Category: Senior

24 Apr

Senior Class of 2020 | Ian

admin / Senior / / 0 Comments

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 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!

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. 

21 Apr

Senior Class of 2020 | Bethany

admin / Senior / / 0 Comments

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 “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!

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. 

17 Apr

Senior Class of 2020 | Catherine

admin / Senior / / 0 Comments

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? 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!

Baby Blanket!

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. 

20 Aug

She’s off to college! | Personal

admin / Family, Personal, Senior / / 0 Comments

I saw this picture today on FB and I almost cried. My Olivia started college yesterday!!!

It seems just yesterday we were cheering for her rolling over on her own, feeding her her first bites of food, calling the doctor for a crazy black and infected looking mouth (it was wet chewed up newspaper), listening to her babble and get frustrated when she couldn’t be understood, teaching her to swim and ride a bike, helping her “lose” her first tooth, etc etc etc! The baby toddler and childhood days are over. 🙁

And today she officially began college. She’s off world- look out! She still needs our guidance and direction- and some of the time she even listens to it. 🙂

She wants to join the peace corps and travel the world helping others but she has to finish at least an associates first though. So, Olivia officially began her journey into adult yesterday as she began classes at TCC. She wants to do something with special needs children- but wants to work with them primarily in the preschool years. She doesn’t think that she wants it to be in the school system though- occupational therapy maybe? She’s still figuring that out so if you have any suggestions please let her know!

May God bless my daughter as she figures out the plan He has for her. May He also comfort Brett and I as we transition from being the one making most of her decisions to becoming her counselor and advisor. She will always need me but we both have to let go and let God. It may not always be easy for either of us, but we should look for the excitement in this moment. My little “livi” is growing up and making her mark on the world. I am so proud of her.

27 Jun

Truly Inspired by Grace

admin / Family, Photographers, Professional Portraits, Senior / / 0 Comments

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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05 Jun

Senior Portrait Sessions

admin / Business, Photographers, Professional Portraits, Senior, Uncategorized / / 0 Comments

Before you know it, your precious baby has grown up right before your very own eyes. One day you’re chasing after them as they embark on their first run with those little feet and then the next you are receiving information about graduation caps and gowns. I’m currently trying to navigate my own feelings as my daughter, Olivia, is an upcoming Senior! While I am very excited for her, I find myself asking, “How did it all happen so fast?!”.

One of my favorite sessions to photograph are Senior Portraits because I get the opportunity to capture the cusp between childhood and adulthood that these talented young people experience. I am rewarded once more when I get the family together for their viewing and display the photographs – because the expressions of surprise, love and admiration are the greatest bonus I could receive.

I love seeing how each Senior chooses to express themselves during their session with their body language, the locations we go to, their clothing, and any props or important items they choose to add into their session. It gives me a glimpse into who they are and an idea of the kind of incredible future they will have. I have had students bring their baseball bats, footballs, guitars, skateboards, art supplies and surfboards to incorporate into their portraits and we always find fun and interesting ways to utilize their prized possessions to make their portrait unique. I am so thankful for the moment when they let their guard down and I capture the portrait where they are completely relaxed and comfortable because, that ends up being the one they love the most.

Senior Portraits are also a great opportunity to capture the family as it stands at that moment before they go off to college. There is so much that can happen in a year that it’s important to take photographs of everyone together before internships, relationships, and other life events pull people in different directions. I offer FREE family portrait sessions to every family that books a senior portrait session.

As the school year comes to a close, I am so proud of the Graduating Class of 2018. I know that you have an incredible future waiting for you and I am excited to see all that you will accomplish over the next four years. If you haven’t had your portraits done already, it isn’t too late to get some portraits done to commemorate this incredible moment in your life.

Looking ahead to the Graduating Class of 2019, I am excited to capture this year’s moments with Seniors and their families. I am currently offering a Senior Summer Session deal that is CRAZY and I know you won’t want to miss it.

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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! 

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Devon Shanor Photography | 4860 Shell Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 | 757-337-9024
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