Monthly Archives: May 2009

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Scott + Sharone {05.26.09}

May 29, 2009 – 10:25 pm

I’d like to introduce Scott and Sharone. Le couple extraordinaire.
Salesman and NCAA referee meets 5th grade teacher on jdate.com and the rest is history.
It’s been a dream of mine for over 2 years to be able to shoot in Turner Stadium. It’s just not your typical location for an engagement session but it IS the perfect location for the right couple. I am so happy to say that I found my couple!
Scott and Sharone are just about the funnest couple, if not THE funnest couple I have ever shot. Now before that hurts your feelings, let me say that I love all my couples but I am metering my comment on a laugh scale which went through the roof on this shoot. Scott if seriously funny. He doesn’t stop moving or doing goofy stuff which made me run to keep up with them instead of the other way around. One of his groomsmen, Cory Dalin, works at Turner Field and when he said we could shoot there, I could hardly contain my excitement.  We basically had the entire stadium to ourselves, (except for the locker room, we tried) and we had a lot of fun in the process.  Rain and all.


We went down on top of the dugout, you know, where the cheerleadersusually are…and I had the feeling that we were somehow getting away with something, being sneaky, like kids get when their parents are away. It made me giddy. LOL.  Sharone is doing the wheelbarrow with Scott below and then Scott is doing the, um, I don’t know what that’s called but everyone was laughing.


The photo on the right is the keg jackpot. Top secret place.

We left the stadium and went out to the parking lot, did a wardrobe change and brought out the magic bubbles. They are tying the knot at the Westin in July and I am so dang excited. I know it’s going to be a blast.

Thanks for fullfilling a dream of mine, Scott and Sharone. It was more fun than I could have imagined and it was all becuase of you.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HERE’S YOUR SLIDESHOW!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

By Shawna | Posted in engagements | Tagged , | Comments (9)

Nikki + Nate {05.26.09/New York}

May 27, 2009 – 11:53 pm

 What a couple, what a town, what an engagement session! I mean, how cool is it to fly to New York for the weekend to shoot Nikki and Nate and see the city in the process? We had a blast and they got the longest engagement session ever! We started Saturday morning about 10:30 am in Central Park…that place goes on and on and on…full of people, castles, trails, ponds, bridges, bikes, dogs, musicians, fountains, blankets, you name it. Central Park has it.


Driving in New York is an experience in itself. Taxis gallore, honking everywhere, which is quite funny when you see the “no honking, $350 fine” sign on every corner. Lucky for me, Nikki is a fantastic driver. She has lived in New York for 8 years, minus 2 in the middle, and that girl can drive! She knows her way around too. Nate, (Captain) is from New York and I would argue that Nikki almost knows the city better than he does! ( sorry, Nate! )


We headed across the Brooklyn bridge and walked out dodging bikes and people, it was such a cool view. Nikki and Nate are a fun couple. To hear Nate talk about her is captivating. He calls her his diamond, and says that when he realized that she wasn’t glass, he knew he needed to straighten up to win the girl.


We walked along the Promenade, shooting as we went and then went and had some fantastic pizza at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge.  People stood in line for 2 hours to get in the place. I’m not kidding!  Nikki’s mom blessed us all by waiting in line and when we were done shooting, she was fourth from the door.  Saweeet!


Of course we had to do a little shooting around the subway…I mean, that is sooo….NY! 


Times Square is like Las Vegas times 10! There were so many people and cars…we weaved our way in and out, down the center of the street, everyone had a camera, people were smiling and pointing, we fit right in.


I had such a great time with the two of you! ( 3 counting Catherine ) I met a lot of really nice people, experienced so many wonderful things, saw new sights and heard new sounds. The preconcieved idea of New York that I had from news and movies was put to rest and the reality is by far, so much sweeter. Thank you Nikki, Nate and Catherine. I hope it’s not the last time I visit you and I look forward to seeing you this October down in the ATL!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{CHECK OUT THE SLIDESHOW}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

By Shawna | Posted in engagements, travel | Comments (11)

New York, New York! day 1

May 23, 2009 – 9:01 am

I arrived in New York yesterday for Nikki and Nathan’s engagment session. They’re getting married in Atlanta in October but since they live here we thought it would be fabulous to do their shoot in the Big Apple.  I have never been here before and it certainly hasn’t disappointed.  Nikki and her sweet mom Catherine picked me up at the airport and first I checked into the Hotel, which is so cool because it’s in a neighborhood and looks like a home. (condo, apartment)  It’s called a Brownstone and I love it. We drove around the city for a few hours and Nikki gave me the low down on how the city grid works, the bus system and subway, and gave me 2-24 hour passes to both.  It was a blast!  My mind just raced with photo ideas, opportunities and cool things to do and see.


