shannon leith :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: photographer of everyday life based in pasadena, california

jen: shine** !

--- shine**

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

the cool thing about this shine** session,

is that jen is a piano player---

a real full time self employed musician---------

but she's so much more than that.

her attunement with rhythms falls into so many parts of her life.

she bakes,

she writes,

she's aware of herself and what makes her her.

she takes risks and creates new things that have never existed.

she imagined and created her own christmas tree----- out of branches she collected, and little pieces of ribbon she had laying around,,, and it is beautiful. i dont think i've ever been so moved by a tree. (secret: i dont really decorate for holidays.)

so i am excited to share with you this celebration of jen, & a few of the rhythms that keep her going,,

the little fold of crust

:) (it was sweet potato)

she got down, to lykke li

beauty * grace

and hey,

i want to offer something to those of you who have been wanting to do a shine** session but just dont have the money. soo many people have written me saying they're wanting to save up for a session in the future but just can't make it work right now. i totally understand and wanted to help you out-----

i am offering 10 sessions at $250 instead of the normal $550 rate.

these 10 sessions will include the following

-- a 1 hour shine** session at your house

-- an online proofing & ordering gallery of your finished collection of images

** must be booked by monday, january 16th

** i am in pasadena, california & am open to travel for an additional small fee

** reflection sessions (talking through your images in person with me instead of online) can be booked onto this special deal for $99 if you are interested.

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contact me to book a session by filling out this form!

7 comments so far

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blythe says:

i LOVE these shan! especially the one of her fingers on the ribbon and the very last one. woweee

nice!

(01.11.12 @ 11:37 PM)

stuart says:

Way better than a Charlie Brown Christmas Christmas tree! Jen is beautiful!

(01.12.12 @ 03:46 AM)

Katy says:

SO beautiful, Shannon. I really feel like I know Jen in a small way after seeing these. Heirlooms.

(01.12.12 @ 05:42 AM)

ChristenB says:

so beautiful Shannon!! You captured Jen's graceful poise and thoughtfulness. love these images!!! Also, the lighting in that first one is crazy!! :)

(01.12.12 @ 06:31 AM)

charity says:

I LOVE THIS! Jen is beautiful in her everyday!!!

(01.15.12 @ 10:11 AM)

Lindsey Swedzinski says:

That first photo is MAJIC!!!! gorgeous!

(01.17.12 @ 07:22 AM)

Lindsey Swedzinski says:

That first photo is MAJIC!!!! gorgeous!

(01.17.12 @ 07:23 AM)

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leftover peach plum pie.

daily life

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

i found this saran wrap just sitting there and it was, mesmerizing.

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sharon says:

gorgeous

(01.09.12 @ 09:16 PM)

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rosarito mexico: for the purpose of eating lobster.

daily life

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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

christmas break was one of the most relationally filling times i've had in a while.

working from home, by myself, is often draining---

i crave to be with.

to be with people in the daily.

and working in front of my computer at home,

sucks.

i intended to stay thursday-monday at my parents' house, but ended up staying an extra three days because i didn't want to leave.

on the last day we all decided to go to mexico!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

grandma & the steam from our TAMALES

i was unsure if this was one of those unattractive moments, or if this is the cutest laugh you've ever seen, and yes: it's the cutest laugh you've ever seen.

my brother's getting married in two months---------

and he spotted the most pretty alley i have ever seen.

--- i twirled a little and felt great about life,

family -------- beautiful

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and then we ate lobster and got to watch the back and forth of the ocean from up high.

7 comments so far

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janna gould says:

your family is seriously gorgeous.

(01.04.12 @ 10:44 PM)

Christina says:

Aww...I really love your family posts the mostest. :))))

(01.05.12 @ 12:17 AM)

Emily says:

The Leiths are so gorgeous! These photos are lovely Shannon :)

(01.05.12 @ 02:18 AM)

marilyn paul says:

Thanks Shannon for these picture - capturing the fun of that Mexico trip that your Dad gave all of us for Christmas! It will be a highlight of our trip down from Canada, to be with all of you for that FUN, AMAZING day!

(01.05.12 @ 11:00 AM)

annie gerber says:

so lovely :)

(01.05.12 @ 11:43 AM)

hol says:

i just am captivated by all of these

(01.05.12 @ 02:34 PM)

Krysta Masciale says:

Love this! The hubs and I got married in Rosarito :)

(01.26.12 @ 03:14 PM)

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a little more michigan.

daily life

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Monday, December 19, 2011

have you ever had a friend move?

this seems to be my phase of life right now:

everyone moving out of LA toward new things.

christen and her husband moved away a few months ago,

so it was the most fulfilling thing to travel and see where she now lives.
--- and to meet her baby.

taken by christen--- baby therapy is good for the soul.

