Anything For You / A Snowy Utah Session

You know those times when watching it snow seems so magical. When jumbo sized flakes beautifully drift to the ground all around you, like glittering confetti falling from the sky? This was actually not one of those times.

Sue and I had actually planned to do her family photos in the fall of last year, but things got changed around and postponed a couple times. By the time our session date rolled around (again) she was very prepared to get it done even though there was the chance of a winter storm.

I actually enjoy shooting in diverse conditions. I love how it amplifies the mood of the images and it’s just fun to step out of the norm. But we didn’t expect it to be quite so stormy! When we got started it was snowing quite a bit and the clouds were very thick, but within no time it was a full on whiteout! We decided that we would just be as quick as possible

It was to the point where we weren’t sure if we should continue, when I hear little 4 year old Carter say “ I would do anything for a family picture” it warmed my heart so much that I almost didn’t feel sting of the cold on my skin while we braved the rest of our session. Even though we were being pelted in the face with ice crystals that were soaking us to the bone.

I love how their photos turned out and had so much fun playing in the snowstorm with this sweet family that I’ve gotten to know over the last few years! Obviously Carter has such a sweet demeanor and huge heart. I will continually be jealous of Zoey’s gorgeous coiled ringlets and just look at that angelic face. Hunter is such a big brother and was was pep talking his younger siblings while trying to keep them warm and dry the whole time. It was really touching to see their connection and love for each other! I am so appreciative that they chose me to be their photographer and braved this blustery adventure with me.

Preparing For Your Session

Yay, you’ve decided to shoot with me! What now?

Let’s start by setting clear expectations on exactly what we’re wanting to achieve with this session. First I will have you tell me a bit about yourself and your family. Names, ages, personalities and current interests. If I don’t know you already, I like to know who I am working with, it helps me prepare prompts that we will use to achieve sincere and candid images throughout our shoot.

Then, we will decide upon a location that’s fitting for the vibe of your personalized session. Depending on the season, and the sentiment that we’re going for, this could be in the comfort of your home, the magnificence of the mountain range, the golden glow of an open field or even the bustle of a cityscape. There are so many great options!

The last and most important part is to get into the right mindset. From trying not to get too caught up in what to wear or the need for your children to hold still and smile perfectly while looking into the camera. Although we will attempt to get at least one of those, that isn’t going to be our focus. Do set clear expectations with your family, let them know what you want from them. Tell them how meaningful these photos will be to you and let them know that it’s only a short period of time.

To simplify they styling process i’ve teamed up with https://styleandselect.com/ to help you decide on a color scheme, and outfit for everyone in the family. You can read more about that here .

Although I love a good Pinterest board for inspiration, I love having some images to be sure that we’ve got the vibe right… but we aren’t trying to re-create anything here. The goal is really to compose a visual representation of the relationships that you cherish the most. The love you share for each other and all the little details of your now. What are the things you most want to remember when you look back o n these photos. The dimples in their tiny hands, the scrunches in their nose when they grin…

From the moment we schedule our session I want you to begin visualizing that you’ve easily found the perfect outfits for everyone. Something that shows each of your personalities, and makes you feel confident and comfortable. Imagine everything going smoothly, you’re having a perfect hair day and the husband and kids are excited to spend some family time together.
If it just so happens that things don’t go as planned and you feel like you’re at a loss for what to wear, it’s ok!
Life can be messy, and so can your photos! Embrace it. When you look back in 10 years, you might realize that those were some of your favorite images! Not because they were perfectly planned out, but because they were true to where you were at that time in your life.

The words Family picture day don’t need to be associated with stress and anxiety! I have so many stories from clients about all of the things that have gone wrong while getting ready for pictures. Things from spills on the clothes they were supposed to wear to getting burned with the curling iron just as they were about to walk out the door. The tension usually runs high as mom is screaming to get your shoes on and make sure that everyone looks (and acts) their best. Or maybe that’s just me? The thing is that doesn’t need to be our expectation, nor should it be.

I understand that you’re investing in these photos and you really want them to look great, but I wan to put you at ease. You session should be something to look forward to! Take a few days to appreciate all the sweet memories that you’ve made with each person in your family and encourage them to do the same. Ask them what their favorite moments together were and the things they enjoy doing with you. The emotion of these thoughts are what we want to portray in your photos. Relax and enjoy each others company!
I can’t wait to capture it for you

Lake Life Here We Come!

Every year in July we take a 10 day trip to the lake, and just booked our outing for 2019. You can only book 4 months to the day in advance and the RV spots are going quickly, so we know that it’s something that we have to plan for which gets us looking forward to it early on in the year!

The kids love playing on the beach, making all kinds of things with the sand rocks and driftwood.
Jumping off the back of the boat to swim with the fishies. All the best boat activities, boarding, tubing, and soaking up the sun. We eat the yummiest camping food and treats and take a stroll around the park every eveing.

Paisley and Easton even learned to ride their bikes on these streets. The golden hour glows extra brightly or maybe that’s just my attention to the beauty that surrounds me when I’m here. We usually spot some wildlife before the sun sets. This place definitely has a special piece of our hearts!

We look forward to this vacation every year, but we’re extra excited this year because we got a new motorhome! Until now we had been spending our days in a 1981 Allegro covered in orange crushed velvet and wood panelling. We’ve loved all the memories we’ve made in that beast, but it was extremely unreliable (Like cross your finger and pray we make it up this hill type of reliable) With that in mind and our family not only growing in numbers, but taking up more space with their growing bodies, It was time for an upgrade.

