Beloved Blog

farewell

2010-04-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

Farewell dear blogger blog. Our time together has been great but it's time for me to move on. The truth is I'm just not that into you anymore. I've found something bigger and better with flash! So, thank you for all you've done, but this will be your last post.

Please visit my new blog here! I promise you won't be disappointed. :)

- Shannon

ps. the new blog address is www.belovedphoto.com/blog

You should come..

2010-04-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

Attention Calgary friends!

If you don't have plans this Thursday evening (April 8th) then you need to get yourself to the Marquee Room for the Amy Seeley, Zach Luchy & Lorrie Matheson show. It's sure to impress and it's only 5 bucks. That's cheaper than my morning latte.

Edmonton, Kelowna and Vancouver friends you can catch Amy and Zach too! Here's a link to where you can find out more information about the tour.

Here are a couple videos of Zach and Amy for a sneak preview!

evo 3.0 // one . winning music video with zachary lucky from the sm evo experience on Vimeo.

my favorite storm // amy seeley from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Hope to see you there!

March boudoir - part 2

2010-03-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

I was finishing up the last couple boudoir photos tonight so I thought I'd share a couple more of my favorite shots. When people hear "boudoir" they probably think of lots of lingerie and "sexy face". For us, that is not necessarily the case. Yes, there is typically some lingerie and sexy face involved, but I like details so I tend to shoot shoes, jewelry, eyes, legs; anything that catches the light. I try to get to know each girl so I can get a sense of what direction their shoot should go. Some are edgy, others more romantic, in the end, girls just want to have fun and that's pretty much the end goal of every shoot. Ultimately I LOVE pretty photos and I think these few capture that.

I'm sorry AND Jack!

2010-03-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

Dear devoted blog followers..or follower, you may have all given up on me by now. My sincere apologies for not posting anything in 2 weeks. yikes! major fail for me. The problem is I haven't had much going on the past couple weeks so there isn't really anything new to post. The other problem is I am so sick of this ugly brown hue that surrounds us and haven't felt very inspired.

Today I decided I needed to shoot something so I brought my camera to the dog park. Jack LOVES the dog park. Mostly he loves the abundance of sticks and all the dogs he can show off to.

April is officially the kickoff to my wedding season and I can't wait to have tons of photos to share with you. TONS!

For now, here are a couple of Jack. :)

WPPI

2010-03-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

what happens when you bring 900 photographers together with the promise of lasers, a dance party, a few live performances and all happening at a secret location? This (c/o with etiquette):

airhorns & lasers from stillmotion on Vimeo.

This was my first night in vegas and what a way to start! What followed was 2 days of seminars with amazing photographers, a trade show which tempted me to buy so many things I may or may not need, shopping (of course!) and meeting some new friends. It was an incredible time. I know I promised photos but the truth is I didn't take my camera out once. oops. Next year!

ok, here is one photo, I took it with my iphone but I still like it.

March Boudoir Sessions

2010-03-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

It feels like it's been forever since I did a blog post, probably because the last week has been a complete whirlwind. My last post was as I was sitting in the Calgary airport waiting to jet off to Vegas for WPPI. That couple days was truly incredible, and one of the best things I've done so far for my career. A separate post on WPPI is to come but I promised the boudoir girls a preview so here we go!

Last Saturday was our second boudoir marathon day. We were at hotel arts again and I was joined by the lovely Laura and Lindsey for hair and makeup. It was another fun filled day of hair spray, lipstick, bustiers and 6 gorgeous ladies.

I hope everyone had a great time and here's the pg13 preview!

whirlwind!

2010-03-07T05:38:00.000-08:00

It's 6:30 am, I've already been up for 2.5 hours and I'm waiting at the airport ... why? I'M GOING TO VEGAS!

Here's the story. Last year I heard about this big photography conference in vegas called WPPI. we're talking BIG, like the biggest there probably is. I thought.. hmm that would be fun, maybe one day. A few months ago I noticed the announcement for this year and thought it would be great to go but didn't think it would be possible this year because of $$, time, etc.

Jump forward to last month. My friend Amy was in town and we ended up talking about WPPI. She's performed there in the past and as much as she wanted to avoid it this year, it looked like she'd be back in the land of fluorescent lights. jump to last week. I realize that I have 2 buddy passes for westjet. you see, my friend Elaine works for westjet and is getting married this year and I'm her photographer and we swung a deal. :) Soon after I realized this I thought maybe Amy wouldn't mind sharing her room with me and it wasn't long before this crazy dream became a reality, which brings me back to gate 33.

So I'll arrive in vegas later this morning (for the first time ever I might add) and will join Amy, pick of my new business cards (very long story), perhaps do al little shopping, throw a quarter in a slot machine, then we'll be off to what I think sounds like a pretty dam good party. I think the name says it all. airhorns and lasers! Tomorrow is a full day or seminars and the tradeshow before flying home. It'll be fast, but somehow that seems appropriate for vegas.

I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories and photos to share next week but for now here's one from where I am right now. oh, and please forgive me if this isn't my most eloquent post, I was up at 4 am! :)

tea + wifi

2010-03-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

it is 10 pm and I am sitting in a bustling coffee shop writing this blog post. Not really because I want to be here but because we are without internet at home right now. I feel disconnected and on edge, like at any moment I could miss something crucial. Alas, I pulled out the ol' laptop bag and trekked down to the cafe for a tea and free wif. :)

I have 2 posts ready to go and was debating which one should come first. They're both good and hopefully they'll both go up this week but I think I'll start with this.

