shannon leith :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: photographer of everyday life based in pasadena, california

jen: shine** !

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:19:56 -0800

the cool thing about this shine** session,

is that jen is a piano player---

a real full time self employed musician---------

but she's so much more than that.

her attunement with rhythms falls into so many parts of her life.

she bakes,

she writes,

she's aware of herself and what makes her her.

she takes risks and creates new things that have never existed.

she imagined and created her own christmas tree----- out of branches she collected, and little pieces of ribbon she had laying around,,, and it is beautiful. i dont think i've ever been so moved by a tree. (secret: i dont really decorate for holidays.)

so i am excited to share with you this celebration of jen, & a few of the rhythms that keep her going,,

the little fold of crust

:) (it was sweet potato)

she got down, to lykke li

beauty * grace

and hey,

i want to offer something to those of you who have been wanting to do a shine** session but just dont have the money. soo many people have written me saying they're wanting to save up for a session in the future but just can't make it work right now. i totally understand and wanted to help you out-----

i am offering 10 sessions at $250 instead of the normal $550 rate.

these 10 sessions will include the following

-- a 1 hour shine** session at your house

-- an online proofing & ordering gallery of your finished collection of images

** must be booked by monday, january 16th

** i am in pasadena, california & am open to travel for an additional small fee

** reflection sessions (talking through your images in person with me instead of online) can be booked onto this special deal for $99 if you are interested.

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contact me to book a session by filling out this form!

leftover peach plum pie.

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:32:41 -0800

i found this saran wrap just sitting there and it was, mesmerizing.

rosarito mexico: for the purpose of eating lobster.

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:43:56 -0800

christmas break was one of the most relationally filling times i've had in a while.

working from home, by myself, is often draining---

i crave to be with.

to be with people in the daily.

and working in front of my computer at home,

sucks.

i intended to stay thursday-monday at my parents' house, but ended up staying an extra three days because i didn't want to leave.

on the last day we all decided to go to mexico!

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grandma & the steam from our TAMALES

i was unsure if this was one of those unattractive moments, or if this is the cutest laugh you've ever seen, and yes: it's the cutest laugh you've ever seen.

my brother's getting married in two months---------

and he spotted the most pretty alley i have ever seen.

--- i twirled a little and felt great about life,

family -------- beautiful

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and then we ate lobster and got to watch the back and forth of the ocean from up high.

a little more michigan.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:15:09 -0800

have you ever had a friend move?

this seems to be my phase of life right now:

everyone moving out of LA toward new things.

christen and her husband moved away a few months ago,

so it was the most fulfilling thing to travel and see where she now lives.
--- and to meet her baby.

taken by christen--- baby therapy is good for the soul.

(we went to lake michigan,,,,,,,,)

(why do only some get to be crossed?)

and we also went on a little mini walk downtown to have a coffee.

coffee and talking----------makes me so happy every single time.

lemonjellos COME TO ME,

so michigan--------------------------------------

i didnt expect to like the cold so much,

i didnt expect to like the streets so much,

i didnt expect to like the air so much,

i didnt expect to find THE cutest coffeeshop,

well........ i hoped we would.

and we did.

holland, michigan,,,, 2 week old samuel--

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:35:57 -0800

my friends christen and tony had me come up to michigan last week----------

i stayed with them for a three days and saw the ins and outs of what it means to be new parents of a two week old little baby.

to watch them collaborate on how to calm him down, who was going to put him to sleep, who was going to make dinner, when bathtime was going to be......... it all felt so ordinary yet so alive.

yes it was the daily, but the newness of a human life brought this special tone that i didn't expect.

being here with them slowed me down and brought me deep joy.

yeah, this felt like sacred space.

most images explain themselves,

but you need to know that this is christen covering his ears from the fire alarm. sweet little tiny eardrums,

and this one..............

i went downstairs to get a new battery and came back upstairs to see samuel in his crib and tony & christen here,

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baby onesie,

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the light,,

------ the light again. beauty.

somehow one of the most sacred and awe-inducing moments for me------------- bathing,

and then tony figuring out the new ergo baby carrier dealie,

-- we took a small outing to lake michigan.

i told them, "oh we don't need to go. it's fine."

but they said i needed to see it,

and they were right.

stunning.

awe-inspiring.

majestic,,

yay for tony being one of those awesome dads who carries the baby.

through the window. (cold but worth it.)

beautiful.

i liked doing this so much that i'm open to doing more, if any families would be open. this felt somewhat like shine** but for a family. discovering the essence of who you are together instead of on your own.

book a session by clicking here.

clearing the palette.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:19:13 -0800

i was overwhelmed this morning and so decided to take my coffee to-go instead of for-here. meaning, i'd drink it while walking instead of while sitting in my favorite chair. best decision.

