Shanks Photography

A Touching Story

2011-08-05T11:55:00.000-04:00

Today I watched a clip about a high school senior and the experience she had at the ball park. She is a softball player and what happened during the game and the response from the other team was not only remarkable but inspiring. If you have just a few minutes, I encourage you to watch this clip. It brought tears to my eyes!

2012 Senior Sessions | Portrait Photographer

2011-08-03T16:21:00.000-04:00

Michelle is the last of 5 senior models we chose for the 2012 graduation year. While planning Michelle's photo shoot she indicated that she wanted pictures by a train track. There is a nearby train track so we met Michelle one early Friday morning at the track. This summer we have scheduled sessions as early as we can to take advantage of the wonderful light early in the morning and the cooler temperatures. This particular morning it was really humid, as a matter of fact it was going to rain. As soon as Michelle stepped from her vehicle the curles she'd so carefully spent time making that morning disappeared. She was really dissappointed! We proceeded on with the session when suddenly, here comes a train! After a near heart attack with the train the rest of the time at the tracks went beautifuly, oh, except for those nasty nats that come out just before it rains. It did end up raining and we rescheduled the remainer of her session for the folowing week. All in all it was a very memorable experience and we ended up with some beautiful images of Michelle. Hope you enjoy her slideshow.

In case your wondering about the shoes, Michelle is on a drama team and those are her stage performace shoes. It's a memory for her.

Senior Model 2012 | Portrait Photographer

2011-07-18T20:13:00.000-04:00

Meet Kacey, she is one of our senior models. Kacey plays golf and is on a golf team at school. We met Kacey at one of the golf courses she plays at and started her session there. We then traveled back to the studio for more golf shots in the studio. With some of those shots I put together this collage. Let me know what you think!

Here is her selection of images put together in a slideshow. I think she did an awesome job!

Fireworks | Photography

2011-07-05T18:08:00.000-04:00

About a month ago, Tony and I got new cell phones and we feel like we finally joined the 21st century. We decided to stay in this year and watch the fireworks on T.V. So, we turned on CBS and enjoyed much of the celebration live from Boston. Now I've photographed fireworks in person before but this time I wanted to try something a little different and used my camera phone to capture some of what I was seeing on our television. I was rather surprised at the images I recorded. I put this collage together as a little sample of Fireworks by Camera Phone.

Senior Model 2012 | Portrait Photographer

2011-07-01T12:35:00.000-04:00

Meet Ebony, another one of our 2012 Senior Models! Like our other models Ebony applied online. I contacted her and met with her and her parents. Both her mom and dad came out to the studio. They signed an agreement to be one of our models and then we planned her session. I like to start with a plan with every portrait session we do. We try our best to customize each portrait session so each of our clients has something that is unique to them.

Hope you enjoy her slideshow!

Engagement Session | Wedding Photographer

2011-06-29T10:00:00.001-04:00

Heather and Josh are getting married in July and we recently met them in Athens Georgia to photograph their engagement session. Up until that day we hadn't seen rain for quite sometime. Well, this is the first engagement session we've shot where we've had a rain delay. Thankfully we had just arrived and parked in the parking garage at the stadium when the wind picked up and it just poured!

Here is their slideshow, enjoy!

High School Senior | Portrait Photographer

2011-06-28T14:45:00.000-04:00

Meet Hunter. Hunter is one of our 2012 High School Senior Models. If you know Hunter, ask him for a discount card, you can save $10 on your next portrait session of any kind with Shanks Photography. He got to see his images for the first time today and he thought they were great!

Check out his slideshow.

Are you a 2012 High School Senior? Are you interested in being a model for Shanks Photography? We are still taking applications until June 30th so apply today if you're interested.

Charity Event | Photographer

2011-04-21T20:23:00.000-04:00

There are some causes that I fully support and last night's "Take Back The Night" event at Fort Valley University was one of them. Hodac of Warner Robins sponsored the event that drew attention to victim abuse. I photographed the event for them but also got a chance to listen to the testimonies from victims and listen to the awesome speakers.

Find out more about what Hodac does by visiting their website.

Professional Photographer | Shanks Photography

2011-03-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

Many of you may not even know that Shanks Photography is a memeber of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), Digial Wedding Forum (DWF) and the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). These organizations help keep us up to date with industry trends, new technologies, education and competitions. They are a great asset to our business and benefit you, our clients with new products and inspiration!

PPA just put out a little video that I'd like to share with you that will help you see the difference hiring a professional photographer can do for you and your family.

Collage Painting | Portrait Artist

2011-02-15T19:29:00.000-05:00

Last year we photographed the "Ride for Sight" charity horse show in Unadilla Ga and we will be there again this year. I love horses! If you are a horse lover and have a horse to enter into the show you can find out more about it at the Lions Club of Byron website.

I used one of last years competitors to work up this collage this past week. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

9 Month Baby Session | Portrait Artist

2011-02-03T17:56:00.001-05:00

This little one is on our baby plan and her mom brought her in for her 9 month session last week. Her mom came in to view her portraits today so I thought I'd show you a few of the portraits that resulted from the session.

I used a plain black background and added the embellishments to match her expression!

Same black background but this time I put the idea of a cityscape behind her. Kind of like she was taking a trip. You may not be able to see it clearly on your monitor but there are distant skyscrapers behind her.

This next portrait is a combination of two images. One of her in the studio sitting in front of a log I dragged in from outside and behind the log is another image I took several years ago. I combined the images and then painted the whole portrait. You can see it in person here at the studio on a framed canvas.

Portrait Painting

Close up of the painting

Portrait Painting | Portrait Artist

2011-01-26T18:01:00.000-05:00

During the holidays we were thankful to have our newest grandson come for a visit. He was a joy to photograph and so fun to play with.

Because it is so hard to see the brush strokes here are a few close ups.

Again, please let me know what you think, good or bad by leaving a comment.

Portrait Painting | Portrait Artist

2011-01-24T19:03:00.000-05:00

Last week, I attended a national photographers convention and was re inspired! It is so refreshing to be among other professional photographers, listen to them tell about their art. Sort of like show and tell.
A couple of weeks ago, we photographed the winner of our costume craze contest back in October. Angela chose to primarily make her session about her youngest daughter. I took one of her portraits and did a painting of her.

Here is the before portrait:

And here is the painting:

Please leave me a comment about what you think of it, good or bad. Do you like it? If you do, what do you like about it? If you don't, what don't you like?