Back in January the girls of Makeup UR Mind and Bombshell Hair and I got together to host our first boudoir shoot. It was a huge success and I think every girl left a little taller, more confident and wee bit more sassy. I only posted a few photos back then due to the nature of the shoot and because a few girls were using the photos as valentine's day gifts. Now that the secret is out I have a few more to share! We're hosting another shoot this weekend, which I think we're all excited about. If you or anyone you know is interested in doing a boudoir shoot send me an email at hello@belovedphoto.com and I'll provide more information.

I just realized I don't know if this tea was decaf.. god i hope so. god that makes me sound old.

olympic gold

2010-02-24T21:27:00.000-08:00

Olympic spirit!

2010-02-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a long time since I did a post, so I worked hard to ensure this one would be substantial!

The Olympics. Call me nerdy, but I love them. Like I LOVE them. For someone who doesn't really like sports, I am freakishly obsessed with the Olympics. I think I've nailed down why though.

1. 1988. I was there, granted I was 5 but I remember them. I remember standing in the cold with my miniature candle lit torch. I remember visiting the pandas at the zoo as many times as my parents would take me. I remember collecting pins. I remember Heidi and Howdy and how I wanted anything and everything that concerned them. I think I even remember my mom telling me they went to the north pole to help Santa when I was sad they were gone. This is where my love of the Olympics began.

2. I love what it stands for. Take away the corporate sponsors and ridiculous advertising; the Olympics bring the world together. They celebrate people who work incredibly hard to be the best at something. It celebrates universal togetherness. I don't know these athletes but when you see their reaction to winning you can't help but by happy for them. When someone falls you feel the pain. These people are passionate about their sport. They work for years for perhaps a 1 minute run down a mountain and you can't help but want to cheer them on.

3. National pride. I was just in Vancouver and it was INCREDIBLE. I can't describe the feeling. There was a buzz in the air, everyone you saw was excited to be there. I know there's been alot of negative press about these olympics but when you're there, those things don't matter. On the streets of Vancouver it is a giant party and people could not be more proud or excited to be a part of it. I have never seen so many Canadian flags, little, big, building sized, they're everywhere. As you get closer to the venues and Olympic village you start to see other flags too, ordinary people showing their support for the other participants.

So that is just a little bit about why I love the Olympics. Another bonus, Kyle and I don't argue about what channel to watch at night. :)

Here are just a few photos from our whirlwind weekend to Vancouver. The band photos are from one of the free venues, Live City, and are of 2 artists, Rich Hope and Elliot Brood.

kyle took this one!

BIG news!

2010-02-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

oh boy. this is a blog post I've been working on for awhile now. Some of you may have noticed my new logo appear in the last couple posts, well that was just the beginning!

Late last year I attended a seminar with Becker and it really sunk in just how important web presence is; it is a modern day business card, that is 10x as effective. This little endeavor of mine has been handmade from the beginning. I did alot of the designing myself and enlisted friends and family whenever possible. While this worked in the past and I'm proud of what we accomplished it was time for a change. I will forever be grateful to my brother for setting up my first site and if you're in the need of a start up website he's started his own little business (email me for details if you're interested).

SO here it is.. the brand new home of Beloved Photography!It's fresh and new and I am so proud to show it off. The best part is this is only part two of the new Beloved. First was the logo, second the website, third, and definitely not least, a new blog! The blog will still be awhile but anyone who knows me knows I have a hard time keeping a secret, alas... wwww.belovedphoto.com. The address has changed so be sure to update your bookmarks let me know what you think!

Thanks to the AMAZING itdr for putting all of this together for me. This process has been so much more enjoyable than I ever thought possible.

my favorite

2010-02-07T22:05:00.001-08:00

This little guy is quickly becoming one of my favorites. He gets cuter every time I see him, and his mom is looking fabulous for having only giving birth a 3 weeks ago!! No need to say anything else, the photos speak for themselves.

Walsh Baby

2010-01-31T21:03:00.000-08:00

Vanessa and I go way back. Way back to the days of waking up at 4:30am, steaming milk, pulling shots, sweating out espresso, etc. The days of starbucks. She was my boss the first and second time I worked there. You may be wondering how many times I've worked at starbucks and the answer is 3. That may seem odd, but it's really not. Multiple starbucks stints are very common, anyone who's worked there knows this to be true! While I would never want to work there again, my time there is how I met so many of the people I call my good friends today, and I am oh so grateful for that.

Back to Vanessa and Landin. Vanessa asked me to come over last weekend to take a few shots of them. I hadn't met Landin before and my first introduction was him digging me out of the snowbank I got stuck in 3 doors away from their house. Great intro I know! Thanks again Landin!! They are expecting their first baby in a couple weeks now, who along with their dog and cat will complete the Walsh family.

I so look forward to meeting baby Walsh!!

ps. anyone notice something new in these photos? :)

another boudoir

2010-01-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share one of my favorite boudoir shots I've gone through since I started editing. I love the grainy, gritty texture of this photo. Everything about this one I love. There are so many more amazing photos from our first boudoir session I want to share, but you'll have to wait...

Hunter Joseph Anderson

2010-01-18T21:18:00.001-08:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting my "unofficial" nephew Hunter. He is so adorable and already has the most hilarious facial expressions. To think I started taking his photo when he was the size of a sesame seed!! I managed to take a few photos before feeding time but can't wait to take some more once he's settled into his new life at home with mom and dad. Johnna and Dave, you did good!!

9 month project - the finale!

2010-01-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have followed my blog for awhile you'll know Johnna well. We started documenting her pregnancy what seems like forever ago but was actually 9 months ago. We set out to capture how she progressed throughout her pregnancy, often comparing her baby to food for reference.