I’ve never seen a 2 story McDonalds. Every single building seemed to be at least 2 stories, even when I flew in, I looked down and realized that there wasn’t just a section with tall buildings, they seem to be everywhere!

I think this was just before crossing the bridge to go to Brooklyn. There was a super nice older lady on the flight that gave me a lesson on the “Burrows,” I had no idea what she meant. New York consists of 5 burrows. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Statton Island, and Queens.


She dropped me off at my Hotel around 6:30 p.m. and I have to admit, I came in and sat here for abaout 15 minutes to syche myself up into going out alone. The other option was to sit in here the rest of the night and that just wasn’t an option so I walked a few block, found a bus stop, hopped on and went to The Metroplitan Museum of Art. It was amazing, enormous and I only had a little over an hour to try and take it all in before they closed at 9. I don’t think I saw even half of what was there but here are a few things I did see.


This was part of an exhibit call Muse and it was all about the history of fashion. It was very cool and no photographs were allowed.  :)

When I walked outside, it was totally dark, people eveywhere and I only panicked for a split second. LOL. I had to walk about 8 blocks to get to the right bus, which was actually the wrong bus but I didn’t find out until it made a turn that I knew wasn’t right. Nikki told me that if I got lost, just don’t act like it. My mind raced for a bit and then I had to ask. Where is 116th street? Too funny. I had to walk a but farther than if I had got on the correct bus but it was still great. I think you could walk just about any block or two and find whatever you need. Bank, restaraunt, laundry, CVS, shopping, real estate….here’s a nice place for you if you would like to relocate. Oh, and if you can’t read the price at the bottom…it’s only $55,000. A MONTH!!

By Shawna | Posted in engagements, travel | Comments (5)

To capture a Thorpe (05.19.09}

May 20, 2009 – 10:36 am

Amy was the first to donate a wedding dress. In fact, I think it was only a few days after I announced the give away that I had it in my hands. She had wanted family photos for a long time and decided this was the ‘do it’ sign. Her and Jarrod have been married for 5 wonderful years and have 3 beautiful children as proof. :)


Noah is the oldest and he loves spiderman. He is an energy-filled 4 year old with all kinds of curiosities. He drove around with me in my ‘cool FJ’ and after changing his shirt for round 2, he asked me, “Do you think I look specially handsome?” How cute is that??
Hannah is 2. She is joyful and strong willed, but a tender little hummingbird too as she ran to her daddy’s arms whenever the wind blew to hard. It almost made me cry.
Jonah is 1 and loves to be near his big brother and sister. They are all Amy and Jarrods treasures.


Amy wanted to shoot near the train tracks and we were lucky to have 2 trains pass us by while we were there. The kids were excited and scared at the same time as they saw and heard how big, fast and LOUD it really was. I love Noah’s expression in the slideshow as the first train blazed by us.

I had so much fun with your family, Amy, you bless so many people by who you are and what you do.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{HERE’S YOUR SLIDESHOW}}}}}}}}}}}}}

By Shawna | Posted in family portraits | Comments (10)

Toni, Jake, Elijah + Savannah

May 18, 2009 – 11:22 am

The Griffin’s were set up by the Berry’s. (next post) Toni is Olivia’s sister in law and Jake was in their youth group so Olivia, being the successful matchmaker that she is, took them out on a date and the rest is history.  They have 2 adorable children, and a lot of laughs going around.  Thanks again, Toni.  It was great meeting you and your family.

{{{{{{{{SLIDESHOW HERE}}}}}}}}}}

By Shawna | Posted in family portraits | Comments (3)