9 Month Baby Session | Baby Photographer

2011-01-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

This little cutie is on our baby plan and you may recognize her from previous posts. This is one of our tutu's that any mom can use for a session. The tutu's are adjustable and tie in the back and we had to tie this one. We thought the color would go well with the background. The image just below is what the mom picked. She liked the effects we applied.

Below is what it looked like before applying the effects.

What do you think? I'd love to get some opinions.

Mommy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2011-01-12T19:10:00.000-05:00

The first week of the new year we photographed a number of newborns that were born in December and because of the holidays they were a little older coming into the studio than we had normally photographed for most of 2010. This little girl was not only CUTE, she was strong as you'll see in the samples below.

I took a peek at my records and discovered I had photographed approximately 85 newborns with their mommies. For the most part I escaped the inevitable when photographing newborns naked, getting wet and or soiled. I loved each session and enjoyed meeting each mom! If you know someone who is pregnant and want to give them a gift, give them the gift of photography. We have gift certificates available for purchase by calling (478) 956-2287.

A Visit With Santa | Portrait Photographer

2010-11-30T21:53:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday, November 27th we had our annual visit from Santa Claus. He listened to requests from the children who came to see him and then for most, well most that were old enough to be interested, he read the story of "A Night Before Christmas". After he read the story the children were treated to chocolate chip cookies while their parents selected portraits from their sessions. All in all it was a great day, lots of happy children and except for a couple of the babies, all enjoyed their visit with him. Here is a small sampling of portraits captured that day. If you missed it, make sure and subscribe to our blog or newsletter so you'll be notified for next year.

Black Friday Deals at Shanks Photography! | Warner Robins Family Photographer

2010-11-24T13:56:00.026-05:00

This year at Shanks Photography, we are introducing a Black Friday special! On Friday, November 26th, book a free session with no minimum purchase! Our normal photography sessions have a minimum purchase of $250. Call us on Black Friday, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, schedule any session in 2010 and there will be no charge. You can order as much or as little as you want. Take the opportunity to have your family photographed for your Holiday or Christmas cards! However, you must call ON Black Friday to schedule your session!

If you have any questions either before or during the sale, please feel free to contact us at (478)956-2287 or email us at info@shanksphotography.com.

A Visit With Santa! | Warner Robins Children's Photographer

2010-11-23T13:52:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Santa's comin to town! We are having a special visit from our favorite guy in red this Saturday, November 27th, from 9am to 5pm. What a perfect opportunity to schedule your private session with him. No waiting in lines this year!

Not only will we photograph your child with Santa Claus, we will also photograph them by themselves. These pictures would be great for Christmas cards as well as gifts for your family and friends.

Mini Special Details:
Cost: $50 ($15 for each additional child)
Private Session with Santa Claus
3 images on a CD (with print release) or
2 images on a CD (with print release) along with a 5x7 and 4 wallets (1 pose)
*additional packages will be available including Christmas cards

Call (478)956-2287 or (478)213-4435 to book or email us at info@shanksphotography.com

Christmas Portrait | Holiday Portraits

2010-11-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

I love Christmas! It's a time to celebrate my Saviours birth and reflect on what He has done for all of us. You start to hear Christmas music as you travel from store to store and see beautiful Christmas decorations all over the place! Most likely, like most people, you do not have your Christmas tree up yet. Well today, here at Shanks Photography, our studio has started to look a lot like Christmas! Now is the best time to schedule a holiday portrait session. Get in before the rush of having to get all your Christmas shopping done and in time to get custom Christmas cards that reflect you or your family. Yes, we can create beautiful Christmas cards for you. Just give us a call! (478) 213-4435

It's hard to believe this little girl is just 4 years old, soon to be 5. She is the first to be photographed in a Christmas scene this year. Will you be the next?

6 Month Baby Plan Portraits | Baby Photography

2010-11-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

This little guy is on our baby plan! Isn't he cute! I love it when babies are having a good day with us and we can get these creative shots after we've photographed him in all the outfits mom has brought for him.

Pettiskirts - ooh-la-la | Portrait Photography

2010-11-13T17:18:00.000-05:00

Today was our first pettiskirt and super hero special. If you missed this years special, we'll run it again next spring, however we always have the pettiskirts here for your use when you schedule a portrait session with us. Just let us know thats what you'd like!

We bought an old antique bed and set it outside for this special. These three sisters looked so cute! Their ages? One, two and three!

Pettiskirts and Super Hero Mini Sessions

2010-11-08T18:54:00.000-05:00

Sign up now for our pettiskirts and super hero special coming up this Saturday, November 13th. Our morning is booked but we still have openings between noon and 5 pm! This is an outdoor session using an old antique bed as a prop. Very fun and memorable photo shoot for your kids! (if you'd prefer, you can choose an indoor white background)

Details:

Cost $60 per child
Receive 6 images on a disc (print release included) or a 2 pose print package.
10 to 15 minutes in front of the camera plus dressing time. (we'll provide the pettiskirts, capes, hats, fun boots, leggings)
Pick out your images immediately after your child's photo shoot or choose them online, you're choice!
Available session times, noon to 5 pm.
Call (478) 213-4435 or email info@shanksphotography.com to book.

These images will make a great Christmas present or unique addition to your child's room!

Enter our Costume Craze Contest | Portrait Photography

2010-10-31T12:40:00.000-04:00

Plan now to enter our Costume Craze contest and get a chance to win a FREE portrait session worth $275.

Here's how to enter:

Email us a photo of YOU, your child or children dressed in a costume by Midnight November 1st. PLEASE NOTE: We've opened this contest up for ADULTS too!

Contest Rules:

Email us a regular snapshot that you have taken (non-professional only) of yourselft or your child in a Halloween costume. Include the name of the person or persons in the photo and your name and email/contact info. You must "like" our Facebook page to participate.

Pictures must be received by midnight on Monday, November 1st. We will upload all of the entries into a Costume Craze album on our Facebook page on Tuesday morning, November 2nd by 11:30 am. Voting will begin on November 2nd as soon as the album is active.

Starting Tuesday, November 2nd, you will send out the link to all of your family and friends by either your own Facebook page or by email asking them to vote for the picture by "liking" the picture in our album. They must also become fans of our Facebook page by "liking" the page. Only likes will be counted, not the comments.

Only one vote per person will be counted.

Voting will end at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 10th.

The photo with the most votes will be declared the contest winner and will win a full photography session (either a weekday or a Saturday session) valued at up to $275.00! In the event of a tie, we will create a new album with the winner's pictures in the album and run a tie breaker contest where the photo with the most votes by 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 11th will be declared the winner.