I love going through photos of past trips, and reminiscing of all the fun memories we’ve already made. One of my favorite things to do is to take photos of all the fun that we’re having. My husband used to tell me to put the camera down and enjoy myself, but that IS what I enjoy. Obviously I don’t have my camera on me the entire time and I make it a point to be present and soak up the family time and the atmosphere, but I just love capturing it all as well!

We put all the photos from each of our trips into a look book (We’ve used Chatbooks, Shutterfly & Artifact Uprising) and the kids love flipping through them! It reminds them of all the fun we have together and helps them to keep their appreciation for that time in our lives active!

The kids also LOVE to watch the videos of our getaways. It’s like a little movie where they get to be the star!
I love our films because they remind me of things like finger dimples, thigh rolls, belly laughs and itty bitty voices. All the things that change as they get bigger. I will continually cherish where we are right now, but I treasure being able to look back on where we’ve been! I need to catch up on editing our more recent films.

Of coarse I went picture crazy for Collins first year at the lake. She is definitely a water baby and just like her siblings she is obsessed with digging in the sand! We are so excited to see how things go this year in our new home on wheels!

Vineyard Utah Family Photos / The Parsons

This session was one of my very favorites, it was my first time shooting at this location on Vineyard Beach. I actually didn’t even know that there was such a place as Vineyard Utah. I was a little nervous to shoot at a new location, but also excited because I knew that it would stretch my creativity.

The sky was overcast and the ground was wet, but by the time we pulled up, the sun had broken through the clouds. It felt good in the crisp clean air and I was delighted to meet this family! I’d come across Miranda on Instagram, she makes the cutest house beds (That you can find here) and I was looking into getting one for Collins. In a surreal demonstration of the law of attraction, she just happened to also be looking for a photographer and sent me a DM.
It’s so great to have this community at our fingertips that makes it so simple to connect!

Luca’s was the first little face I saw, as he came around the corner of the car. He had the sweetest little grin. Followed by his Dad Ryan chasing after him and Miranda got little Jett out of his car seat. She had thought ahead and waited until they got to our location to get him dressed, she was fully aware that babies like to spit up all over right before picture time! Before we got started, Miranda informed me that he has a neurogenic condition called angelman syndrome (AS) and was worried that he might not be too cooperative. I tried to reassure her that I was just going to focus on the love between them, and that doesn’t require too much on his part.

We walked down the stairway into a perfect scene, it was so beautiful. The blue sky was peaking through the clouds and the water was glowing. These little boys were adorable and so well behaved! It was making my heart swell to see the biggest smile on Jett’s face almost the entire time. He was just beaming! And little Luca had so much fun running around in the mud. I knew with every click of the shutter, we were capturing this sweet phase in their lives and I felt so much appreciation to get to be the one preserving it for them!

For more information on AS or to donate towards finding a cure you can visit
CUREANGELMAN.ORG

If you loved this session as much as I did, please comment down below, or hit subscribe to keep up to date with my recent work. I am obsessively grateful for your support! Thank you
XOXO-ShaiLynn

Welcome

Thank you so much for being here! 

Hey, I’m ShaiLynn. A spunky momma of 4, setting forth the intention to inspire others to celebrate themselves and realize the beauty of their now. Whether it’s aiding in the decision to work with me in photography + videography, learn the power of practicing positive mindset, or simply allowing yourself to shine unapologetically!

My whole life I’ve been drawn to artistry and wanting to be an uplifter. As a little girl I loved to dream of all the things I could do! I just wanted to create pretty things (including little humans.) I thought I wanted to be a rockstar when I grew up, but I know that I was meant to be a mother.

I was introduced to heartbreak very early in life, as my Father began to struggle with addiction. Which Ultimately took his life after several agonizing years of battling his dependence. A very short 6 months later, tragedy struck our home again when my 16 year old sister was killed in a car accident.

I have clung to the few photographs I have of them, but especially as the years have passed and the sound of their voices begin to fade from my memory, that I truly understand the importance of photographs and videos!

Becoming a Mom has me even more passionate about this craft! Watching my babies grow, witnessing how quickly they blossom, and how the days grow wings and fly into years; has emphasized my appreciation for all of the memory books and home videos that we have compiled! Looking back on our memories warms our hearts (Especially after they’ve tested my patience) I ‘m delighted to do what I love, and to be able to share that gift with others.

Pursuing my dream has been extremely rewarding. It has also come with its share of challenges, including a chronic illness. Throughout my experience of trying to find the balance between my career and my family life, I’ve taken away the significance of self-care and the undeniable power of mindset. Sharing that message in hopes of helping others has become very important to me.

Right now, I’m living in the beautiful mountains of Utah with my husband Brandon and our 4 children; Brooks, Paisley, Easton & Collins. Taking care of myself is a top priority, for me, & for them! Because words don’t teach, and showing them how to choose to be happy is the greatest lesson that I could teach them. I’m continually striving to be fully present and appreciate every stage of our ever-evolving lives. Making it a point to notice the extraordinary in every day. You can follow those adventures here

In my free time you can find me playing games and snuggling up with my family at home, or adventuring in the great outdoors. I truly appreciate your being here, your support means the world to me! Thank you