Five things.

Another week, and more favorites to share!

 

Mates of State's newest album Mountaintops is definitely something you need to check out! Not just because it's my cousins, but they're such talented artists and produce motivating and inspiring music. Lately it's on my workout list and keeps me running (and i'm not a fan of running.) I saw them live for the first time since i've moved this last November, and was in awe all over again! i even posted some photos here. Also to go to their main website click the image below! 

 

Tracklist:
1. Palomino
2. Maracas*
3. Sway* -probably my most favorite song on the album! start here! 
4. Unless I'm Led*
5. Total Serendipity
6. Basement Money*
7. At Least I Have You
8. Desire
9. Change

10. Mistakes

*my favorites.

-- SWAY VIDEO BELOW. 

This is my favorite album of 2011, so check it out! let me know what you think. And if you pay CLOSE attention, one of the burger king commercials feature track 1- Palomino.  

the next favorite is another blog that motivates me. I went to college with Laura, and she has a great drive to blog so often! i love that about her, and she is great at inspiring to eat healthier, workout, and just is enjoying life! check out her blog by clicking the image below! i have a few go to blogs, lots of them wedding, but this one motivates my home life, so thank you Laura! 

Below is a detail that brides should definitely have! If you're a bride and wondering what cute hanger you should get, go to etsy.com and order one of these adorable personalized ones! Not only do they add a perfect detail, but photographers love one more cute thing! These hangers also add some beauty to those dress photos, and then we don't have to hide the not-so-cute hangers dresses come on! ha You can decide the color, or even if you just want it to spell out "bride"! Maybe even a small gift for a bride. seriously love these. I wouldn't change much about my perfect wedding day, but i would add one of these! click on the image to go to etsy.com and the designer of these hangers and start ordering today! This one is only $22. SO CUTE

I shared these delicious energy chews on twitter the other day,  but wanted to share them on here! If you know me, you know i'm in love with my XS energy drinks, and who wouldn't be with no crashing, less than 16 calories, and yummy! But if you need something you can bring with you in a long hike and need an extra boost these organic chews are perfect. Brandon and i have been trying different ways to get energy when we workout, lots of trips and tries to REI and the natural food section, but some are just plain terrible. I have to admit i picked these up for the color, and the name. But they really work! the first time i tried them, it was a long hike, i felt like i was going to faint, i needed some energy and these helped out! Picked these up at REI, and looking into buying them by the box! what's great is a simple workout you don't need the whole package, you can split it up into two days if it's just a couple hours. yes i'm in love. I believe it's about 160 calories for the entire package. 

Last is INSANITY! even though i have a gym membership, i find more excuses not to go because it takes time to get there, traffic, so many excuses really. Lately i've been doing some Zumba on xbox, running with brandon and then THIS. such a great workout, only about 40 minutes, easy to do at home, which means no excuses. It's great for men AND women. Brandon introduced me to this when we started dating, i did it a few times but living on the second story apartment building, it was loud. ha. so now when i'm looking for an intense workout i can do this! still be home and sweat like crazy. I think one thing i really like about it, is it's like being in a class again, and man i still get tired every time. so if you're looking for a new workout, look into Insanity! 

This post wasn't quite as cute, pink (well besides the organic chews) and blingy as the previous but i wanted to motivate you with some great produts out there! What blogs do YOU get motivated by and go to the most often? What workouts do you enjoy? 

i hope you had a wonderful sunday! God bless! 

beautiful friends.

what a great way to spend a day! 

a day driving out to lake Mead followed by some photos at dominique and danette's house= perfection. These two girls have been such a blessing to have as friends since moving to las vegas. They make me feel so welcome and anytime i feel lonely i feel so encouraged and loved again. that's not meant to sound sad! ha. also I need to mention how fricken talented they are? yup. you've heard of danette in previous posts... and can see the Amberlight Collective Blog here. BUT Dominique is also full of mad talent, she's an amazing drummer! So here's the first post dedicated to their beauty. the next post.. will also show them, but a bit more silly, so stay tuned! 

Dominique is first here. and like always looking gorgeous. it's a really tough life for these two.. being so cute. 

And these next two, i realize are the same photo, but i couldn't decide does she look better in black and white or color!? either way, still fabulous. 

Below is Danette! she was actually shooting another friend who was there too! so i got this smile while she was laughing at Lauren. i've learned so much from her. awww right? 

And these next few of Danette is her being.. herself which is crazy! Love her for that. It was so much fun! Danette thought to buy all of these props and we went into her backyard and shot for a bit. actually a photo from this day that Danette took is on a nice big canvas at her house. (and an 8x10 in my bathroom.. since i'm only allowed one pink room in the house)  This day was so much fun because we spent most of the day just hanging out, on a mission to shoot but before we could we got to put on some fake eyelashes too! It was my first time wearing fake eyelashes, and i'm now in LOVE. Proof-- ask anyone i work with, i tend to take photos of bride's eyelashes, especially if they're fake! 

And one more of Dominique! 

I couldn't wait to share some photos a little different from what i usually do! Don't forget i'll be sharing more of these two (and more friends!) next post when we shot out at the dry lake bed.  

 

random piece of info, got my living room painted today, BE READY for some decorating updates. SUPER CUTE.  happy wednesday! 

If you have any places in Las Vegas you love shooting at, please share! i'd love to try something different!  

Five things.

Hello and happy Sunday everyone!