Email your entry to: info@shanksphotography.comRegister for the 5 minute photo op by calling (478) 956-2287

Mommy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-10-19T16:14:00.000-04:00

This cute little guy came in today for a session with his mom.

Costume Craze Contest | Portrait Photographer

2010-10-18T19:59:00.003-04:00

Plan now to enter our Costume Craze contest and get a chance to win a FREE portrait session worth $275.

There are two ways to enter
Email us a photo of your child or children dressed in their costume by November 1^st. Or, if you prefer, register for a 5 minute photo op and we'll photograph your child or children here at Shanks Photography on October 30^th between 12 pm to 4 pm.
If you choose to do the 5 minute photo op, you will have the opportunity to purchase and leave with a 4x6 print for only $5.

Contest Rules:
You can either use your Shanks Photography "Costume Craze" portrait or email us a regular snapshot that you have taken (non-professional only) of your little cutie in their Halloween costume. Include your child(ren)'s name(s), age(s), and your email/contact info. We will accept either one photo per child or one group shot of all of your children. You must "like" our Facebook page to participate.

Pictures must be received by midnight on Monday, November 1^st. We will upload all of the entries into a Costume Craze album on our Facebook page on Tuesday morning, November 2^nd by 11:30 am. Voting will begin on November 2^nd as soon as the album is active.
Starting Tuesday, November 2^nd, you will send out the link to all of your family and friends by either your own Facebook page or by email asking them to vote for your child's picture by "liking" the picture in our album. They must also become fans of our Facebook page by "liking" the page. Only likes will be counted, not the comments.

Only one vote per person will be counted.
Voting will end at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 10^th.

The photo with the most votes will be declared the contest winner and will win a full photography session (either a weekday or a Saturday session) valued at up to $275.00! In the event of a tie, we will create a new album with the winner's pictures in the album and run a tie breaker contest where the photo with the most votes by 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 11^th will be declared the winner.

Email your entry to: info@shanksphotography.comRegister for the 5 minute photo op by calling (478) 956-2287

7 Month Pumpkin Patch Portraits | Baby Photographer

2010-10-15T15:17:00.000-04:00

This little cutie is on our baby plan and Jenny her mom and grandma brought her in to take advantage of our pumpkin patch portraits. She was so fun! It's not too late to schedule a pumpkin patch session. We have a few openings left on Saturday just give us a call at (478) 213-4435.

Brother and Sister Pumpkin Portraits | Children's Photographer

2010-10-14T12:57:00.000-04:00

These two are out of school this week and came in today to take advantage of our pumpkin portraits. They are so cute! Their mom and dad had a hard time choosing which pictures to go with. Their kids did such a great job and listened very well to our instruction. They were so fun to work with!

Fairy Special | Children's Themed Portraiture

2010-10-11T20:17:00.000-04:00

On October 2nd we had a fairy special and had the pleasure of photographing little girls dressed up in fairy dresses made by The Urban Child. Here are a few shots from the day!

Blue seemed to be the favorite color that day!

Pumpkin Patch Portraits | FREE PUMPKIN

2010-10-04T18:27:00.002-04:00

We've had many inquiries for our pumpkin patch portraits, here is the scoop!

The special will run from October 11th thru October 16th from 9 am until 4 pm.

If you book a session by Friday, October 8th by 4 pm you will qualify for a FREE PUMPKIN! What fun for your children to be able to pick out a pumpkin from a variety of different sizes.

Details
Cost: $60 for the first person ($15 for each additional person)
15 minute session
Your choice of:
6 images on a CD with print release or a 2 pose print package of (1) 8x10, (4) 5x7's and 8 wallets

You'll select the images immediately after the session and the CD or prints will be ready in 7 to 10 days.

For booking info: email info@shanksphotography.com or call us at (478) 956-2287 or (478) 213-4435

Q & A
Q: Will you photograph both my children in one session?
A: We will be happy to photograph your children together but you will need to book two consecutive sessions.

Q: Do I have to stay and take the time to pick out my images, my children get restless?
A: We will be happy to either select your images for you or put them online for a period of 3 days so you can pick them at your leisure.

Q: Do you have other packages?
A: Yes, you may choose from our regular portrait price list located on our website.

Q: What should I dress my children in?
A: Dress them in fall colors, browns, orange, yellow, green, even red.

Q: What if it rains?
A: If you are scheduled during the week, we'll reschedule you. If your session is scheduled for Saturday, we'll have an indoor pumpkin patch set up.

Daddy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-09-30T20:29:00.000-04:00

Most of the time we photograph moms and their newborns but we also photograph dads with their newborns as well. It was a pleasure working with Josten and his daughter this morning while mom watched. His daughter is only 8 days old and is well protected in his arms, don't you think?

Mommy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-09-29T20:34:00.000-04:00

I love meeting the mom's of these tiny little newborns who visit our studio!

Mommy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-09-22T21:42:00.000-04:00

Born just 12 days ago and so tiny! Just look at his tiny toes and long slender fingers. I just love working with newborns and their moms!

Rally for the Cure | Event Photographer

2010-09-20T20:19:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, we photographed the Race for the Cure Golf Tournament. It was another HOT day, well into the 90's but the humidity wasn't too terrible. Upon arriving to The Landings Golf Club and getting my assigned golf cart, I went to find an ideal place to set up for the group pictures. Someone had suggested hole number 6 so, not being familiar with the golf course myself, I went to take a look and yes indeed it was a beautiful spot! After setting up my equipment I headed back to the golf club to photograph the opening comments. The golf carts were all lined up and ready to go. Stephanie Conner, the event organizer, did a fantastic job in organizing the event, getting sponsors and recruiting volunteers. Together, we can all make a difference in the fight against cancer! It was a perfect turn out! I captured this just before they all took off to start the tournament.

Little Fairies | Fine Art Photographer

2010-09-11T13:36:00.000-04:00

These two sisters came to visit our studio this past week. When we do a fairy session, Mr. Tony does a fantastic job of getting the kids to "believe" in make believe fairies. Well the older sister has quite a logical mind and took some coaching to get her into the spirit of things but boy when she finally got what we were trying to achieve, there were fairies flying all around our studio!

On October 2nd we'll be having our first fairy special. If you have a little fairy, plan now to take advantage of this special. More details will be forth coming.

Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-09-02T10:28:00.000-04:00

We really enjoyed our time with Tiffany and her new baby boy yesterday. We documented her pregnancy with periodic belly pictures and were anxious to see what this baby would like like, almost as much as mom!