Well we made it to watermelon. the big one. This past Sunday I went over to Johnna and Dave's place for a mini shoot. Her due date was today so we knew it was getting close but when I left on Sunday I had no idea how close it would really be! Yesterday Johnna gave birth to a little boy that I am oh so excited to meet! Hunter Joseph Anderson, I can't wait to meet you! Johnna and Dave you probably won't see this for weeks, but I'm so happy for both of you and hope you're doing well.

Calgary Boudoir Shoot

2010-01-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to post these photos!! This past weekend was my very first boudoir shoot and it went amazing. Myself, along with Makeup UR Mind and Bombshell Hair joined forces for a marathon day at Hotel Arts. We had 4 lovely ladies who were so fun to work with and who I think looked stunning. For anyone who's getting married or knows someone getting married this is a great stagette idea or even just for a girls night. Lindsey, Laura and I will either come to you or book a room as we did for this shoot, provide hair, makeup, champagne, and photos. Because of the nature of this shoot I don't have a ton of photos to share right now, as I want to give the clients proofing time first, but here's a couple to give you an idea. For more info on boudoir or any other photography email shannon@belovedfotos.com. Also if you're interested in Hair or Makeup services you can find Laura and Lindsey by clicking their names.

10 for 2010 - This List

2010-01-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

I know this title is totally predictable but I couldn't think of anything else!
So a couple weeks ago I reviewed my 2009 list and how I did, and now it's time for my 2010 list. I love lists. I've said it before, but seriously, I'm slightly obsessed. I make them at home, at work, mentally, written, verbally. A friend even game me a book titled "Listography" knowing how much I love lists.

So here we go my 10 goals for the year.

1. Blog every day for 1 month.
2. Do a mentoring session or workshop with a photographer that inspires me.
3. Respond to all emails and messages the same day I receive them.
4. Book 3 more weddings
5. Run 10k in under an hour.
6. Drive less
7. Read 12 books
8. Catch up with friends I've lost touch with
9. Get to know other photographers in my community
10. Do something that scares me

There it is, my list for the year. I made it tough because I want to push myself. If there's one thing I learned this past year it's that if I push myself, things happen. So I'm dreaming big, setting big goals and going forward knowing I can make them all a reality.

Instead of posting a photo I thought I'd do something new and post a video. It's of me, skating -for probably the 2nd time in 10 years. I had asked Kyle to take a photo of my "skating move" and instead of taking a picture he shot video. Here's what resulted. :)

Skating Moves from Shannon Yau on Vimeo.

New Year, new things to come

2010-01-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone, I know it's a couple days late, and I know I've been terrible at blogging lately. The holidays were not good to my free time and I'm sad to say my blog slid to the back burner during the festive season.

It's a new year though and to start things off I have the winner of the canvas print! My last blog post of the year held the opportunity to win a canvas print of your choice, all you had to do was a leave a comment. I put all the names in a bowl, pulled one out, AND the winner is.........

Congratulations Krista! I'll be in touch soon to find out what image you'd like canvased.

So 2010. Here we are. It sounds too futuristic to be today. Speaking of futuristic, if you haven't seen the movie Avatar you should. I am NOT a sci-fi movie person and I didn't have huge expectations based on a couple reviews I'd heard, but it was amazing. Yes, the story has been done a million times before, but I promise this movie is amazing, one of the most, if not the most visually beautiful movie I've ever seen.

Other than numerous holiday meals, wrapping and unwrapping gifts, baking, getting together with family from out of town, working, boxing day shopping :) and everything else that comes along with this time of year, Kyle and I snuck away to Lake Louise this past weekend. It was a wintery wonderland and I thought I'd share a couple photos, oh and a couple of Jack and Kenji from Christmas Day because they're just so darn cute!

I hope everyone had a great holiday and that you're excited for the year to come. I know I am. There are some big things coming to Beloved in the next couple months and I can't wait to share them with you, but not right now. :)

My Favorites

2009-12-28T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well I think it's safe to say I completely dropped the ball on blogging this month. As soon as I gave up on blogging every day things went way WAY downhill. Well I'm back and I'm doing a give away! It's partly as a "forgive me for not blogging and please keep visiting my site" and partly as a belated Christmas gift to you. This is my favorites of the year!

Going through these photos was a reminder of how lucky I am to have such great clients, friends, supporters and everyone in between. I still can't really believe that I decided to pursue this only a year ago. 1 year! Sometimes I find myself thinking I haven't booked enough for next year and what else can I be doing, but then I take a deep breathe and realize this past year was so much more than I ever expected and rather than stressing about what is to come I should take a moment to be thankful. So THANK YOU to all of you, I honestly wouldn't be where I am without you! I can't wait for 2010, but for now here we go, my faves of the year.

oh and the give away! It's a 8x10 canvas print of your choice, whether it's one of the favorites, something you've seen on the blog before or a portrait I shot for you earlier this year, the choice is yours. All you have to do is leave a comment and I'll randomly draw someone on January 1st from all the commenters. Good luck to all!

Boudoir!

2009-12-14T21:24:00.000-08:00

I failed. I was attempting to blog every day for a month and I failed. To be honest I don't know what I was thinking! December is only the busiest month ever and I don't have many shoots booked so there isn't a whole lot to share.

SO I've decided this will be the first thing on my 2010 list. - blog every day for an entire month. I'll consider this a practice run.