(we went to lake michigan,,,,,,,,)

(why do only some get to be crossed?)

and we also went on a little mini walk downtown to have a coffee.

coffee and talking----------makes me so happy every single time.

lemonjellos COME TO ME,

so michigan--------------------------------------

i didnt expect to like the cold so much,

i didnt expect to like the streets so much,

i didnt expect to like the air so much,

i didnt expect to find THE cutest coffeeshop,

well........ i hoped we would.

and we did.

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Carson Leith says:

Love the one of you holding the baby. So lovely!

(12.23.11 @ 09:58 AM)

janna | gould says:

all your michigan images are beautiful. i looked through them thinking, "i almost moved there", "i could be living there right now". weird. so bizarre. so cold.

(12.23.11 @ 10:37 PM)

Tara says:

Just swooned over you and the baby. Love your posts.

(12.30.11 @ 01:08 AM)

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holland, michigan,,,, 2 week old samuel--

portraits

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Monday, December 19, 2011

my friends christen and tony had me come up to michigan last week----------

i stayed with them for a three days and saw the ins and outs of what it means to be new parents of a two week old little baby.

to watch them collaborate on how to calm him down, who was going to put him to sleep, who was going to make dinner, when bathtime was going to be......... it all felt so ordinary yet so alive.

yes it was the daily, but the newness of a human life brought this special tone that i didn't expect.

being here with them slowed me down and brought me deep joy.

yeah, this felt like sacred space.

most images explain themselves,

but you need to know that this is christen covering his ears from the fire alarm. sweet little tiny eardrums,

and this one..............

i went downstairs to get a new battery and came back upstairs to see samuel in his crib and tony & christen here,

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

baby onesie,

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the light,,

------ the light again. beauty.

somehow one of the most sacred and awe-inducing moments for me------------- bathing,

and then tony figuring out the new ergo baby carrier dealie,

-- we took a small outing to lake michigan.

i told them, "oh we don't need to go. it's fine."

but they said i needed to see it,

and they were right.

stunning.

awe-inspiring.

majestic,,

yay for tony being one of those awesome dads who carries the baby.

through the window. (cold but worth it.)

beautiful.

i liked doing this so much that i'm open to doing more, if any families would be open. this felt somewhat like shine** but for a family. discovering the essence of who you are together instead of on your own.

book a session by clicking here.

19 comments so far

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Ellen says:

Aren't babies magical??? I feel like I have seen that pink chair somewhere before.....

(12.19.11 @ 08:03 PM)

MaeMae says:

i have always believed in you and known you were so blessed - but SHAN. i have chills looking at this. wow. i can't wait to see more SHINERS. AMEN AMEN AMEN!

(12.19.11 @ 08:33 PM)

blaire says:

Tony = Kc

(12.19.11 @ 09:04 PM)

Jen May says:

Gently sweet. Love the rainbow catch on the staircase

(12.19.11 @ 09:16 PM)

blythe says:

shannon,,,,,, wow.

just, wow.

(12.19.11 @ 09:35 PM)

hollie says:

the next time i have a baby... you will be in Naches, WA pronto! :)

(12.19.11 @ 10:32 PM)

Melissa says:

LOVE these pictures, Shan! So beautiful! You are awesome! Way to go with these!

(12.19.11 @ 10:59 PM)

Joy says:

You're right - this IS like shine for families. And I happen to think it is the most beautiful way to capture a family. You may find this photographer inspiring and like-minded. He photographs families essentially the same way as you did this one. So real, authentic, tender. How the two of you "see" has a lot of similarities to me. http://www.timcoulson.com/

(12.20.11 @ 06:49 AM)

Joy says:

You're right - this IS like shine for families. And I happen to think it is the most beautiful way to capture a family. You may find this photographer inspiring and like-minded. He photographs families essentially the same way as you did this one. So real, authentic, tender. How the two of you "see" families has a lot of similarities to me. http://www.timcoulson.com/

(12.20.11 @ 06:51 AM)

Joy says:

(12.20.11 @ 07:02 AM)

Christen says:

I will treasure these images for the rest of my life. Of course my baby would look cute all posed while sleeping in a bowl but I wanted to capture the authentic him and who we are together as a family- my messy hair and all. ;) These photographs document the honest moments we shared in our earliest days as a family... even with the extra supplemental feedings necessary to help him regain full health. I will always be grateful for the three days you stepped in to our home and delighted in Samuel with us. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the images of Samuel with Tony! You truly saw with your lens the many reasons I have fallen in love with my husband all over again. We are SOO grateful we could spend a few days with you, the friend and you, the photographer. ;) Thank you, thank you, thank you.