5 Month Baby Plan Session | Baby Photographer

2010-08-22T16:48:00.000-04:00

This little cutie recently joined our baby plan. Usually mom's bring in their babies at 3, 6 and 12 months however, we altered "the usual" plan to be a 5, 9 and 12 month plan. If time has passed you by and your baby has passed the 3 month mark, it's not too late for a baby portrait plan. Give us a call at 478-956-2287 and we'll set you up with a baby plan for your child.

Mommy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-08-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

Some of the newborns that we photograph just settle right in and are at peace like the picture of Cieara and her daughter shown here. We love photographing babies!

Mommy and Me Newborn Session | Baby Photographer

2010-08-02T15:24:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Lelita and her newborn daughter Monday afternoon. Her daughter was sleeping upon arriving to our studio and soon awakened after removing her clothing and taking the first photograph. The lights will often awaken a newborn if they are on the verge of waking up. After taking time to feed her a bottle and soothe her a bit she calmed down and fell fast asleep allowing us to capture sweet images of her with mommy. Thank you Lelita for bringing her in, I enjoyed meeting you, your husband and your daughter.

1 Year Baby Plan Session | Baby Photographer

2010-08-02T12:39:00.000-04:00

Hayden has been with us a year now and we've enjoyed him and his family alot. We love seeing our baby plan babies grow, it feels to us like they are apart of our family! Hayden was always a little nervous and scared of the us. Even though he knows us and has been here several times, we took our time and even asked the mom to bring him back later in the day to ensure his parents got the most geniun natural pictures that portray his personality. I love these pictures, I think they really do show Hayden.

Cancer Survivor | Portrait Photographer

2010-07-31T10:00:00.034-04:00

We photographed Tavia in June at her childhood home. It was a beautiful property with a pond. We enjoyed hearing Tavia's fond memories of the place. She is the final calendar girl for our upcoming 2011 Surviving Cancer calendar. Plan now to purchase a calendar for $15 and read all about her experience with breast cancer.

Tavia, it was a pleasure working with you and seeing the love you have for the place you grew up.

Cancer Survivor | Portrait Photographer

2010-07-30T19:53:00.000-04:00

Emily was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008. She is another survivor who will be featured in the 2011 Surviving Cancer calendar. With God's help she was determined to fight it, she had a family to take care of! She was not a stranger to cancer, her mom is a 30 year colon cancer survivor and her dad passed away from lung cancer. Plan now to purchase a calendar where all the proceeds go to fight cancer. The calendars will be available in September for purchase at $15.

Emily, it was great working with you!

Newborn | Baby Photographer

2010-07-20T21:56:00.000-04:00

This week we have the pleasure of spending time with our youngest daughter Jessica, her husband Mathew and our brand new grandson Thomas. I suppose every grandmother thinks their grandbabies are cute but in this case even my husband has confirmed it! Tony generally thinks all babies look like, ... well ..., babies. He spent a little time holding him last night and came to the conclusion that he indeed was officially cute! Here are a couple pictures we captured while mom was resting. The quilt we photographed him on has been in Matt's family for quite sometime and I just couldn't resist photographing Thomas on it.

Breast Cancer Survivor : Portrait Photographer

2010-07-19T10:00:00.001-04:00

You may have seen Kami on the news this past spring as she was chosen to be an Atlanta braves bat girl. You can read the story here. Kami will also be featured on our next Surviving Cancer Calendar. Kami it was great working with you, your husband and little boy Cayden. Hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Breast Cancer Survivor : Portrait Photographer

2010-07-16T14:48:00.000-04:00

Meet Diane, she's another one of the wonderful ladies that I've photographed for our next Surviving Cancer calendar. Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer on her youngest son's 20th birthday. Her faith along with family and friends were very supportive to her. Her daughter pictured below with her stood by her every step of the way. She is a survivor, plan on purchasing a calendar in September and reading her entire story.

Breast Cancer Survivor : Portrait Photographer

2010-07-15T11:32:00.000-04:00

I first met Julie at a little restraunt in downtown Macon called Shelly's. This is where she told me her story and we planned her portrait session. It was funny how practically her whole office decided to have lunch that day at the same location. Juli has a family history of Breast Cancer and was diagnosed at age 37. Her daughter was only 22 months old at the time and this made Julie determined to see her grow up! Her story will be published in the 2011 Calendar and all profits from the sale of the calendar go toward cancer awareness. If you'd like me to reserve a calendar for you, contact me and I'll put you on the list.

Breast Cancer Survivor : Portrait Photographer

2010-07-14T18:18:00.000-04:00

Meet Beth, she is a daughter, a wife, a mom, a school teacher and a breast cancer survivor. I first met Beth in March when she shared her story with me. It wasn't until May that Tony and I met Beth at her home and photographed her for the 2011 Surviving Breast Cancer calendar. Beth here is a little sneak peak at a few of your images.

3 Month Baby Session | Baby Photographer

2010-07-12T19:12:00.000-04:00

I can't believe Lily has grown so much since the last time we saw her when she was just 5 days old! I love watching our baby plan babies grow. Lily is one of our baby plan members and will be visiting us at 6, 9 and 12 months. Here are a few of my favorites from this morning.

They wear out pretty easily at this age so Lily took a little cat nap and then was ready for a few more.

Photojournalism | Photography

2010-07-10T18:06:00.000-04:00

Tony and I decided to do something out of the ordinary today and travel to Dublin GA to find out what the "Red Neck Games" were all about. It was REALLY hot but that didn't stop lots of people from coming out to the festivities. When we arrived, we had to park the car and walk about half a mile to the park where the Red Neck Games were being held. After paying our $5 entrance fee we proceeded to walk by groups of people that had set up canopies, and other areas where people just claimed a spot and settled in with their coolers and chairs. There were lots of food vendors offering boiled peanuts, barbeque, cotton candy and the usual fair type food. There was a stage set up where different bands would play and in front of the stage is where they had some of the red neck games. The game we witnessed was the toilet seat toss. It's kind of like horse shoes but with a toilet seat instead. Off to the side we noticed a pit they were filling with water for the belly flop contest. We walked around trying to get pictures of, well, red necks. We didn't stay for the whole day but here is a sampling of what we did see while there.

I'd love to hear your experience if you've ever attended the "Red Neck Games". As always, comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Breast Cancer Survivor : Portrait Photographer

2010-07-09T19:44:00.000-04:00

Back in May, we photographed most of the 2011 Surviving Cancer survivors. I am so far behind in posting their sneak peek! Well, this week, I'm going to give it my best to catch up so check back daily.

