WELCOME to the JOURNAL

Happy February! There are some exciting things on deck for Samantha Shannon Photography this month: launching the spring & summer family photo booking calendar two networking events with local photographers in Portland and Salem updating print product photos & headshots in the studio seeing new album samples, frame corners, and framed artwork samples roll in […]

If you’re anything like me, finding something to wear for your photo session can be a little overwhelming. I go through my closet first, usually, and everything is your standard mom-wear: t-shirts, shorts, and jeans. But I think portrait sessions are really a great time to dress up a little bit! A swishy dress adds […]

I’ve spent these last few weeks getting my systems set up again to start accepting portrait bookings for this summer—friends…I’m BEYOND excited to start shooting again! After 2020 collapsed in on itself, I grabbed a few sessions here and there, but between health concerns and suddenly homeschooling, I wasn’t able to take on as many […]

Maybe it’s just my Enneagram Type 1 showing, but my anxiety around the pandemic has been materializing in PROJECTS! I’ve been in the kitchen, baking cookies, cakes, and breads. I’ve decluttered and organized and cleaned. And currently, I’m working on a project that I think many of you might like help on: I’m working to […]

Gosh, a lot can change in a few weeks. Just two weeks ago, I was blogging about my plan at SSP to serve my clients best during the pandemic. Since then, we’ve had several orders and extensions of orders from the federal and state government as the virus keeps expanding. So, I thought I’d pop […]

Things are getting REAL out there, friends. In the last day or two, there have been so many announcements about closures due to COVID-19 that I can barely keep up. I understand the worry. I’m no stranger to it–anxiety and a phobia about germs has been with me a loooooong time. So the frequent handwashing? […]

Well, since we’re officially into summer now here in the Willamette Valley (even though today’s cloudy weather might have you thinking differently), it’s time to check spring OFF the list!  I love to recap each season here–what happened professionally and personally for me the last few months, AND go over my goals for the coming […]

This post has been on my to do list for a while now (okay, years), and to be honest it’s ALWAYS changing!  When I first started around 2010, I stalked every single photography blog I could find and pretty much read and watched whatever they told me to!  There are definitely way more resources out […]

There’s something I love just as much as connecting with wedding and family photography clients. Something big. It’s bringing together PHOTOGRAPHERS!  There’s something so rewarding about creating a space for people in this industry to meet in person, to chat, commiserate, swap tips and make coffee dates.  I really believe that with social media being […]