i also took cosmo--------- we havent been on a walk in a while and i feel like i have been depriving him of sunshine. i guess when he bites at me, and flies away every time i get near him, i'm not sure whether to leave him alone or to force him to hang out with me. the big decisions of a pet owner. but this morning was beautiful because he decided all on his own to climb into his little travel cage and come.

the best part about the walk was when a dog barked, totally freaked me out, and then cosmo whistled a small song back at him! so sweet.

woah, the coffee looked like a marble, (or a..........)

hello rainbow,

..................it felt so good to sit and stare.

mmmm. he's so happy when he's outside. so am i. i'm thinking of making this an everyday thing.

and my favorite way of taking a picture: eyes closed.

and hey on my walk i realized i have not been very vocal about the upcoming SEEING class. i have two spots left, and the class starts january 21st.

this is an option for a christmas gift!

SEEING CLASS: JANUARY 21ST

discover your unique vision in photography and learn to free yourself up an artist. one whole day of group exploration, 3 one-hour mentoring sessions with me, and many individual exploration assignments to do on your own. normally $550, but i'm doing $50 off until December 31st!

-- click here for a review by a past student!

-- sign up here

LONG DISTANCE SEEING CLASSES,

for those who are not in the area: long distance SEEING mentoring sessions are available, either the whole thing (three sessions over skype + the real SEEING workbook) for $350, or just 1 mentoring session for $99. people have been wanting options if they're not in california, so this is it! i am taking 5 students for january if you're interested.

-- sign up by filling out a contact form.

SHINE SESSIONS,

and also, #3.... shine** sessions! for the holidays, i am offering a free disc of the digital negatives for those who book a session before 2012. to book a session, it's a $200 deposit, and i can do payment plans.

-- a beautiful review by a previous shine client is here

-- sign up for a shine** session here

that's all i've got.

so much love to you.,, :)

shannon

blythe, transition, shine**

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:10:33 -0800

shine session!
blythe"""""""""""

even though i've known her for ten years i learned even more while photographing her.
we started at 10am and i got to see her morning rituals.

for example,, she makes one big french press and then saves half for the next day.

she enjoys english muffins. she always sits in a certain chair during her breakfast.

i call her blx because when i put her name in my phone i pressed an X instead of a Y.

best mistake ever.

she is in one of those phases of life where everything is in boxes until you figure out what's next----------- and she's handling it beautifully and with grace.

we wanted to honor this phase in her life,

a time when there is so much up in the air,

but what is constant is her spirit, her eyes, her heart.

so that's why it doesn't matter that this house isn't hers,

or that she has no access to half of her stuff---

because its where her feet are planted that counts.

and i bet someday she'll smile at the time when she danced in her brother and sister in-law's living room to 40 Day Dream.

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what is shine** ?

book a shine** session by clicking here

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how i make myself do things: the notebook system.

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:29:28 -0800

continuing in the theme from last week of how i get inspired, i want to talk about notebooks. i write in at least three per day. my scattered brain NEEDS THEM. and they can't be just any notebooks. the paper and size and typography and covers and page style must be inspiring to me. poketo and present&correct are my favorite little shops.

i have a different notebook for everything.

------ to do lists

------ daily journaling & morning pages

------ before-bed thoughts & dreams (literal dreams)

------ a highlight & lowlight from each day

------ new projects get their own book (shine, seeing)

------ and, each trip i take gets its own book.

i want to encourage you to have a place where you can visually work out your ideas. and its important to have it be all in one place. and you have to want to write in it. for me, that's why they must be cute. these books are where ideas come to life.

so these black sketch books are my everyday, everything journals, and i name each one with the phase of life i'm currently in. this one is called Eagles Don't Flap. i like the blank pages with no lines. (freedom). i get them from blick art supply and they're made by.............. canson.

and here are a few of my favorite pages from my shine** notebook!

(got it from present&correct)

notebooks give me permission to dream.

they somehow cause me to do things.

when i have filled a notebook called SHINE............... i find myself wanting to launch shine.

and its crazy how your small ideas can grow simply by writing them down and giving them their own space to breathe.

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what is shine** ?

book a shine** session by clicking here

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the pasadena winds.