Lucinda and Kimberly are sisters who both have had breast cancer. They are very close and care about each other deeply. We photographed not only Lucinda and Kimberly but their whole family as well. Here are 3 of my favorites. Lucinda and Kimberly, thanks for being willing to be photographed for the calendar and for your patience in waiting for this small peek.

Comments are always welcomed and encouraged.

Breast Cancer Survivor | Portrait Photographer

2010-06-03T18:19:00.000-04:00

Meet Susan, she is a breast cancer survivor who we photographed in May. She will be featured in our next "SurvivingBreastCancer" 2011 calendar with her story. She has a dog named Komen, named after Susan G. Komen, and has participated in the Race for the cure with him. Susan, thank you for paitiently waiting for your sneek peek of your pictures. Hope you like them!

Susan G Komen | Portrait Photographer

2010-05-14T18:54:00.000-04:00

Yesteday, I had the pleasure of joining with the other ladies who worked so hard to raise funds for Breast Cancer. This past year we've worked really hard at producing a 2010 Calendar titled "SurvivingBreastCancer". It contains twelve portraits of breast cancer survivors with their stories. Shanks Photography photographed each survivor and designed the calendar. With the help of many sponsors we were able to get it printed and then raise money with donations for the calendar. We gave a $8,250 check to our local Susan G. Komen affiliate where 75% of the funds given to them stays right here in central Georgia for grants and other programs that help local breast cancer patients. The other 25% goes to national research to help fight breast cancer.

You can read the stories of the 2010 Breast Cancer Calendar Survivors here.

If you are interested in sponsoring just a single day of the 2011 calendar for only $25, please fill out this form and send it in with your check. There are other sponsorships on the form as well if your a business and want to be listed and recognized in the calendar.

Breast Cancer Survivor | Portrait Photographer

2010-05-13T17:42:00.000-04:00

Last week I photographed Jan, another breast cancer survivor, for the 2011 SurvivingBreastCancer calendar. I met Jan at her lovely home and photographed her in several different locations in her back yard. Her husband is also a cancer survivor and it was good to meet him as well. Her backyard was decorated and landscaped to be very intimate and I thought a relaxing place to escape to. Jan's home is beautiful! Thank you Jan for giving me the opportunity to enjoy you and your husband for the hour I was there.

6 month baby portrait | Baby Photographer

2010-05-06T14:31:00.000-04:00

Isn't she a cutie! I had the hardest time narrowing down her pictures for her parents to review. She was happy and cooperative throughout her whole session. 6 months is such a fun age to photograph, I really look forward to them. They just make me smile and laugh! She is on our 4 session baby plan where she visits the studio at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year. At the end, her parents receive a matted baby panel with 4 pictures representing her 4 stages of growth. If you are interested in a baby plan for your child, please give the studio a call and I'll be happy to tell you more about it.

Shanks Photography - 478-956-2287

Newborn girl | Baby Photographer

2010-05-05T21:50:00.000-04:00

Meet Lily, she is the second child of one of our clients. Levi is her brother and his parents faithfully brought him in for regular portraits during his first year. It is so much fun to see these children grow during their first year!
She was only 19 inches long when she was born and here I think she is about 6 lbs.

Here you can see a little better just how tiny she was! She is just so cute! Congratulations Mat and Mallory!

Breast Cancer Survivor | Family Photographer

2010-05-02T21:52:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Tony and I met Rachel and her family at their church and photographed her for the 2011 Surviving Breast Cancer calendar. Rachel was diagnosed at the young age of 35 with advanced breast cancer. She has committed her life to fighting breast cancer. Thank you Rachel for your committment to the fight and meeting us for your shoot on such a windy afternoon!

Breast Cancer Survivor | Photographic Artist

2010-04-27T18:32:00.001-04:00

This past month has been crazy busy! I've got all 12 of our breast cancer survivors for the 2011 SurvivingBreastCancer Calendar and will have them all photographed by the end of May, Lord willing.

I will announce in the next week the final dollar amount we will be able to give to our local Susan G. Komen affiliate from the 2010 Calendar. A few weeks ago, they ran an article in the "Sun News" and the reporter mentioned we raised $7,500. That was an approximate figure, we actually raised more than that. Stay tuned for the final figure! Next year, I really want to see us raise $25,000 and I really think that is a realistic goal! If you're reading this post and know of any business that would want to help by becoming a sponsor please send me an email so I can contact them or they can contact me. Mickey@shanksphotography.com or 478-213-4435

Yesterday, in the late afternoon, I photographed Karen, along with her husband, boys and the whole soccer team. Karen was diagnosed at age 38 with Breast Cancer. She is a wife and mom and like alot of us is very much involved with raising her family. They all supported her so we thought it appropriate to include them in her photo session. When she was diagnosed her boys were in baseball but right now, she is definately a supportive soccer mom!

Karen, thank you for being willing to be in the calendar to share your story!
I had a lot of fun even though the wind was crazy!

Breast Cancer Survivor : Portrait Photographer

2010-04-07T13:38:00.000-04:00

Last year we had the opportunity to work with a committe of ladies to create middle Georgia's first annual "SurvivingBreastCancer" calendar. The project lasted most of last year and I met alot of really awesome women! They have been a blessing to me and now an encouragement to others by allowing us to publish their portriats along with their stories in a calendar. The calendar also contains breast health information along with available resouce links. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar are donated to our local Susan G. Komen affiliate. Today, in the Sun News there was a story about it. I encourage you to read the story if you get the chance.

We are currently interviewing and scheduling portrait sessions for our 2011 Surviving Breast Cancer calendar and last night was our first survivor session. Her name is Beth and she was just 31 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her youngest daughter was only 9 months old.

We show all our survivors their images and their page together at a survivor party we have for them later in the year but I know they get a little anxious to see their images so here is a little sneak peek for Beth and her family. Beth, it was fun working with you and your beautiful girls!

Maternity, it's a family affair: Maternity and Baby Photography

2010-04-06T10:36:00.000-04:00

Maternity portraits, round two. Mallory is one of our clients who came in yesterday for her second round of maternity portraits. Round one was a couple of years ago when she was pregnant with her son. Her husband Matt was by her side for both sessions and this time their first born was with them. She won't be in to see her portraits until after the baby is born so I thought I'd give her a sneak peek!

Mother and Baby Portrait | Baby Photographer

2010-03-10T18:02:00.000-05:00

Nina came in with her newborn baby boy last week for her mommy and me session. I love photographing these sessions and giving the mom's a portrait of them with their baby. Mom's are really good at taking pictures of their children but really don't have pictures of themselves with their children. Those babies grow so fast, it is sometimes hard to remember just how tiny they were once they are older.

