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this makes my heart happy. it's like a narrative....aka the assignment i always dreaded in photo class because mine always turned out cheesy. this is not cheesy. at all.
(08.13.10 @ 11:06 AM)
i think she's about 52. (53?)
one of the reasons i love her, is because she doesn't freak out about getting older.
she won't care that i wrote her age.
she told me the other day that in 10 years, when she has wrinkles, she's going to cut her grey hair short and wear it spiked. MOM I LOVE YOU. i told her to do it now........ and she said she had to wait for the wrinkles.
another reason she's awesome, is that she doesn't look 52. she looks about 42. and she has five kids. you'd think that would wear you down a bit. nope! not my mom. she's bright and chipper as ever.
i call her when i feel like my life is going nowhere, i call her to tell her about hot dates, i call her to ask advice, i call her when i'm sick. mom, you say you're not nurturing, but i think maybe that was a thing of the past. you're nurturing.
another reason. she's a life coach, an author, an editor, a consultant, and a speaker! yup. for real. she has written a book. i know.
and she loves my blog, she says my writing is the best part, which is why i'm letting this go on and on. i really could write forever, like i did two days ago, and she seems to love every minute of it. if she's the only one who can appreciate it, then hey. success.
happy birthday mama!
you are loved.
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I GET A BLOG POST ABOUT ME? Best birthday present ever! Thank you, darling daughter of mine, for writing wonderful things about me and making me out to be MUCH better at life than I really am.
(08.11.10 @ 06:21 PM)awww happy birthday shelley! can't wait for the spiked grey hair! i'll be looking forward to it, counting down the years! ;]
(08.12.10 @ 11:36 AM)mom, DUH!!!!!!!!!!!! of course you get a blog post about you! could have written SO MUCH MORE! love you.
(08.13.10 @ 12:31 PM)
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AHHH!!! I still am in love with that second photo!!!! I want a print!!!!!
:D
(08.10.10 @ 04:35 PM)
its also AWKWARD.
what do you do?
how do you act?
how will you look?
will you like them?
"am i doing okay?"
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, PHOTOGRAPHER??????"
out of everyone who i've photographed in the past four years, 95% of people warn me about how bad they are at having their photo taken.
i have the I'm Scared! chat with practically every client who hires me.
i think 50% of my job is calming fears and giving positive affirmation, which i love---- because when i calm you down, you are able to light up. its what i love to do. light you up.
so, i've decided to bring the conversation to my blog, to level the field and let everyone know that YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE!
honestly.
everyone freaks out.... but look at the happy, natural, lovely photos we somehow are able to get!
here are my secrets.
1. take a few deep breaths, literally
2. your job is to simply exist. just be you. no need to put on a show.
3. i will tell you where to go, what to do...we'll just be chatting, having a good time for an hour, and magically you'll have amazing photos of yourself.
is it THAT easy?
kind of.
i honestly think that good photos come out of an acceptance of who you are, and a willingness to be seen. if you're willing to have me really SEE you, really spend time with YOU, really uncover who you are and capture what i see, then the session is easy. its no problem. my approach to photography is to capture real life. i'm always paying attention to the light---- putting you in the places where you'll look the best. more importantly though, i'm trying to notice and capture who you really are. we're not trying to force anything.
are you still with me?
i have lots of thoughts on this, so if you're into it, keep reading.
a photo session IS scary at first,
but lately i've been interested in pressing into that fear. using the space of a photo session to face it head on. taking the experience you have with me during your session, and uncovering the layers of what it was like for you to be in front of the camera.
there are a few issues though.
a) photo sessions are not a normal part of life. this is not NATURAL. i get that.
b) it takes vulnerability to relax and just be. that means that someone gets to see you. will they like what they see? thats a big question to face.
c) this is a risk. you have to be present and trust me. trust that i'll see you as You. trust that i'll see something lovely. trust that i won't make you look horrible.
so.
i've been taking time after delivering the images from a portrait session to talk about the experience.
>> what was that like for you?
>> what did you learn about yourself?
>> what is it like to see what i saw in you?
>> how does it feel to be given so much attention?
>> did you feel like you were YOU during our session?
>> did you feel like i LET you be you?
>> did you feel like you had to perform at all? why?
things like this.
yeah, its kind of like therapy. i love it.
i did three years of therapy myself.... realized all sorts of insecurities that am still dealing with.
i think that having your photograph taken can be a really freeing experience, if you are willing to take that risk, be vulnerable, and trust me.
it can also be celebratory and monumental. something to look at and say, "that's ME, and for once, i like me."