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:32:07 -0800

small problem:

i went to photograph this weird crack in my windshield that happened last week during the storms,

and then saw all these delicate dirt patterns and now never want to wash my car.

they take me to places of--

galaxies

pools

lands

paint

& snow.

jesh de rox {{{life as an artform}}}

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:12:44 -0800

i want to share this week about where i get inspiration and motivation.

there are many weird and small things that help me that i'd love to share with you.

its hard to live and work as a creative freelance entrepreneur who is her own boss. i often wish i worked at jcrew or peets simply so i would have someone telling me when to show up and what to do.

but i dont----

photography is the way i live & work,

and the reality of being an artist is that you must take your creative tank and fill it.

so one of the ways i did that this summer was through going to jesh de rox's {life as an artform} workshop----- something i had been wanting to do for literally four or five years. ever since he announced them i have been drawn to go, and it finally worked out. i was on his website for the millionth time, dreaming about going, getting sad that i couldnt pick up and fly to his australia workshop, and then saw he was hosting one in minnesota! the place i was going to be already for a wedding. and the workshop was a few days before the wedding! what!! i honestly was shocked at the timing, but also--- not shocked. when things are meant to happen, they work out in this effortless way.

being there for three days stirred up a lot in me.

** this was where i narrowed in on wanting to do shine.

i originally thought it would be for couples, but it was here that i realized i was passionate about the journey of an individual. i gained so much clarity going

** this was where i revitalized my ideas about business.

the words marketing and business have always had horrible associations in my mind: i have always hated "working on my business". who wants to do that? boring!! but jesh's perspective helped give light to another way. another path that is not often walked. he motivated me to make my business something that i love. something that is a joy to 'work on'. and, in looking over these past few months, i have almost enjoyed working on it too much. ha. a whole different issue. ;)

** this is where i had a chance to dream big and to imagine and to remember to include joy.

one of the best and most important things though was the people.

--- people who were on the same wavelength,

--- people who were open to exploring

--- people who were passionate,

--- people who fed into me,

and last but not least, people who know how to take over a dance floor at a deserted mexican restaurant. best memory ever.

p.s., go here.

suncatcher spacewatcher

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:16:16 -0800

so i woke up today not only thinking yay its my birthday,

but yay its MADELEINE L'ENGLE'S BIRTHDAY!

we share a birthday and somehow that brings this extra richness to november 29th.

on my birthday i like to spend time reading one of her books,

i have lots of options,

and today i chose her biography------------ suncatcher. a small gem that i discovered this summer.

did you know her book wrinkle in time was rejected by publishers 29 times?

29 times. and then it became a bestseller.

i know this might sound funny, but i want this next year for me to be about becoming a real photographer. saying yes, this is what i love and i will put it all out there even if it gets rejected over and over again. i'm realizing there are things that i want to do with my images that i dont believe are possible. i don't feel good enough.

but this next year is going to be about telling my story, dancing, moving to the music, and trusting that i was not only meant to bring freedom to others but to accept the freedom that i have also been given.

man.......i could write forever about her, and about this book, and about year 25, but i need to go to my friend jen's house for our weekly tuesday tradition. talking, tea, and yoga. and then i plan on walking around south pasadena, eating lunch at heirloom, and then having more time with friends tonight. i really like normal days so i hope today is extra normal in a special sort of way. my favorite part of the day so far has been my SHOWER. showers are just the best, especially when there's eucalyptus lavendar shampoo.

anyway,

peace to you,

p.s., my roommate came home last night and just set this tree up and hung ballerinas all over it. what! best birthday present ever.

and one of my favorite quotes from the book----

God does not ask us to be perfect, but only to be who we are.

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Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:27:26 -0800

there is a lady dancing in starbucks right now.
i dont know if i have ever blogged from starbucks----
i dont know how i feel about admitting i'm AT starbucks.
sorry peets, don't worry, i still think your milk foam consistency is way better.

okay i have NEVER had such a hard time figuring out my thoughts.
this blog post has been started four times.
story of my life right now.
the video took 60....
........i changed my mind on my haircut today about 10 times. she kept having to put the cape thing on again because i would want one more little snip to happen. its nice when people are gracious though. gracious with watching something emerge.

so working on shine has caused me to forget to do key things, like the dishes. laundry. dancing. going on walks. calling my friends. eating fresh foods. blogging. it's interesting how easy it is to let your natural and healthy rhythms slide down the priority list when your heart is so excited about something else!

it's also interesting how the crash of life can come down on you when you get just one second to breathe. last weekend i went to a birthday party and walked in the door and was for some reason about to cry. i was kind of surprised at my own emotions: i didn't plan for you, tears. what the heck. i think it was that i had been working so hard on shine and then had a moment of realizing: oh. its out. my idea is out. its vulnerable to have something be OUT. i also hadn't taken time to pause in a really long time. it's easy for me to forget, and to work like crazy. i dont want to be a person who works instead of being a human.

ive experienced though, that launching shine while i'm still in the process of getting everything together has caused me to feel so open and raw and like my heart is out there in the world with no strings holding it down.

i'm done with walking in the neutral zone with my photography. i actually feel like i'm being pushed out of the nest. this is simply where life has brought me. and now the choice is to either fly or fall. ha. i choose fly.