Today I have some exciting news to share though! Some of you may already be aware that I've teamed up with 2 amazing ladies, Laura Drennan and Lindsay Wood to do Boudoir sessions. Laura will take care of hair, Lindsay does makeup and I'm doing photos. Below is the official invite to our first event! If anyone is interested email me at shannon@belovedfotos.com. Don't wait as we did a pre-announcement on facebook a couple weeks ago and there was quite a bit of interest and limited spaces.

the 2009 list - revisited

2009-12-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, i failed. I didn't blog yesterday. Can i take a mulligan? I just didn't have anything to say. but.. today I do! Every year I make my list. My list of things I want to accomplish for the year. As I already shared, I am in love with the biggest loser and the finale reminded me to revisit my 2009 list to see how I did. I set goals, but did I attain them? Here it goes:

The List 2009

1. Pay off credit card and keep it under control - umm no. not even close

2. Run the Melissa's 10k run - well i wanted to, but it sold out before I had a chance, I did run the Calgary Stampete 10K, so I guess it's not a complete right off.

3. Take a photography course - yup! I took portrait photography at ACAD last spring, it was fantastic.

4. Shoot 3 portrait sessions- wow, I honestly can't believe this was my goal, it's a reminder of how fantastic this year has really been.

5. Bring my lunch to work 4 days a week - yes and no. i tried and some weeks I accomplished this, and sometimes I didn't. It's an ongoing battle.

6. Read 12 books-not quite, I'm at 10, I could still make it though over Christmas break! Incase you're interested, here's what I read:
-Prisoner of Tehran
-Love is a Mix Tape
-Dreams of my father
-Wasted
-the 4 Twilight books
-The Glass Castle
-The Gum Theif

7.Do yoga - not nearly as much as I'd like to you, but yes I did.

8. watch an entire sunrise - sure did! From inside a train traveling from Paris to southern France. which brings me to number 9!

9. Set foot on another continent - YES!! my favorite, Europe. Spent 3 weeks traveling through France and Spain.

Well, I don't think that's too bad 6 of 9, possibly 7. Stay tuned because the 2010 list will be coming soon! AND because I didn't take any photos of the sunrise I'll post the next best, sunset in Spain.

December 8, 2009

2009-12-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

I'm too busy watching the biggest loser to post a substantial post tonight. This show makes me cry every time. every single time. It's 2 hours of inspiration, of people overcoming their challenges. It's inspiring in so many ways.

So for today I ask what inspires you? AND what have you accomplished this year that you set out to do?

and here's a photo of Jack, he may look innocent, but those eyes are deceiving. :)

family time - Christmas style

2009-12-07T21:12:00.001-08:00

Ok these are probably the least Christmasy family photos you'll ever see, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Why do Christmas card photos always have to be so cheesy? Seriously, there are some really bad ones, for an example (or just a really good laugh) visit here.

So you may recognize this family from a summer session, blue eyes was my first introduction to Evan and I think he's just gotten cuter. With busy schedules, Christmas parties, crappy weather, and other inconveniences we were left with just one evening to get these photos done. Wouldn't you know it, it was the one day Evan decided to not take his afternoon nap. Needless to say he wasn't thrilled to put on his wool sweater and smile for the lady with the camera. We worked quickly and managed to get a couple good shots.

If anyone else is looking for family portraits before Christmas, send me a note at shannon@belovedfotos.com. I have room for 1 or 2 more families, schedules pending.

Here's a couple more from this latest session.

family Christmas - sneak peak!

2009-12-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I don't have time to do the full post tonight, but since I am committed to posting something, and I thought these 2 photos were just so darn cute, I thought I'd share them for now. This is Evan showing us his dance moves, which to be honest were better than most of the guys I know.

The rest are to come tomorrow!

favorite things

2009-12-05T21:25:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite people is my dear friend Amy Seeley. I don't see her often enough but when we do make the trek to each other's homes it is always an adventure. We met way WAY back at one of my first post university jobs, and by far my worst job. The truth is we probably only worked together for a month or so but our friendship continued to grow long after we escaped the clutches of that place.

One of her many delightful qualities is that she is an AMAZING songwriter/singer. I may be biased but I have yet to meet anyone who's seen her perform live who wasn't blown away. You may have have recently heard some of her music on Canon Camera commercials here in Canada. One of the songs featured is a long time favorite of mine. Don't quote me on this but I think it might be one of the first songs she ever recorded. "Surprisingly So" is a quiet song that just makes me smile and I thought I'd share it with all of you today. If you're ever in the Portland area look her up and if she has a show, go. You'll be glad you did.

You can find more information on Amy here!

ps. this is a slightly terrible photo of us from one of my favorite places, Canon Beach. It's from before I decided to become a professional photographer. haha.

Just one thing to say....

2009-12-04T22:03:00.001-08:00

Stay inside. ok, maybe one more. stay warm!

I promise a more substantial post tomorrow!

the best of.. cold weather...

2009-12-03T21:57:00.001-08:00

I am hating this cold weather. I know it's not even that cold but I'm still hating it. There are a few good thing about cold weather though and with that I thought I'd list my favorite things about cold weather.. if for no other reason to be a little less depressed.

1. sweaters. There is nothing better than a a cozy sweater especially sweater dresses, they're the ultimate combination of clothing.

2. hot tea. typically I am a coffee drinker, lattes to be specific, but when it's cold out I love tea. right now my favorite is orange blossom.

3. mittens. a necessity yes, but I still like them. They're like sweaters for your hands.

4. Christmas. This only hold true until Christmas is over, then there's even less reason to like cold weather. I LOVE Christmas. The decorations, the spirit, the baking, the gift giving, the songs. I love all of it and Christmas is the only time snow is welcome.

ok that's it. haha. I can only think of 4 enjoyable things to do with cold weather. yikes. that's not good at all. Anyone else have any ideas?

This photo has nothing to do with cold weather but rather it exudes warmth. This is another one from Amanda & Max's session that I just processed. I love the way the light hits Amanda in this shot.

Change

2009-12-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I started my new day job. It's my first new job in 4 years. I thought I'd be nervous, I thought I should be nervous, but for some reason I wasn't. I think it's because I knew it was the right change. I'm excited to learn something new, to be in an environment that supports the pursuit of my dreams. It's a good change.

