Last year that is.

2012 has only just begun.

This shoot was all done in secret. I had a Mum contact me wanting a gorgeous print of her three girls to give to their Dad for his birthday. It was a bit touch and go with Miss 18-months but we nailed it! (See the last shot in the series).

I hope Dad was suitably impressed by the efforts put into his surprise present. There were even balloons involved for pity's sake!

Beautiful picture or not, how blessed must he feel to wake up to these little princesses every morning.

xx Shannon 

The lucky lass will win an Emma D Makeup and Hair session followed by a 45 minute shoot with Shannon McDonald Photography and 10 high-resolution images on disc.

Total value over $500!

You don't have to really be a model, or look anything like one! This competition is open to Mums, Grandmas, Singles, Teens, the lot. You can choose from the following types of shoot:

Glamour (let's capture some beautiful, glamorous portraits of you on your own)
Couple (get some gorgeous pictures with your partner while you're looking your best)
Family (get those stunning family photos you've been meaning to get for so long)

To win simply post on Shannon's wall at www.facebook.com/shannonmcdonaldphotography and tell us in 25 words or less why you'd like to win eg. "I'd like to be a Model for a Day because ……."

Be as creative as you like! A couple of ladies have already submitted some great photos to support their entries and we love it!

The post with the most Likes as at 9am on February 9th, 2012 (AEST) will be announced as the winner.

You are most certainly allowed to Like your own post and don't forget to get your Facebook friends to Like your post to help increase your numbers.

Should there be a tie for first place, the posts who have gained the most Likes will be reposted for 24 hours and the most Likes gained at the end of this time will be announced the overall winner.

Competition is open to females 16+ and entries close midnight Wednesday 8th February, 2012 (AEST).

Enter on your partner's behalf and give them a Valentine's to remember!

Please read the terms and conditions carefully and note this relates to services provided by Shannon McDonald Photography and Emma d Makeup and Hair.

By accepting this prize you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Prizes must be used together.
Prize must be used by 31st March 2012.
Prize is not transferable (unless you've entered for your partner).
Prize is not redeemable for cash and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or specials at Shannon McDonald Photography or with Emma d Makeup and Hair. 
Makeup and Hair session will be held at Emma's home clinic in Elwood but the photoshoot can be held anywhere in Melbourne.
The parents of any winners under the age of 18 must sign a consent and release form.
Prize is not suitable for newborn or wedding shoots.
Prize is not suitable to family groups larger than 4 due to length of session.

Happy posting and best of luck!

From Shannon and Emma xx

http://animoto.com/play/mQM0RlDku38cCZZWiKYPrg

To everybody featured, thank you for believing in me.

Maybe you'll be in this year's video tribute?

Photographing strangers and friends is surprisingly similar. The only difference here is that I photographed this baby girl when she was born and her big brother helped build my portfolio when he was about 18 months old. It's really wonderful to compare the results of the two sessions and see how much they've grown and changed.

And aren't they photogenic! Maybe I'm biased but these are some stunning children right here. And funny and kooky and gentle and sensitive and boisterous.

The kids were promised ice-cream and man-oh-man did that backfire. We did the shoot on St Kilda Pier and as anyone that's taken the walk to the cafe' at the end of it can attest, it's a long walk when you DON'T have a four and two-year-old hungry for ice-cream. Who wants to stop for a photographer en route to delicious snacks?! I'm getting an ice-cream lady. Outta my way. OUTTA MY WAY!

But moods improved once they each had a Bubble-O-Bill under their belt. Can't say I blame them. Ice-cream has the same effect on me.

What didn't improve my mood was dropping money into my cleavage when paying for a bottle of water and enduring the jokes the cashier made about it to her colleague. 

Awkward.

Anyway, thanks for another wonderful year of friendship guys. Don't go changin'!

Love,

xx Shannon

Then we booked in a time for Michelle to enjoy her prize.

Rain.

Our first scheduled shoot got re-scheduled. Our second scheduled shoot ….. also re-scheduled.

Has anyone told Melbourne that it's Summer? Anyone? No?

Finally we tried a weekday and voila! Sunshine and oranges for all.

We met at Wattle Park which has rocketed to the top of my list for favourite family shoot locations. Wattle Park and Abbotsford Convent are currently vying for first place.

When I saw Elizabeth toddling over to me with a little clip in her hair and red Mary-Janes on her feet, I was toast. Cactus. Gone.

This little girl is C-U-T-E. Utterly gorgeous and just so adored by her amazing parents.

Needless to say the shoot went brilliantly.

Then Michelle came to my home for her slideshow viewing. I am getting such wonderful feedback about my slideshows. They are set to music and I always leave families alone to watch them in peace. And they are yours to keep.

When I entered the office after Michelle had viewed her photos, well, it's safe to say that no words were needed for me to know how much she loved her photos. How much they meant to her when she first saw them, and how much they will mean to all of them as the family grows and changes together.

Michelle has thanked me so much since winning the competition but I'd also like to thank you Michelle. I've enjoyed every minute of our time together and am honoured to have been a part of creating such special memories for your family.

xx Shannon

When Bec and her Mum (Jacob's Nan) viewed the slideshow I made for them there were apparently a few tears shed. I've been making a lot of people cry lately. Yes!

If you'd like to take a look at the slideshow yourself click here: http://animoto.com/play/9qSyywx68bUK0pAFAPBMCg

I personally choose a song for each slideshow based on the mood of the shoot and the family. The song I chose for Jacob was Like a Star by Laura Ault.

It features the following chorus:

Like a Star
In the Sky
Floating up so high
I'm gonna fall for you
Catch me when I do

And don't we all feel like that with a new baby.

xx Shannon

People, get yourselves down there. It's right next to the Collingwood Children's Farm and has beautiful gardens, yummy organic cafes, artist spaces and so many amazing places to take pictures.

