Category: Engagement

23 Sep

Another Chapter, Another YES! | Virginia Beach Proposal

admin / Couples, Engagement / / 0 Comments

Some clients become friends, and some become FAMILY! These two? I feel like their second mom at this point! So getting to capture their Virginia Beach proposal was another HUGE blessing!

I’ve had the absolute blessing of photographing so many of their biggest milestones. From couple portraits to their gender reveal, the birth of their sweet baby, and now… A PROPOSAL!!!

It has been such a blessing introducing these two to First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, where we’ve now photographed THREE different milestones in their lives! So, of course, when it came time for the proposal, we HAD to go back!

From the blindfold to the beautiful sunrise to the BIG surprise… everything was so special! And can we PLEASE talk about him holding that ring box behind her back while giving me the SHHHH sign?! I LOVE being part of moments like this!

Watching their love story unfold, and celebrating alongside their friends for lunch and capturing another beautiful chapter of their lives is exactly why I love what I do!!!

One day, they’ll look back at all these portraits and see their entire story unfolding. And THAT is why photographs matter so much. To these two, thank you for letting me be part of your lives. What a blessing it is to be your photographer and an even bigger blessing to call you friends. I can’t wait to watch your life unfold and grow through all the upcoming seasons!

Congratulations, you two! Here’s to FOREVER!

06 Mar

Guess who’s getting Married???

admin / Engagement, event, Professional Portraits / / 0 Comments

Town Center in Virginia Beach is a beautiful spot in Hampton Roads. It’s the perfect place to relax, grab a bite, take a walk, listen to music and more. It’s also a place where a fairy tales come true.

Dwayne and Dariane had their first date there and on Tuesday, a new chapter in their love story began! He led her there with her eyes closed while their family and friends snuck up on them. He then told her to open her eyes for the best surprise of her life.

It was such a beautiful experience and I am so very honored to have been asked to photograph it. Join me in wishing them years and years of joy, happiness and blessings!

Check out the bling!
She said yes!!
Family and friends celebrating the love!

16 Aug

Love began with a Slurpee | Virginia Beach Engagement

admin / Engagement, Professional Portraits / / 0 Comments

I was SO excited when Conner messaged to tell me he was getting MARRIED! It is so hard to believe since I have been photographing him since middle school and I still see him as little boy! But he has found a phenomenal woman and turned into a handsome and responsible young man. I am OVERJOYED to celebrate their engagement with them!

I met to talk with Abigail and Connor and I LOVED their story of their first date. They went to 7-11, grabbed some smoothies and went for a walk at the oceanfront. The sat and talked on the long walkway near 5th street for hours. We talked about doing their engagement pictures in the same location and decided we HAD to incorporate 7-11 into their session!

But we didn’t stop there! We weren’t going to have a “typical” engagement session so when we saw the Bird scooters, we knew they had to be a part of the session as well!

Photographing people in love is always a favorite of mine but getting to photograph young people in love, being silly, laughing and enjoying each other and the quirks of their first dates- well, lets just say this will be a session to remember!!

05 Feb

Why Hanging Portraits Help Children | Hampton Roads Photographer

admin / Baby's First Year, Children, Christmas, Engagement, Family, Maternity, Mermaid Portraits, Newborn, Photographers, Professional Portraits, Senior / / 0 Comments

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! 

BLOG_0194 BLOG_0195 BLOG_0196

 

 

 

Devon Shanor Photography | 527 N Great Neck Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23454 | 757-337-9024
Copyright © 2025 Devon Shanor Photography