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so.
i want to offer a huge discount to you guys if you want to have the experience of being seen. i have room in my schedule right now for two sessions, and i'd like to offer them for $200 instead of the normal $350, because i like you. if you're interested email yes@shannonleith.com and we'll set you up. only the first two though... sorry i can't fit more in! (SOLD OUT)
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hope this helped a few people.
and p.s. see that photo at the top of my blog where i'm wearing a flowered shirt and look super comfortable and happy? i stressed out for weeks about that session. anxiety to the max. I KNOW HOW IT FEELS!!!!!!!
8 comments so far
I feel better already about having my pic taken!
(08.09.10 @ 02:04 PM)this made me so excited for our senior photo sesh. because...i'm super nervous. and all those pictures during the trip made me nervous because i wanted to look good in them but i was unsure if it was working. so, i'm excited to experience a full-on shannon leith photography session! and this post is wonderful. you are such a unique photographer.
(08.09.10 @ 02:05 PM):) dad..... you're my top success story. LOVE YOU!! heath.... so excited to photograph you.
(08.09.10 @ 02:07 PM)I love this post. I am one of those people too! And being recently engaged I am already nervous at being the center of attention for all the wedding planning and festivities that needs to be done including having my engagement photos taken. I have decided that since I have taken engagements pictures for 3 of my bestest friends they will also be the ones to take mine. They love the idea, as do I. However, I love pictures and how certain people have the natural talent at capturing the most precious moments of life. If that doesn't work out then I will be calling you up!
(08.09.10 @ 02:34 PM)I love this post.
And you look amazing in that picture.
bianca------- CUTEST BLOG POST BY YOUR FIANCE!!!! oh my gosh! call me if it doesnt work out, girl :)
(08.09.10 @ 10:26 PM)I have always ADORED those photos of you in the flowered shirt where you look super comfortable and happy. Seriously. Whenever I show people your blog, I make sure they see those! I think they are the most wonderful pictures :) Stunning and lovely and full of joy.
(08.11.10 @ 08:27 PM)AHHHHHHHHHHHH. thanks for the permission to freak out! :]
(08.14.10 @ 09:40 PM)
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--- my classes are SOLD OUT! so excited about the ten people who are coming.
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a few days ago i decided to part my hair differently as well (i had a side part, but it was pretty close to the middle, so i parted it even farther side). it's like i have a whole different hair cut. love it.
and about the dirt...i saw leave it. i didn't even see it until you mentioned it, and even then i really had to hunt for it.
(08.06.10 @ 07:23 PM)carlotta, yay for new hair parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! embrace! and okay, leaving the dirt. :)
Hi Shannon, still moving into our new home and it's amazing! You mentioned DIRT - think of cleaning up someone else's dirt for days and days. The last owners didn't clean much. I will probably make everything really clean and then ease up about the cleaning thing.
(08.07.10 @ 05:26 PM)tae-bo is fantastic. gotta love billy blanks. way to go for working that body! :)
(08.07.10 @ 06:39 PM)"i am so interested in why i am drawn to take photos of the dishes. easy answer: they're colorful! deeper answer: still working on that." It took me a second to realize why I liked this part so much, and this is what I came up with: There's this mystery in it and I like that. I like that you take the picture, not really sure what it is about the dishes that you love. I think I didn't realize that even little pictures like that are such a learning/processing/insightful thing for you. That makes me happy. I like you more and more.
(08.08.10 @ 12:46 AM)
oh so am i!
wonderful photos.
(08.13.10 @ 10:26 AM)carlotta-------- you're becoming my #1 commenter. THANK YOU!! this blog makes me feel like i'm not alone. who knew someone else would like the barcodes on envelopes! what!!!
(08.13.10 @ 12:28 PM)is that the playing card stamp with the king and the queen? i love those!! i wouldn't be able to part with mine for a measly ol'bill. i've been saving mine. :)
(08.13.10 @ 11:42 PM)sharon----- sure is! ha........ those are actually my normal everyday stamps....... my impressionist painting stamps are saved for the big guns. but sometimes i decide to spice up the blah world of bills with one of those treasures. but yeah, those king and queen ones rule.
(08.14.10 @ 02:05 AM)so excited for the cellar
(08.16.10 @ 05:03 PM)