic.  Fun.  Beautiful.  All words to describe the lovely Beca.
    We had such a great time on both of our sessions!  Why more than one session?  Well sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t check with me and she does her own thing!  Halfway though our beach session, the wind went CRAZY and Beca’s beautiful hair was everywhere, sand was flying into my camera and we were being blown over!! We just weren’t going to get the beautiful sunset pictures we wanted, so we scheduled a second shoot that thankfully provided a beautiful, windless, sunset.

    Beca, I can’t wait to see how your last year in high school goes and what next year holds for you.  I haven’t know you long but I do know you are a dedicated, beautiful, hard working soul and I know you will achieve whatever goals you set your mind too!  Work hard this year, but enjoy every last minute of high school while you can, you deserve it!

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  • Chris- Class of 2015 | Virginia Beach HS Senior Photographer

    I have been waiting to photograph Chris for almost year and I am so excited we finally managed to get it on the schedule!  Chris had an insanely busy Senior year and he killed it on the Cox High School football team. I even got to go out for a few games and I have to say, I feel so much pride seeing my Seniors excel in what they do!  Next year, Chris is heading off to East Carolina University and I couldn’t be more proud of him! 

    For our session, we headed to what Virginia Beach is known for… the beach!  We started off in the trees and Chris rocked his pride for his upcoming college days!  Mom, Donna, and dad, Matt, stuck around for a few pictures as well, rocking their pirate gear too.  🙂   We then moved down to the beach and had an incredible time.  As always, Virginia Beach provided and incredible sunset and Chris pulled out his inner model and we created some incredible images.  

    Chris, enjoy your last few weeks of high school.  Enjoy your next four years of college (but not too much- you still have to go to classes!)   Never give up chasing your dreams and occasionally take time to look back at these images and remember who you were, what you wanted in life, how you saw your future, etc.  You are officially an adult now- but you still have so much life left to live and lessons to learn.  I have confidence you’ll do an amazing job and I can’t wait to see what your future holds.  Thanks for trusting me with your Senior Portraits.  I have so enjoyed getting to know you this past year!  🙂

     

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