LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND, A BOUDOIR SESSION TO START ANEW.

Christina came to me a couple of months ago and inquired about doing a boudoir shoot. She had just had a baby boy recently, and was thinking that this would be a great way to renew her confidence. Like most of us, becoming a mom is an amazing journey, but sometimes we are not use to our new bodies. 

I was so happy to get her inquiry and said she absolutely had to do a session and that she is beautiful and that I will help her see that. As a Long Island Photographer who specializes in boudoir photography, I love what I do, and I love empowering woman and helping them see their true beauty; mirroring back to them what the world sees. 

About a month went by and then she said she wanted to book her session. I was so excited to have the opportunity to work with her. She showed up to my studio, her "stomach was in knots." We chatted a bit and then we got started. 

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What I witnessed unfold was a beautiful and confident woman, her eye contact with me gave me shivers. She showed me her confident, fun, and sexy sides. When I started to edit her photos I was blown away at her beauty and how I was able to capture it.

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We did a same day reveal. As I watched her watch her personalized slideshow, tears rolled down her face. "I am excited about how beautiful I look!" She also mentioned how she wished she could send these to her ex because she wanted him to see how beautiful she is. My darling, you are and have always been this beautiful. You remember that. Thank you for allowing me to capture or beauty with my camera. I cannot wait to give you your album so you can remind yourself at how I see you and how others do as well. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. 

A Sweet 16 Party to Remember!

 I had the pleasure of capturing the surprise sweet 16 party of my client's daughter, Julia, As a Long Island family photographer, I often have the opportunity of capturing several milestone occasions of my clients' families, and this was no exception. 

As we waited for Julia to arrive to the party, where we would all be hiding to jump out and surprise her, I captured the little details that made this party a big hit.  

The party theme was "sweet" with goodies and fun games scattered all around. The friends of the guest of honor had fun playing the games while they waited for the Birthday girl to arrive. 

We soon got the text that said she was arriving soon and we all took our spots outside in the party tent. There was a sliding door that separated us from the house so she didn't see all of her friends and family that were waiting to surprise her. 

She arrived and you can see in her face she was very happy to see everyone. Her parent's hard work of planning the party and the surprise paid off.

 I had so much fun capturing this party. The group of teens at this party were so fun and made me feel young again. Happy Birthday to you Julia!

Urban Shoot With My Teen

As a Long Island family photographer, I  have been wanting to do an urban type of photo-shoot for a while now; ever since I was downtown and seen the little red cellphone booths that resemble those red London phone booths we often see on the television.  I took the opportunity to do such a shoot with my teen daughter this past weekend. She had just got a new haircut at Hollywood Blvd in Shirley,  and was in love with it. Her confidence was soaring and I wanted to capture it. 

It was a bit chilly out, but the light from the sun was so beautiful. You know how the last days of Long Island's winters can be just before spring rolls in. We managed to get some great shots in before stopping to have a sushi roll together and to warm up. 

The sushi was amazing and of course my stepdaughter had to have her Japanese soda, so it came along with us for some more photos. She desires to visit Japan one day so she can have tea in a tea house with cats and explore all that Japan has to offer. 

We were starting to get chilly so we headed back to the car. I was a bit disappointed because I couldn't find the red phone booths that I had seen downtown before. But I had managed to find a cool alley with a nice brick wall to capture some images before going. She laughed at me as I begged for just one more photo. 

Just as we are getting into the car, I see it, the red phone booth! She looks at me with a face that says it all, she is ready to go home. I look at her pleadingly, hoping I could convince her. She agrees, but only if we drive over to the phone booth, done. 

Documentary & Lifestyle Photography and Why You Should Have a Session.

What is a documentary & lifestyle photography session?

 

Do you ever have a great day with the family and wish you could have captured the giggles and smiles, the emotions of the day, with you in them? A Documentary & Lifestyle session allows just that. You no longer need to be behind your camera, or using your cell phone capturing the moments, missing little things because you are trying to take a good picture. You also get to be part of the moment. That way when you look back on that day with you family, you remember the day with you in it. 

As a Long Island Family Photographer,  I love this type of session and here is why, it captures the moment as it is. It isn't scripted, no posing is needed, and it captures the individual as they are, in that time and place. 

The session can capture a particular activity, a series of activities, or just a simple day with the family. I love to capture my family doing what they do best, being themselves. Not only does it give me a chance to sit back and focus on what is going in in that moment, but it allows me to freeze those moments in time, to have for the future when everyone has changed, when  my children have grown. I love working with families and capturing these beautiful moments for them to cherish forever.  

My son feeding our chickens.

My son feeding our chickens.

I love this image of my husband helping my son close up our chicken coop. I love that my little boy is becoming big enough to help with the chores and learning responsibility. The placement of my husband's hand on top of my son's head showing love a…

I love this image of my husband helping my son close up our chicken coop. I love that my little boy is becoming big enough to help with the chores and learning responsibility. The placement of my husband's hand on top of my son's head showing love and guidance melts my heart.

 

What types of activities should I have captured?

It can be anything that you love to do with your family or just those simple everyday kind of moment that you want to remember. That is the beauty of it. You can capture a day at the park, a visit with the Grandparents, baking cookies together, or even your bedtime routine. A documentary photo session with Shannon Lee Photography is the perfect way to preserve those everyday but precious moments. 

 

My son getting washed up after a fun day out exploring.  

My son getting washed up after a fun day out exploring. 

 

Do I have to prepare for a documentary session?

No, it is supposed to capture you in your natural environment. An activity to do is great for small kids, but you don't want every moment planned out because then it may become rigid and not seem as natural. It is a fun and easy going experience for you to enjoy and have those images for years to come. I disappear into the background and capture those special moments that you are making with your loved ones. 

 

My husband reading to our son after his bath. He just finished potty training so they are reading the potty training book together. I cannot believe how fast he is growing. I am so glad I have these images to remember it all.  

My husband reading to our son after his bath. He just finished potty training so they are reading the potty training book together. I cannot believe how fast he is growing. I am so glad I have these images to remember it all. 

 

What now?

Contact me to discuss and help plan out a documentary and lifestyle session for your family. You won't regret it. My clients love these sessions because it captures the realness of their families. They love to go over the images with their loved ones to remind them of how unique and wonderful their family really is. 

http://www.shannonleephotography.net/contact/

 

 

 

Shannon Lee Photography is located on Long Island and is located in Suffolk County, NY. She specializes in Family, Wedding, and Boudoir Photography.