I visited there again recently with the lovely family below. They have three girls. Lucky! At the centre of all this beauty is Simone whom some of you may know from inviteme boutique partyware. We recently ran a competition together so we're always gabbing on about each other.

Aaaaaanyway, Simone brought some balloons along which were carefully co-ordinated with the girls' outfits and I managed to get one picture of them (image 3 below), which was actually just a lighting check, before someone stole them!

Rampant, sneaky, balloon thieves aside, it really is a beautiful place for breakfast, a picnic or even just a stickybeak.

So there you go. Two new things to check out this weekend. Abbotsford Convent and inviteme.

Just keep your eyes on your balloons.

xx Shannon

The original plan was for a "small representative" of Shannon McDonald Photography and inviteme to draw a winner each but as the inviteme "office assistant" got stage fright at the last minute it was all up to Caleb.

As you can see, he was thrilled.

Bribes were offered. Deals were made.

We had a draw on our hands folks.

He even started to enjoy himself.

And then he revealed the winner of first prize!

Congratulations Michelle!

You have won the following!

1 hour shoot with me
20-30 images to view and choose from
Four 5×7 frame mounted matte prints (which make gorgeous Christmas gifts)
One 16×24 wall print
= $475 of value!

Yaaaayyyy! How good is that?! Michelle entered the competition multiple times so I'm thrilled that someone so obviously keen has come up trumps!

But we weren't done yet.

Much to Caleb's surprise.

Reminded of the bribe, Caleb took a deep breath, ducked in for another name, emerged with a smile ……

…..and then promptly dropped it on the floor.

Sorry about that Rebecca! Hopefully winning a beautiful pack of personalised Christmas printables from inviteme will ease the insult of having your name dropped on the floor!

And if you're curious as to what bribe could be enticing enough to get Caleb through not one, but two draws …..

……..it was his very first ice-cream cone.

Congratulations to Michelle and Rebecca on their wins! We shall be in touch to arrange prompt enjoyment of your prizes soon.

Thanks so much to everyone that entered. Remember that each of you are still entitled to a free photoshoot with me AND a 20% storewide discount off the entire inviteme range. Not too bad eh? We'll be in touch about all this shortly.

And to my darling, perfect Caleb. Thank you for being so patient with Mummy. Not just during prize draws but every day as I navigate this crazy career I've chosen. You truly make me feel like I've won the coolest competition around. You truly do.

Well done again to our winners.

Love,
xx Shannon

That's where this family suggested we meet for their shoot and I'm so glad they did. I love photographing families in long grass on crumbling wooden benches with Australian native trees in the background. What can I say. It just photographs really well.

This was one of those shoots that just went off without a hitch and I was able to present the family with over 50 pictures to choose from. 

Thanks Gen, Ryan, Louis, George and Harriet for a fun day. Enjoy your piccies.

xx Shannon

Sharing more of myself.

It's so hard to know how to pitch things when you have a blog and Facebook page that are business-related (eg. not just about "you"). How do you get people interested? How do you communicate? How do you stand out?

Well, it's taken me over two years in business to figure out that I actually just have to be myself because that's ONE thing (at least) that is truly unique about my business.

What prompted this navel gazing you ask? Well, it started with the design of my new logo ^^^^^^^. Whenever you re-design anything to do with your biz it prompts you to ask yourself "just who the hell am I anyway?"

I recently posted my new logo on Facebook and explained why I chose the Cherry Blossom as its theme. 

1) It's breathtakingly beautiful. It's my favourite flower.
2) It's full of symbolism. (*The transience of the blossoms, the extreme beauty and quick death, has often been associated with mortality. *Choy Lee, Khoon. Japan–between Myth and Reality. 1995, page 142.)

And that's why photography is so important to us. It's not about death. It's about life. Life is brief but that's what makes it matter. And in turn, that's why our photographs matter. Don't you agree?

I'd like to extend a massive thank you to Simone Norris at inviteme.com.au for her stunning and quick design work on my logo. Kissingtons!

Now, to help you get to know me a little better here's a little questionnaire I found on the interweb:

What do your friends call you: Shansy
If you could meet any celebrity or other personality in the world, who would it be and why? David Bowie. Why? Der!
Who is your favourite super hero? Definitely not Ben 10!
If you were an animal then what would you be? My cat Ned (aka Rattyboy). What a life.
When you were growing up what did you want to become in life? When I was eight I wanted to drive an ice-cream truck and my family have never let me forget it.
Which is your favourite song that you would sing at a karaoke bar? Well, hubby and I dueted on 'Stan' by Eminem once but I got the Dido part which is pretty dull. So, not that song.
Which is the trait you love the most and least about yourself? Most: my integrity. Least: Self doubt.
Which is your favourite cartoon character? Foghorn Leghorn.
Which is the one romance depicted in the movies that you would want to experience in your life? Um, not the Titanic one.
Which is the celebrity or actor you would want to date? I love Nate from Six Feet Under. And no, I don't want to date the actor (Peter Krause). Only Nate.
Do you have many friends? Yep. Heaps. Lucky.
If you could cook for me what would it be? Do I have to? Can't we get takeaway?
Do you believe in soul mates? I did once but now … not really. I think if you make the effort you can connect with a lot of people.
What is the one thing that you would want your children to learn about life? Oh wow. That's a biggie. I want Caleb to learn that although life isn't easy, if you act with integrity, honesty and determination then you may just get you want.
What would you like to change about the world? I can't change THE world, only MY world.
What is the craziest thing you have done for your partner? Proof-read his novel about a 1000 times.

So that's me in a nutshell! If you've read this far, thank you and why not say hi below?

See ya. Love ya. Miss ya already.

xx Shansy 

PS. This is a picture of my family.