I've never really liked change, I like knowing what's going on, what I have to do, what's going to happen next. Change throws a wrench in this system but sometimes that's a good thing. It pushes you to try new things. It forces you to step out of your box. If I've learned one thing this year it's that sometimes change is exactly what you need.

That's all. and because a blog post without photos is boring here's a couple more from our trip to Europe this fall. Since I've committed to blogging all month expect to see more from our trip soon.

First up.. le Paris.. my favorite.

31 days of blogging

2009-12-01T20:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog challenge. Late last month I attended a photography seminar and was reminded of the importance of consistent blogging. SO I decided to challenge myself by committing to blog every day for the entire month of December. It seems like a good way to finish off the year and will definitely be a challenge.

To start us off we're going back to the beginning with Matt and Monique. These two were a couple of my first portrait subjects. We did an engagement session back in the early summer and to be honest it was probably more for me than for them. We recently finalized that I will be shooting their wedding in Mexico this coming May (YAY!!) which I am so excited about. It will bring us full circle as Kyle and I were both present when Matt proposed last New Year's Eve.

The one thing missing from their engagement session was their dog Wembley. Since our first session they've added little maya to the bunch as well so they wanted to do a few family photos. It was freezing the day we met for this shoot, but everyone was a good sport, even the pups!

That's all for today.. see you tomorrow!

Baby J

2009-11-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

Amanda and I met way back in 2001 at UVIC. We lived in the same dorm and became extremely close over the year that we lived there. Both of us only stayed for one year, but we still talk about that time often. Amanda has this quiet sense of humor that kills me whenever it comes out. I can still remember sitting on our dorm floor, laughing so hard we were both in tears.

Amanda and Max were already dating when we spent that year in Victoria and I saw them go through the highs and lows of dating long distance. There love for each other was always apparent and it was no surprise when they became engaged and then married a few years ago.

When Amanda told me they were expecting their first child I was thrilled. Max and Amanda are going to make amazing parents and have so much love to share. We spent an afternoon together shooting in their home and around their community. Their baby room is so adorable, and doesn't Amanda look amazing! I am so proud to share these photos with you and can't wait to meet baby J.

baby J - sneak peak

2009-11-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

Baby J's full name is baby Jajszczok. To be honest I still don't know exactly how to say it and I've known Amanda for almost 10 years. To be fair Amanda hasn't been a Jajszczok the whole time, but it has been long enough that I should know how to say her last name. I promise to learn before baby J arrives. This is just a sneak peak at the ADORABLE photos to come. The light during this shoot was incredible. Stay tuned.. the rest are coming soon!

9 month project {Johnna... the end is near}

2009-11-18T20:51:00.000-08:00

As promised here are the rest of the photos from my latest shoot with Johnna. It was a freezing day and the wind was not cooperating but I think the photos still turned out great. I can't believe we're almost at the end of this project. In some ways it feels like we've been working on it forever but mostly it feels like time is flying by. I can't wait to meet her wee bambino in just a few months!

Things to come.

2009-11-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

dear faithful blog readers, let me start with this. Thank you for coming to visit as often as you do. That being said, I have been terrible at blogging on a regular basis lately. I follow a number of blogs myself and am always a little disappointed when there isn't a new post. So as a challenge to myself and as a treat for you (hopefully) I am going to attempt to blog every day for the month of December. I have no idea what I'll post but I know it will push me and I can't think of a better way to finish off the year. SO stay tuned, there is plenty to come!

I also wanted to share a little bit about my past weekend. I attended a 1 day "crash course in photography" with an incredible photographer out of Orange County, [b]ecker. It has completely changes my outlook on my business and I am so excited about the year to come. I left feeling inspired, fired up, and ready to give this all I have. I can't really believe it's only been a year since I began this endeavor, in some ways it feels like I've been doing this forever, but mostly I still feel like the new kid on the block who has so much to learn.

A post with no photos seems boring so I thought I'd post a sneak peak at the latest of Johnna's 9 Month Project. I LOVE the photos that came out of this shoot. I'll post the rest of them later this week.

ps. the pink balloon is NOT a hint about the sex of the baby.. we used both pink and blue balloons for the shoot. :)

Ash

2009-11-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Ashley. She's also my most devoted blog commenter. For anyone who has a blog or who has seen the movie "Julie & Julia" you know how exciting it is to get comments. It's that extra proof that people care.

As you can probably tell by the colors, these photos were done late this summer, yes that's how far behind I am. Ash is one of my oldest friends and has been a huge supporter of me and Beloved Photography. She has been there since the beginning of this journey and I can always count on her to have some words of support and encouragement when I've had a bad shoot or even just a bad day.

For that reason I was thrilled when she asked if I would help her out with a project she was working on. She needed some solo portraits done and I was more than happy to oblige. Not only does she look beautiful, I think the photos also capture her wonderful spirit.

jack

2009-11-02T20:21:00.001-08:00

I promised photos and here they are. This is our itty bitty new addition Jack, doing what he seems to do best right now.. sleeping. It didn't take long for him to steal my heart. He's only a couple pounds now but he's already growing.

A.J. & Jay

2009-10-29T21:58:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!

I know it's been awhile. Big things have been happening over the past couple weeks. The biggest news is our new puppy Jack. He is so stinkin' adorable and I promise to post photos soon.

For now I wanted to share some recent engagement photos. I spent some time with A.J. and Jay last weekend and had a great time walking through Sandy Beach and checking out their neighborhood bookstore.