Finally going to do something besides photography! i'm excited about this new post, once a week i'm going to share five things that i love! This is giving you readers more of a chance to share what you enjoy, tell me what you think about products i'll share, and also a glimpse into everything Shanna! even though i have tons of ideas this first week, here are five things i love!

so if you've met me, you probably know this has been my favorite book for a while now! this is a book i truly believe every woman should read. it's restoring, encouraging and about women's hearts. i've cried, laughed, and understood more about who i am and my heart after reading this book, and more importantly what God really had in mind for me. Eventually there will be a review from me that i post, but for now purchase and start a journey to healing parts of your heart that maybe you didn't even know was hurting. do you have any favorite book to share?!

'Mod about you' will reamin my favorite summer nailpolish color, especially for my toe-sies! This color find i give credit to my mom, who is the one who sneaks this color into gifts and i absolutely love it! so if you're looking for a pretty pink, give this one a try! I also have to give credit to my bestie rachelle. i didn't paint my nails regularly until i lived with her. good pretty habit!

 Viva La Juicy: Juicy Couture, the perfume i've been in love with for a while now! but i have some other favorite i'll share too.. speaking of other perfumes i think this kick might be over after this bottle is gone. i just need different smells! what's your favorite scent? have one for your man? 

This shoe is something new for me! As much as i love being girly, i couldn't get into sparkly until recently. i'm starting to embrace it more with subtle pieces of course. so here's a shoe for only about 25.00 from payless. it made a perfect holiday shoe, and to be honest, a wherever- i-want-to-wear-it-to shoe. love it! and there's a matching purse too i got! so cute. 

ah! Minnesota i will always love you. even when i live in las vegas. this is something that's.. not QUITE mine. but it's on my amazon wish list... hint hint.  what's not to love here? Necklace, pink, Minnesota! it just makes me happy. For about $32 you can purchase this on etsy. Other states are available too.. i guess. 

so tell me what you think of these first favorites i shared! and let me know what some of yours are too. 

Haeli-trash the dress!

Minnehaha Falls- GORGEOUS shoot! 

If you stalked me enough you would notice Haeli has commented on some other blog posts, and i must say she is a friend that keeps me constantly encouraged with photography, and I so appreciate her! she's absolutely amazing. Haeli and Jon got married almost two years ago now, and i had the honor of photographing their wedding. There's so much i want to say; first of all i met these two in college, and got to see some of the beginnings of their relationship. i believe the first cuddling time too watching batman at Andy's? i don't remember i fell asleep eating doritos, but that's not important. What's important is how these two are truly crazy about eachother and what's more, the center of their relationship is God. A couple who work daily on their relationship with eachother, and are growing strong together. 

Let me share a little about their wedding too! it was an amazing trip to Wisconsin, spending time with college friends, seeing Haeli and Jon's first home, and eating ice cream. so now, to THIS shoot. it was a time where everyone came together again. it wasn't just us three, it was Shelly, Mark, and Rachelle. Get to know these names people. they will be mentioned again. we also have a tradition. ever since the engagement photos, shelly (and now others) have creeped in their photos. so we didn't want to break traditions now! so much fun and excitement with these photos. Plus it means extra help with equipment.

we wanted to go somewhere fun and still not get the dress absolutely "trashed." so remember that brides and future brides, you don't have to ruin your dress for after wedding shoots either! Headed over to Minnehaha falls, for some gorgeous photos! She's always a perfect models, and even with goofballs all around her, she keeps a straight model face! so proud of her. 

check out this model of the chick! what i love most about these shots of Haeli, Shelly and Mark were creepily in the back.. thanks photoshop :) but if you want to see some of those.. let me know i'll post one! 

There were so many good ones from the shoot, but if YOU want to see more, and especially the photo bombing ones, let me know! what a great time we had. she was a trooper.. going in the cold water, and we all went into the "do not pass" section to get closer to the falls. we always have adventures and i love spending time with these two. hope to see you soon beautiful! 

any ideas for trash the dress shoots that you like? and did you see the other Trash the dress? Marie Antoinette styled. SO much fun. have a blessed day all! 

Peterson family- lucky man with three beautiful girls!

September in Minnesota Continued. 

let's be honest, anytime i get to go back home and photograph loved ones, it's so exciting! This family was so amazing to see because i grew up with Josh, went to preschool with him, watched him be an awesome athlete, and graduated with him! I played basketball with Laura when i was in 5th grade! Seeing this family grow is completely heart warming. and still, so crazy to me! Are we really old enough? aren't we still still in high school being just kids? :)

This couple has two beautiful girls and have given them a home and i really like being able to catch up with old friends while getting to shoot. (one of my favorite things i'd say!) 

I was staying at a friends house, and didn't even realize they lived about 5 houses away. so i walked up my camera equipment and was able to see their family be completely in their element. and so much love here... and trying to convince Lily to play some basketball. i'm sure she'll come around!

Josh and Laura. you have such a wonderful family in eachother and your girls. thank you for spending some time with me this past september. 

 click on photos to see more detail

Sweet mama and her girls. and let me tell you what, Laura is absolutely stunning.. check out the image of just her below! HOTT.

yup. the more i look at these, the more i love them! i'm so blessed to have photographed the Peterson family. and the girls have grown so much since september! 

Do you have fun ideas for family photos? or locations you like to shoot? I mentioned this in the last post, but check out the previous blog about upcoming specials and how you can get some free prints! WOOT!