yeah to release a dream into the world and to let it live and breathe.....
its a bizarre and beautiful experience.

so i dont know.
this week has been both freeing and also has left me feeling this lack of control, which is so good for me. to not have it all planned out.

i am sensing this new phase for both just my life and my process as a photographer:
admitting, yup, this is me.
this is what i care about.

and ha..... its not like this is a new idea. its more just a clarification and a declaration. i've always been about the real, the daily, the path of an individual woman toward being fully herself, because it's my story too. i'm on the path too. even back in 2007 i did this photo project in school where i photographed my friends in their dorm rooms. my jaw dropped when i read my description about what i was all about at that time. so similar to now.

i dont know.
its interesting feeling called into being even more open when you thought you already were.

danielle-------- shine shine

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:39:57 -0800

danielle owns her own holistic manicuring and reflexology business.

(i just had a manicure and pedicure by her the other day and felt transported to another land.)

these images are now the ones she's now using on her website----

photos that reflect her spirit so that her clients can get a sense of what she's like in real life.

because in real life, danielle is a woman who is gentle and open,

young at heart yet wise,
absolutely beautiful,

and so deeply aware of her own story.

she wrote about her experience in the session on her blog if you're interested in reading---- one of my favorite things that she said was that this showed her that she didn't want to hide anymore. she was ready to be seen. that's what this is all about. saying hi world! here i am as the real me.

so if you want to know more information on what shine is all about,

here are the details

here is the story

and you can book your own session by filling out this form.

and, i want to say thanks again for journeying with me in the slow releasing of this project---

this week has felt so right and i feel a huge weight off my shoulders.

its freeing to do what you love.

its freeing to connect with people who get you. i've been smiling huge with each email i get from women who want to participate. i can't believe this is becoming real.

peace to you :)

more to come!

shannon

the story behind shine**.

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:44:54 -0800

alright.

this was meant to go up yesterday,

but what did i do all day yesterday?

tried to record this 60 times. or more.

kept messing up. whatever that means.

it was hilarious and sad all at the same time.

so i went to bed and woke up today and did a few handstands, listened to some laura marling,, drank some healthy tea, danced around a bit, and then it worked.

i think i needed to just shake it up a little.

anyway,

here's the story of shine**.

its 5 whole minutes and i dont care.

i cant make it any shorter.

our world and their short attention span is going to have to deal with it.

so here is the story behind shine, why i care about this so much, and the answer to the question: what about weddings?

enjoy enjoy :)

if this is something that you feel drawn to, i'd love to have you as one of the 20 women involved in this project.

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here's more information

book a session by filling out this form (15 left for the year)

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moving to the music. ------ shine**

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:43:56 -0800

there is a project i have been working on for 6 months, or maybe more, and last night as i was at dance jam i realized that if i wait any longer to tell you about it i will explode.

so today's the day.

it's called shine.

portrait sessions for women that celebrate the essence of who you are inside.

the experience will be really meaningful.

it will let you have a space to celebrate and explore this specific phase of your life.

this feels so natural and right for me to be doing---

i realized i had become kind of stopped up though, in the process of launching it.

i was all set to do this big intense official launch, but sensed today that we didn't need that.

i just can't be silent about it anymore. it needs to be seen as i have things ready. ha, actually...... it IS ready. there's nothing left to 'do' except for aesthetic things like switch around my website and make a few pdf's for when people sign up. i didn't want to let that stop me though.

instead of drumming up some big THING...... i want to let you see my process.

i want to move to the music that is there, not wait for this big crescendo moment.

i'll be posting throughout the week with the story behind this, and with the answer to the question: what about weddings?

so first, is simply a real shine session so that you can visually get an idea of what this is.

here's jessica. :)

a woman who is so alive and living her dreams,

a woman who risks and has joy in the process,

a woman who is clear clear clear in who she is and what she's up to in this life.

.............and she's from alaska.

>>> what she had to say about her session >>>>>

1. It doesn't matter what I wear, as long as what I wear reflects me. And no, I don't need several outfits to reflect me, because it's not about the clothes.

2. I don't have to pose. The point is to have photos that reflect me. Therefore, I just need to BE me.

3. As I am being me, Shannon is going to capture something with her camera that represents what I am feeling or experiencing about myself, and that's what makes the photo beautiful.

4. I am beautiful. Wow! Who knew? I mean, I've heard it, but I'm not sure I believed myself to be beautiful. Shannon, you showed me a reflection of me that had far more truth than what I see when I look in the mirror. And THAT is priceless.

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i will be posting more information throughout the week, but if you are a person who is drawn to this concept, a person who gets it already without me saying more, you are welcome to be one of the first of twenty available sessions in 2012.
information is here,

book a session by clicking here