We shared a lot of laughs during this shoot and can't wait to shoot their wedding this spring at the zoo.

adventures

2009-10-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! I can't believe it, but I'm home. I've never had 3 weeks go by so fast. First of all, I must give a big shout out to Calgary: Thanks so much for providing us with freezing temperatures, snow, frost covered windshields, and air as dry as the Sahara dessert. It was such a wonderful treat to come home to from +15, glorious fall weather. Sometimes I really question why we choose to live here.

Our adventure. It was amazing. We walked through old streets, explored fishing villages, grabbed some late summer rays on the beach, watched the beginnings of the wine harvest, ate our faces off, enjoyed amazing (and yet still cheap) wine, partook in siestas, became connoisseurs of bread, caught up with old friends, made new friends, and so much more.

And now we're home and it's 5:45am (thank you jet lag) the adventure is over and in a way it feels like it never even happened. So quickly you forget the little things that once stood out. Traveling is how I first fell in love with photography. I can still look back at photos from previous trips and it brings be right back there, to the smells, the sounds and emotion.

Here are just a few photos from our trip.

bonjour, hola, hello from abroad

2009-09-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

hello friends. just a quick note to say hi from across the sea. France was amazing and I´m currently in San Sebastian, Spain. It´s this glorious town on the northern coast, famous for surfing, and food. Now i don´t surf but I love beaches so this works out to be 2 of my favorite things. We´ve been indulging in pinxtos (like tapas) daily as they are by far the cheapest way to eat. France did some damage to our budget so we´re living a little more thrifty these days. Luckily Spain is much more budget friendly and 5 euros can get you a glass of wine and a meal of tapas.

I am also happy to report that I am working on my photography skills daily. I wish I was able to post a few photos from here but they´ll have to wait till we get home. It´s a photographer´s dream to be surrounded by beauty- buildings, streets, people, food, plants.. all there waiting. I´m loving every second.

Much love.
Shannon

9 month project - Johnna... and a few other thoughts

2009-09-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

Let's start with the other thoughts. This thursday Kyle and I leave for Europe. It's a trip that's been an idea for probably a year and a reality for at least 6 months. I've been counting down the days for months and we've finally made it. 2 days.

Anyone who knows me knows I love to travel and that i LOVE europe. My first visit was in 2005 with 2 friends and it remains one of the best times of my life. This time we're heading the the Basque region of France and Spain. It's an area neither of us have been to so it will be a brand new experience. My first trip to Europe was also my introduction to blogging. I recently discovered that blog is still posted and I found it so interesting to read my posts. I know this blog is primarily for sharing my photography but for the next couple weeks I plan on using it personally as well. It's mine so I get to make up the rules : ) I don't know how often I'll be able to make posts, but I will try to as often as possible. I know everyone wants to see photos and I am so excited to be there with my camera. I promise there will be plenty of photos to come!

So, my bags are not packed but my passport is ready and that's probably the most important thing right! I hope everyone has a lovely rest of September and glorious beginning to October.

Now to Johnna. It's been a couple weeks since I last saw her and that little baby is sure growing! We got together to take a few shots before I leave. As I've already said, I love fall and I love the photos with the leaf. so cute!

Much love.

Fall Leaves

2009-09-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

I love fall. I love the colors, the crisp air, wearing sweaters and scarves, watching leaves fall and I think this shoot captured that feeling perfectly. I met Kim while she was pregnant with her daughter Jaedyn and I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. This shoot was also my introduction to Carter, what a cutie! Him and I have almost the same birthday so I feel a special bond with him. :)

For this shoot we started at their home, then made our way to Sikome Lake.. only one problem, the lake was already closed for the year. It worked out fine though because the surrounding area was glowing in shades of orange and yellow.

Enjoy!

The Swintons

2009-09-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here's another 9 month project that began in the 9th month. At least this time I'm getting the pictures posted before the baby arrives!

I go way back with these two. Way, way back. I've know Faye and Franz individually since we were 15 and as a couple since I think we were 16. We spent many of our youthful summers together at getting into trouble. Faye and I also share a love of The Amazing Race and have spent many Sunday nights together cheering on our favorite teams.

A couple years ago I was honored to be part of their wedding and a few months ago was thrilled to hear they were expecting their first baby. Of course I said "Yes!" the second they asked me to do some photos for them before baby Swinton arrives.

For this shoot we hit 17th ave as Faye and Franz wanted to capture a little of where they spend their time. Oh yah, did I mention we're also neighbors! I had a great time catching up with these 2 and can't wait to do the next portrait session when baby arrives!

The Hansen Family

2009-09-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Hansen family invited me over to capture a family brunch this past weekend. The best part - I got to partake in brunch as well. Carla and I have known each other for a few years now; she is actually who hired me at my current day job. Her husband Jan is a great chef, and from what I could see they have 2 mini chefs-in-training on their hands as well. I had a great time with this family, and I think these photos capture the fun, laughter and love that is overflowing in their home.

Thanks again guys, hope to see you again soon!

9 month project - Judit

2009-09-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I got together with Judit to take some 9th month photos. It was hot, uncomfortable and she was due in a week but she was still a great sport. I've known Judit for 3 years now and know how excited her and her husband Roger were for their first baby, actually this is their second baby, Chevy, the ever faithful golden retriever is their first baby.

well... i guess this post is a little overdue because they had their beautiful baby boy Lane last weekend. I was happy to hear momma and baby are both doing well. Congrats you guys!

much love.

shannon

Neil & Shay

2009-09-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to start September off with a wedding. This beautiful couple invited me to capture their wedding this past weekend and from the day I met them I knew their wedding would be a fun one. Anytime a couple wants to do their portraits in a pub it's going to be a good day!

If some of these guests look familiar it's because Shay is the big sis' of Kelsey, from my first wedding. Having already met 1/2 the family and guests made shooting this one that much more fun.