Family Portraits | Macon Family Photographer

2010-03-09T20:55:00.001-05:00

This family traveled from Macon last week for family portraits. They are so nice! They were a pleasure to work with and the kids did a great job! We photographed their family, all the children together and then each of the children individually.

They came in today to see their images for the first time. All the kids came as well, it was a real family affair!

Now through March 20th we are having a special - 2 for 1 portraits. On Saturday, March 20th, we'll be photographing Portraits in the Park. We will be at Washington Park in the morning and Ocmulgee Heritage Trail in the afternoon. Call the studio at (478) 213-4435 or (478) 956-2287 to set up your appointment today!

Mommy and Me Portrait Session | Newborn Photographer

2010-03-05T18:25:00.000-05:00

I think Elizabeth has the most beautiful red hair! She brought her son in about a week ago for a mommy and me session. Her mom accompanied them as well. We actually photographed the 3 generations together since she was so available. Her son was pretty sleepy but as you can see in these portraits we did get some with his eyes open. I love this first one with him holding onto his mom's hair.

3 Month Baby Girl | Byron Baby Photographer

2010-03-04T13:04:00.000-05:00

Meet Chloe, she is one of our newest baby plan members. She is 3 months old and just a little doll! She was so happy and her mom had her dressed so cute!

If you want to be a part of our baby plan we have several to choose from. Just contact the studio at (478) 956-2287 to find out more about it. To see more baby portrait examples, please visit our website.

March Georgia Magazine Cover Kid | Commercial Photographer

2010-03-03T22:24:00.000-05:00

It was our pleasure to work with Ashley, the March Cover kid pictured here on the Georgia Family Magazine. We met Ashley at her school and began her photo shoot there. We then went on to the studio to finish up her photo shoot. She was excited and did an awesome job!

Newborn and Mom | Newborn Baby Photographer

2010-03-02T18:58:00.000-05:00

Last week Sofia brought her baby girl in to be photographed for one of our mommy and me sessions. Today she saw her portraits of the two of them for the first time and I think was surprised at how difficult it was to pick out her favorites.

Rodeo | Fine Art Photographer

2010-03-01T11:28:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to attend the Rodeo at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry GA. I love horses and couldn't resist creating these fine art pieces based on our photographs from the rodeo. Hope you enjoy them!

Next month we'll be photographing the First Annual "Ride for Sight" Horse Show in Unadilla, Georgia sponsored by the Byron Lions Club. If you are interested in finding out more about the horse show, check out their website.

Winter Fairy | Warner Robins Child Photographer

2010-02-28T16:53:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when we have a child visit our studio, they get a little nervous and scared. Such is the case of this little girl who came for a visit on Friday morning all ready to be a fairy. She is normally an outgoing child according to her mom and grandma who accompanied her. They were surprised when she became frightened and just couldn't get over it. We ended the session after 45 minutes of trying to calm her down and get her excited about being a fairy. But alas, nothing seemed to work and mom left thinking we didn't get anything. Despite all of that, we did get a couple of images that are darling.

If your child is a little shy or gets scared, don't worry, we usually do get something, you'd be surprised!

Wednesday's Fairy | Georgia Children's Photographer

2010-02-27T07:52:00.000-05:00

Mckenzie came to the studio to be a fairy. She enjoyed interacting with Mr. Tony and pretending there were fairies flying around. As you can see in the following portraits, we don't always aim to add a pretend fairy in the portrait, sometimes the scene lends itself to your own imagination. I love her expression as she laid her head down on the pedestal.

4 year old Fairy | Children's Artistic Portraiture

2010-02-26T09:51:00.000-05:00

Madelaine also came in on Monday for her model fairy session. She is actually interested in being a model. She did a great job and played along with Mr. Tony as they played make believe. I have the easy job when Tony is in the studio with me, he interacts with the child helping them "see the fairies" and shows them how to use the magic fairy wand and how to blow the fairy dust to attract the little fairies and all I have to do is photograph their expressions! We have so much fun and so do the children. Oh and I might add that the parents get a kick out of watching as well! Here are Madelaine's two artistic portraits.

Our Monday Child Fairy | Fairy Photographer

2010-02-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

On Monday, Jada came to visit our studio with her mom and grandma. Her grandma was our January "SurvivingBreastCancer" Calendar girl. For those of you who don't know, we photographed 12 breast cancer survivors last year and produced a calendar to raise money for breast cancer. If you would like to purchase one of these calendars we are asking a minimum donation of just $5. Please contact Mickey at 478-213-4435.

Getting back to Jada, she had a lot of fun pretending there were fairies hiding, flying around and in the cage.

February Kids Promotion | Children's Photographer

2010-02-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

These twins came in for one of our recent Kids Promotions and are only 10 months old and walking. I just think that is amazing! They are so cute! They also have a big brother and big sister who helps their mom and dad out alot! The whole family are wonderful to work with and a joy to know.

To see more images from our kids promotion, simply become a fan of Shanks Photography on facebook. We have an album set up.

3 Year Old Fairy Session | Byron Child Photographer

2010-02-23T11:57:00.000-05:00

Gracie is the big sister of one of our baby plan babies. As do a lot of little girls she loves to dress up! She really got excited when I showed her the fairy dress, wings, wand and head piece. That was just the beginning. Mr. Tony helped her use her imagination and as you can see in these final art enhanced portraits that she did a great job imagining little fairies flying around.

Fairy Model Janie | Children's Photographer

2010-02-18T16:03:00.001-05:00

Janie came in this past Monday to model one of our fairy dresses. She did a fantastic job! I can't believe how much fun we had and how cute she is! This portrait has our artistic enhancements added and Janie really thought she was holding fairy dust. In reality, it was sugar. But oh how a little girls imagination can be sparked when you tell her it's fairy dust! I can't wait to show her parents her pictures, they get to choose a 5x7. I think they'll have a hard time, they are really cute!

Think it will snow? | Georgia Photographer

2010-02-12T19:44:00.002-05:00

I don't suppose many people in Georgia actually have snow boots. Well, being from Minnesota, I still had mine so I dusted them off, put them on and went for a short walk after a wedding consultation we had at our studio. I couldn't help myself, I just had to get out there and photograph this very unusual event.

As a comparison, a year ago, actually Valentines day, last year we photographed a wedding in Ideal, Georgia. This image was from that wedding. It's a little off the wall and what we call a signature portrait. Yes, the groom is wearing a scuba mask, flippers and has his tank all ready for their honeymoon!

Happy anniversary Amber and Chris!