(12.20.11 @ 07:58 AM)

teri says:

ah.. love. i think your style blends so well into documenting a new family. also love that you were able to see lake michigan. it is amazing and a huge reason why we moved to west michigan. come back in the summertime and travel north along the coast.. it is so wonderful! :)

(12.20.11 @ 08:09 AM)

Nelly says:

Incredible job here. Wow. Makes me feel like I'm sitting in the corner, smiling.

(12.20.11 @ 12:25 PM)

anna says:

xila

(12.20.11 @ 02:16 PM)

Lindsey Swedzinski says:

love these! and yes-lake michigan is a pretty amazing thing.

(12.21.11 @ 08:21 AM)

Lindsey Swedzinski says:

love these! and yes-lake michigan is a pretty amazing thing.

(12.21.11 @ 08:22 AM)

sara montour says:

so so so precious, Shannon.

(12.21.11 @ 10:23 AM)

Tara says:

so so so so so so so so so sooooooo special and meaningful and utterly fantastic.

(12.30.11 @ 01:13 AM)

sharon says:

Such an amazing capture of such a precious time. I know they will cherish those images and I am thankful to see them because it brings back that amazing time to me. I remember my first time seeing Lake Michigan, I remember taking my first baby to the beach a week old. I remember every moment you show here. Breathtakingly beautiful and REAL

(01.09.12 @ 10:17 PM)

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clearing the palette.

daily life

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Friday, December 16, 2011

i was overwhelmed this morning and so decided to take my coffee to-go instead of for-here. meaning, i'd drink it while walking instead of while sitting in my favorite chair. best decision.

i also took cosmo--------- we havent been on a walk in a while and i feel like i have been depriving him of sunshine. i guess when he bites at me, and flies away every time i get near him, i'm not sure whether to leave him alone or to force him to hang out with me. the big decisions of a pet owner. but this morning was beautiful because he decided all on his own to climb into his little travel cage and come.

the best part about the walk was when a dog barked, totally freaked me out, and then cosmo whistled a small song back at him! so sweet.

woah, the coffee looked like a marble, (or a..........)

hello rainbow,

..................it felt so good to sit and stare.

mmmm. he's so happy when he's outside. so am i. i'm thinking of making this an everyday thing.

and my favorite way of taking a picture: eyes closed.

and hey on my walk i realized i have not been very vocal about the upcoming SEEING class. i have two spots left, and the class starts january 21st.

this is an option for a christmas gift!

SEEING CLASS: JANUARY 21ST

discover your unique vision in photography and learn to free yourself up an artist. one whole day of group exploration, 3 one-hour mentoring sessions with me, and many individual exploration assignments to do on your own. normally $550, but i'm doing $50 off until December 31st!

-- click here for a review by a past student!

-- sign up here

LONG DISTANCE SEEING CLASSES,

for those who are not in the area: long distance SEEING mentoring sessions are available, either the whole thing (three sessions over skype + the real SEEING workbook) for $350, or just 1 mentoring session for $99. people have been wanting options if they're not in california, so this is it! i am taking 5 students for january if you're interested.

-- sign up by filling out a contact form.

SHINE SESSIONS,

and also, #3.... shine** sessions! for the holidays, i am offering a free disc of the digital negatives for those who book a session before 2012. to book a session, it's a $200 deposit, and i can do payment plans.

-- a beautiful review by a previous shine client is here

-- sign up for a shine** session here

that's all i've got.

so much love to you.,, :)

shannon

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blythe, transition, shine**

--- shine**

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

shine session!
blythe"""""""""""

even though i've known her for ten years i learned even more while photographing her.
we started at 10am and i got to see her morning rituals.

for example,, she makes one big french press and then saves half for the next day.

she enjoys english muffins. she always sits in a certain chair during her breakfast.

i call her blx because when i put her name in my phone i pressed an X instead of a Y.

best mistake ever.

she is in one of those phases of life where everything is in boxes until you figure out what's next----------- and she's handling it beautifully and with grace.

we wanted to honor this phase in her life,

a time when there is so much up in the air,

but what is constant is her spirit, her eyes, her heart.

so that's why it doesn't matter that this house isn't hers,

or that she has no access to half of her stuff---

because its where her feet are planted that counts.

and i bet someday she'll smile at the time when she danced in her brother and sister in-law's living room to 40 Day Dream.

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what is shine** ?

book a shine** session by clicking here

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Malia Hill says:

Beautiful photos Shannon. I love you Blythe!

(12.08.11 @ 09:28 AM)

marilyn paul says:

Hi Shannon, Is Blythe going out on her own, or has she aleady done it? Her pictures are great. I like the one of her feet doing a little dance all by themselves! She is a special friend to you, so I can imagine that it was a good day that you spent with her! tell her hi from me...gr ma

(12.09.11 @ 11:39 AM)

Jasmine says:

To have recently met her and then to get to see this session unfold: that is extra-special to me. Lovely, Shannnnnners

(12.09.11 @ 03:29 PM)

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