It was easy to see how much these 2 love each other and their families. Speeches were filled with love and praise for both, and it was easy to see that Shay is driven and passionate about what she does, and Neil is the life of the party and a loyal friend.

I wish these love birds nothing but happiness and joy. Thanks for letting me be a part of your day!

9 month project - Johnna

2009-08-31T21:46:00.000-07:00

here they are! A few more shots from my latest session with Johnna. 5 months down, 4 to go!

What is the 9 month project? Well it started as just a blog post title. Johnna and I had come up with this plan, I would do mini portrait sessions with her throughout her pregnancy to document her journey. I soon realized there were probably other mothers-to-be out there who would be interested in the same thing.

So the 9 month project was born! :)

What it is: up to 9 mini sessions throughout the pregnancy followed by a newborn session and a custom album

Cost: $750

Interested? Write me at shannon@belovedfotos.com.

I also offer single sessions at the regular lifestyle portrait fee.

for now i hope you enjoy these shots.

much love.

Brand spankin' new

2009-08-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

if you are reading this and you've been here before you'll have noticed some major changes. Welcome to Beloved Blog! With the launch of the website it only seemed fair to give the blog a facelift as well. So I enlisted the help of wrecklessgirl aka Kristy. I've been a follower of her own blog for awhile and knew she would be perfect for the job. She is a gem who put together EXACTLY what i was looking for. If you're looking to update your own blog or even start one and don't want a generic template give her a shout.

I'll leave you with a sneak peak at the latest from the 9 month project. If you are interested in creating your own 9 month project write me! I'll be doing a follow up post with more photos from Johnna and more information on the 9 month project soon.

much love.

places i go

2009-08-23T22:23:00.001-07:00

hello friends.

i thought it was about time i did a post about a place i spend many of my weekends during the summer. Here are a couple photos i snapped in Waterton last weekend. I know they're not your typical scenic photos, but these 2 caught my attention. Perhaps I'll post more later. Waterton is a little town in southern Alberta, tucked in between the mountains and the prairies, it's a sight. Lucky for me, kyle's family has a home there and thus we spend as many weekends as possible there while the weather permits. so.. if it's between May - September and you can't get ahold of me, I'm probably there :) oh, and if anyone is looking for a photographer for a Waterton wedding, I am also available to shoot there.

* Shannon.

ps. the website has been fixed! has anyone checked it out? anyone? let me know what you think!

website update....

2009-08-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

So we seem to have encountered a few website issues… unless you’re using safari. Why doesn’t everyone just switch to apple..it would make my life and yours so much easier!! Stay tuned, I’ll make sure to post when all the bugs have been worked out.

BIG news!

2009-08-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

dear friends.

words cannot express my excitement right now. my official website is now live! my brother put in huge hours building it for me and I am forever grateful. I adore it and hope you do too. Give her a visit and let me know your thoughts.

Other big beloved news. this blog is getting a much needed facelift. Not sure when it will be completed but I am so excited for you to see it.

What else.. business is building and I have a couple weddings and family sessions booked in the next couple months/early 2010. It's all very exciting! If you or anyone you know is looking for wedding or lifestyle portraits visit the webpage for more info.

so.. just to clarify, here are all the places you can now find me.

web: www.belovedfotos.com

blog: http://belovedfotos.blogspot.com

facebook: Beloved Photography {by Shannon Yau}

email: shannon@belovedfotos.com

I think that's all. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

much love,

Shannon

Kelsey & Kurtis

2009-08-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to write this post!

Kelsey and Kurtis were married on July 31st and I had the privilege of being there to capture every moment. In the short time since we met, I've come to know them as fun, full of life and very much in love. Their wedding was beautiful and I couldn't have asked for a better looking bridal party to add to my portfolio.

I also have to thank my brother Steve, he assisted me for this wedding and did an amazing job. I'd have him back any day. He's also developing my new website (coming real soon!) which I am forever indebted to him for.

I hope you all enjoy the photos, especially you newlyweds!

much love.

blue eyes

2009-08-05T14:02:00.001-07:00

Meet Evan, Lindsey and Doug. Lindsey and I went to high school together and I was thrilled when she asked if I could do her family photos. How could I say no?! Evan has the most adorable big blue eyes and was all smiles for our photo session. We had a perfect summer night and took advantage of the nearby park and sailing club.

Lindsey is also a freelance makeup artist and we will hopefully be working together in the future, pairing up to improve our portfolios. You can find more information on Lindsey's work here.

It was such a treat to work with this family and I can't wait to see them again!

sneak peak..{the 9 month project}

2009-07-21T21:26:00.001-07:00

no. i am not pregnant. i just want to clarify that before the rumors start flying. now we can get to it; while i'm not pregnant my good friend is and we've embarked on a 9 month photo project. Anyone who's had a baby or knows someone who has is probably familiar with the baby center, it's a site that tells you the size of your baby each week as compared to food. So far we've documented poppy seeds, lentils and lemons. There's no rhyme or reason to our project, but I'll try to post photos as we go along.

hope everyone is having a good week. I have a few projects on the go and coming up so i should hopefully have plenty of photos to share in the coming weeks!

much love.

sunshine.

2009-07-14T21:35:00.001-07:00

This isn't a new photo, it's just one i found tucked away that I love. It was about a year ago that I met my friend Amy Seeley in San Francisco. Instead of visiting each other in our hometowns, we decided to meet in a different city for a weekend. Between fresh squeezed orange juice, accordion shops, crepes and many many lattes, we found a few moment to see the sights. You can't go to san francisco and not see the golden gate bridge. with the rainy weather we've been having i needed this little reminder of sunshine.

i LOVE exploring new places and can't wait for the next adventure - Spain!

etch.