Wedding Photography

Fairy Models Wanted | Warner Robins Children's Photographer

2010-02-10T15:26:00.002-05:00

This little darling 1 year old finished up her baby plan sessions just last week. Her parents get to see her images tomorrow and I thought I'd give them a little teaser. We have three different baby plans available. One includes a maternity session, newborn, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and 1 year and the other two are simply variations of that one. Call Shanks Photography at (478) 213-4435 if you are interested in joining.

As you can see, she is dressed in one of our new fairy costumes but it is a little too big for her. We are looking for 5 fairy models. Each model needs to be 3 to 5 years old and will get a complimentary mini session plus a complimentary 5x7 Regular Studio Portrait (see below). If you want one that looks like the first picture, we will provide a 50% discount on an art enhanced portrait.

Please contact the studio at (478) 213-4435 or (478) 956-2287 for more details.

Regular studio portrait - before artistic enhancements.

To see more of our work, please visit our main site.

Georgia Family Magazine February issue

2010-02-02T10:34:00.000-05:00

We were excited to have another opportunity to provide the image for Georgia Family Magazine's February issue. Joi is a vibrant 13 year old who loves dance, music, fashion and of course texting. She was a blast to work with! We look forward to working with the magazine on future projects!

New BeBe Book

2010-01-22T16:36:00.000-05:00

We routinely photograph a lot of newborn children with their mom's as a service to our community in partnership with the Houston Heathcare Hospital in Warner Robins GA. We recently started offering a new product geared to our new mom's and will start making a similar product available for our portraiture clients as well. The BeBe book is a soft cover 5" book with linen textured pages. Currently we have two background designs that you'll only get here at Shanks Photography. One design is geared toward boys and the other is toward girls. Click here to view a sample.

Magazine Cover Kid

2010-01-21T10:31:00.000-05:00

We had the opportunity to photograph the Georgia Family Magazine's cover kid for the January 2010 issue. This is Morgan, she is 10 years old and she did an awesome job! We had a lot of fun trying out different ideas specific to the educational focus of this issue. Her mom should be an art director! She had a lot of great ideas and was willing to share them with us. All in all we had a great time with Morgan and her mom Traci.

6 Month Baby Plan Portraits

2010-01-13T20:44:00.001-05:00

Michael is one of our baby plan babies and he came in for his 6 month session last week. His mommy and daddy got to see his images for the first time today! His daddy especially liked this first picture because it looks like he's ready to throw a pass. Just look at how he is holding the ball!

We had so much fun photographing him! He was mostly smiles however in the next image it looks like he is thinking about something. Just cracked me up when I saw this picture for the first time.

The third picture I just had to show you. Michael and one of the Raggedy Andy's look as though they are having a conversation!

New Inspiration!

2010-01-12T18:21:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Tony and I traveled to Nashville and enjoyed one of the biggest professional photography tradeshows of the year. Despite the cold weather we enjoyed strolling in the Gaylord Opryland hotel's beautiful indoor gardens to and from the actual hotel we stayed at. Wow! I couldn't even believe all the beautiful green foilage, waterfalls and even a riverboat! I would go there just to enjoy what the hotel had to offer without some convention or other activity to participate in. As it was, the tradeshow was great! We observed what other photographers were doing around the nation, got to listen to some of them speak and get a peek at new products our vendors are introducing in this coming year. We do have a new product we will be offering and will be introducing it real soon. All I can say about it at this point is that it is fun and crazy and you you'll want to get in on the action. So stay tuned!

Please visit our website and let us know what you think of our new design. This is only the start of what you'll see this coming year from Shanks Photography.

Baby Plan Session

2009-12-06T13:12:00.003-05:00

Brook is one of our baby plan babies and she came in recently for her 10 month portraits. She has a lot of expressions and this one I thought was really cute!

One of the things I like to do is stop at flea markets and look at old chairs. This white one was our latest purchase and Brook was the first to make good use of it!

A Visit With Santa

2009-12-05T19:11:00.003-05:00

Today was our first annual visit with Santa promotion! All the kids loved Santa. They got to tell him what they wanted for Christmas and get a treat. While mom picked out their favorite pose the kids got to enjoy cookies! All in all it was a great day for all!

If you missed our Santa promotion and would like to be notified next year, drop us an email and we'll add you to our list. info@shanksphotography.com

Black Friday

2009-11-27T10:36:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago I decided to try shopping on Black Friday. Truth be told, I really don't like to shop. Tony has even done our grocery shopping for the past, oh, 8 years? But, my daughter wanted someone to go with her so, I gave it a try. I decided after that experience, not to do it again. So Tony went out today and did some Black Friday shopping, well kind of. We are taking a couple of days to enjoy the mountains so he ventured into Krogers and did some shopping. One of his purchases was a new puff. We use a puff in the shower, I know, more than you wanted to know, and the last one seemed to get out of control right away! Take a look at the comparison picture and you'll see what I mean.

Engagement Session

2009-11-26T10:32:00.004-05:00

Katie and Nate will be married in April and we traveled to Dublin a few weeks ago to shoot their engagement pictures. We really enjoyed our time with them! We love to do engagement sessions and it never fails that we get comments from our couples stating how much fun they had and that they never thought it would be so fun! Here are a few pictures from their session.

Colorado Wedding

2009-11-25T12:19:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it's been since August that I've updated our blog! Wow! We have been busy though soooo, you'll be seeing catchup updates.

First up? Matthew and Jessica

Matthew is our new son-in-law and we are happy to have him as part of our family. They have long awaited their wedding pictures from their wedding in September and finally, we got them ready for viewing. We photographed everything except for the ceremony. Well actually, we did get off a few shots during the ceremony but for the most part we enjoyed witnessing the wedding. I've put together a little slide show to show the highlights of their day. Enjoy!

Destination Wedding - Amelia Island Florida

2009-08-28T14:57:00.004-04:00

We arrived last night to photograph a destination wedding on Amelia Island in Fernando Beach Florida. Jeremy and Mandy met us at the Ritz Carlton for beach pictures this morning. We were all wondering if the rain would put a halt to things and it did eventually but we were able to get almost an hour of photography in. We all ended up a little wet but hey, it was warm! From time to time we get a little crazy and today was no exception. In lieu of a ladder and to get a better camera angle for a shot we wanted to get, I climbed up on Tony's shoulders to get the shot. I'm impressed at how effortlessly Tony stood straight up from a crouched position and lifted me and even held me steady! Too bad no one got that shot! Anyway here are a few shots from our beach portraits this morning.

Newborn Mommy and Me Session

2009-08-26T17:32:00.003-04:00

Last week, Tiffany brought little Zaylen to be photographed. She came in for our Mommy and Me portrait session. Seeing them for the first time today she was quite surprised at her choices. We're so happy she loved the portraits! Here is a peek at what she saw from her session.

It's official, our daughter is engaged!

2009-08-15T21:48:00.003-04:00

Our youngest daughter is engaged! We are excited for her and Mathew and look forward to Matt becoming a part of our family on September 10th of this year. Yes, you heard me, this year! They are both missionaries for Youth With a Mission, love God, and really just want to get married and get on with His work together as a couple.

They live in Colorado and drove down to visit us several weeks ago. While they were here, we got some engagement pictures. Here is their slideshow. Enjoy!

First Year Portraits

2009-08-04T17:18:00.002-04:00

Ryann came in with her mommy and daddy and big brother last week for her 1 year old portraits. I just love her curls! Watch her slideshow to see all her images.

3 Month Baby Session

2009-07-31T20:09:00.003-04:00

Chandler is one of our new baby plan members and he came in with his mom and dad Tuesday evening for his 3 month portraits. He was really tired after being at daycare all day, a new experience for him as well, but he did great! His mom and dad were very pleased with his pictures and just saw them tonight for the first time.

Levi's 1 year portraits

2009-07-12T22:02:00.005-04:00

Levi is already 1 year old! I can't believe how fast this past year has gone and what a joy it's been to photograph Levi over the course of a year. He started his photo sessions in a cowboy hat soooo, I just had to get him sitting on a saddle. Here is his newborn picture in the hat:

And here he is having fun wearing a hat, although not the same hat, but about the same size.

He thought he was big stuff standing up on our blue sofa!

And this one, oh I just love it!

Family Outdoor Portrait Session

2009-07-03T14:43:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago we did a portrait session for a silent auction winner, Sandy Chastain. The auction was to help a church group raise money. We met her family at the Ocmulgee heritage trail in Macon. We had fun and so did they as you might gather from this picture of Sandy and her youngest. Still waiting to show Sandy's busy family their pictures. They are going to have a hard time picking out their portrait!

1 Year Baby Plan Session

2009-07-02T17:46:00.004-04:00

Wow! Little Claire is already a year old! I can't believe it! Claire's mom and grandma's will be here Monday to see her pictures. It's going to be extremely hard to pick this time. We have such a good time with all our babies but 1 year olds are alot of fun! She kept me moving though.

Babies, they are adorable!

2009-07-02T17:43:00.002-04:00

Emery is a new member of our baby club. Her mom will be in to see all her pictures on Wednesday, I think she's in for a surprise! But for now, here is a composite I put together of some of her expressions. Boy did she have a lot of them! She is 3 months old and just adorable!

1 Year Baby Plan Session

2009-06-26T23:35:00.003-04:00

Charlie came in for her one year old portrait session. Oh was she a joy to photograph! She was in a really good mood and we just had a blast capturing her beautiful, darling expressions! Here are a few of my favorites.

Charlie's mommy said she can participate in our Toddler plan which includes an 18 month, 2, 3 and 4 year portrait session. She gets a panel with those 4 stages of growth at the end. If you have a Toddler, call us, we'd love to get them on our Toddler plan! 478-213-4435

Presley's 3 Month Baby Session

2009-06-25T11:31:00.002-04:00

I met Presley for the first time when she came in with her mom for a Mother's day portrait. You may remember their picture from a month ago. Presley is on our baby plan and came in for her 3 month session just a few short weeks ago. She had grown considerably as babies do at that age, which is a great reason to have them on a baby plan. It really keeps you on track for documenting their progress.

She is another beauty! Don't ya think?

Engagement Session

2009-06-03T22:41:00.007-04:00

Cal and Ansley are one of our wedding couples getting married on September 19th. Ansley currently is really busy with nursing school but we managed to fit in their engagement session on Memorial Day having rescheduled from the prior Saturday because of rain. I knew they wanted a country feel to their images and the thought of making them tromp around in the wet fields wasn't pretty, hence the rescheduling.

Here are a few images from their session.

A family member of a friend of Cal owned this old abandoned house which recently was used as a set for a movie called "The Crazy's". The production company had even burned parts of the inside as part of their effects. It was interesting to see and explore. We tried several shots in the house and a few outside. Below is one shot from inside the house.

Take a peek at more in their slideshow...

Competition

2009-05-29T09:38:00.000-04:00

My daughter has a business called Amira Custom Designs. You can find some of her work currently on Etsy and all of her stuff on her future website.

Her daughter usually does most of her modeling because she has a lot of girly items featured. Her brother also is featured on her Etsy store wearing a variety of Ties. He is visiting grandma today and came in a cute outfit his mommy made so I HAD to take a picture. While photographing him I noticed he had kind of a competitve spirit about him. I thought it was quite funny! The first picture is his sister.

Look at his pose and expression on this one. He said, "I'm standing like Abbie!"

Signature Guest Book

2009-05-19T18:55:00.000-04:00

Alison and Alexis are getting married on June 14th and we will have the pleasure of photographing their wedding. They actually live in Brooklyn NY but their family lives here in middle GA. While visiting family a few weeks ago, we photographed their engagement session.

One of the options they chose for their wedding package is a signature book. If you don't know what a signature book is, well, it's a glorified guest book chock-full of images from the couples engagement session. It's a great way for guests to get a glimps of the fun they had on their engagement photo shoot as well as provide a place for guests to leave a message or encouraging word. Here is a sample of what theirs may look like. I say "may look like" because we always design it and then give our couples the opportunity to swap out images for a different one from their session if they do not like what we've chosen. You can take a peek here:
http://www.shanksphotography.com/slideshows/dockery/

1 Year Old Baby Session

2009-05-12T16:21:00.000-04:00

William's mom brought him in last Thursday for his 1 year portraits. We started outside to take advantage of the nice weather and use as a kind of ice breaker. He was just a tad shy at first but he soon relaxed and started having fun! How could you not have fun sitting on a pretend horsey!

Check out his slideshow! I would love to hear your comments :)

High School Photos

2009-04-28T22:19:00.001-04:00

Jessica came in recently for her high school photos. Even though graduation is almost upon us it is not too late to get your 2009 Senior pictures done.

Jessica did a great job and was a lot of fun! Here are a couple of her pictures and here is a slideshow of some of her session photos. The fun outtakes are at the end.

Attention 2010 Graduates! We are looking for student ambassadors to represent Shanks Photography at your school. Call us at 478-213-4435 to hear about the benefits of being an ambassador. Now is the time to apply.