2009-07-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

my good friend Kyoshi Takasugi recently realized his dream of opening his own hair salon. ETCH is the result of many days and nights of hard work from Kyoshi, his wife Brynna and their many friends. I've been a client of Kyoshi's for years now and consider both him and Brynna good friends. It was them I visited Japan with a few years ago.

I am so proud of Kyoshi, who did much of the design work of the salon himself. Below are a few photos I took during construction and of the final result. You can find ETCH at 1410 -4 Street SW (across from the Sony store) and at 403.457.5797

growth.

2009-06-22T17:59:00.001-07:00

below are a few photos from my garden. It has become a source of great joy this spring*. Daily waterings, watching things grow, trying to decipher what are plants and what are weeds... it's been sort of therapeutic. I can't wait for the day I can make a salad, fresh from the ground.

*spring:typically when things start to grow, this year spring didn't arrive until summer.

AND

voila! These are my business cards. There was a slight typo.... which will be fixed, but I thought I'd post photos anyways. Let me know your thoughts.

Now for big news. As I am looking to build my portfolio I am offering family, engagement, maternity, new born, or any other kind of portraits you can think of at a ridiculously low price. If you are someone you know is interested email me at shannon@belovedfotos.com for more information.

This is a season of growth, may it continue.

much love.

not forgotten

2009-06-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

friends. I have not forgotten you. A substantial post is to come this weekend, for now I wanted to share a few photos from the Coldplay concert last night. Phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe the show. I wish I could have brought my good camera but we got a few good shots anyways. It helped to have such amazing seats. I should point out Kyle took a few of these pictures, maybe we can work as a team one day! :)

much love.

M & M

2009-05-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Meet Matt and Monique.

Matt proposed this past New Years at Kicking Horse resort. He schemed a plan to propose on the Gondola on the way up to the restaurant at the top of the hill. It didn't go quite as planned, but I think it made for a better story. I was lucky enough to be part of a group of friends waiting for them at the top ready to celebrate their new engagement. They're getting married next year in Mexico and today I had the privilege of shooting their engagement photos.

They were both terrific sports, putting up with the beating sun any my weird ideas. This was my first shoot with a couple, and I couldn't have asked for a better pair.

Thanks so guys, I hope you enjoy!

much love.

Shannon Yankee ( as per Matt)

long road south

2009-05-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

dear friends. I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post. I don't have much of an excuse other than not setting aside enough time. My goal is to be more dedicated to my blog. This past weekend I travelled the southern half of our lovely province by car. I'm enamored with the landscape but am sad to say driving the same path over and over had made it lose some it's appeal. This past weekend I gained some of that back and managed to capture a few photos.

There is lots happening with Beloved Photography these days. First of all, we have and address to call our own! www.belovedfotos.com. For now it links to this blog but soon it will be connected to my new website. more details on that to come! Next up, business cards! At the printer and ready for pick up tomorrow. Of course photos are to come. Lastly, I have a few shoots coming up in the next couple weeks so I should have plenty of material to blog about. I'll leave you with a few shots from this weekend.

much love.

{oh baby}

2009-04-20T20:53:00.001-07:00

it's not what you're thinking. this is not another post of baby pictures... well i guess it sort of is. This weekend i got a lensbaby. Photo junkies probably know what these are, but for everyone else it's a kind of lense, and yes that's what they're actually called. basically it's made of flexible plastic that allows you to manipulate the focal point. Here are a few shots i took while experimenting this weekend. fun!

one of my favorites.

2009-04-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking, 2 posts in one day! it's true, but only because there is a really good reason. I meant to post this video last week but it got lost in my "to do list" until now. I've mentioned her before and I will again, Amy Seeley. This is a beautiful little video of her.

my favorite storm // amy seeley from StillMotion on Vimeo.

{ taking care of business }

2009-04-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

welcome!! as you've probably noticed there have been some changes to beloved. it's cleaner, shinier, and a little more modern. We'll call her beloved 2.0. This weekend there were changes all around. SO many things to report.

1. Beloved Photography is an official company in the province of Alberta and it belongs to me! This was a shockingly easy process. if you can hand over cash you can register a business. Not sure how i feel about that. no matter, beloved is mine and i have a piece of paper that apparently proves it.

2. New blog. i know the old blog wasn't very old, but i was bored of it. It didn't feel right, like it wasn't doing beloved justice. this one feels much better. we're feeling at home already. what are your thoughts? Which one do you like better? does anyone even read this?!

3. business cards. now that i have a legitimate business i need cards right!? plus, I've just always wanted them. :) so i've been putting something together. I think I've got it. updates to come.

4. i have a project. it's big and it's top secret. I'm working away on it and can't wait to share... when the time is right. :)

I think that's all. Spring is here and i'm feeling cheery and excited. A few fotos I thought I'd share from my photography class. Oh and a fortune i received in a cookie last night. It was too good to throw away.

much love.

revived

2009-03-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

I realized this week I can't remember the last time i printed a photo. I have hundreds, perhaps even a thousand files neatly stored away, organized by year and month, on this little black box. In this digital world, people don't print pictures anymore. we watch slide shows on our computers and tv's, we post them on facebook, we blog, we may even set them to our desktops, hell there are even digital picture frames, but we don't print photos anymore. I think it is sad.

I remember my very first camera. it was bright pink and my brother had a matching blue one. I think they were gifts from our aunt. I remember taking it on summer vacation, taking what i was sure would be a perfect role of film. I thought about my pictures before i took them. each one of those 17 shots had to be perfect. I was so excited to take that roll of film in. Now we can take a hundred pictures and delete all but 3. I'm going to start printing photos again, I think it will push me to take better photos.

Here are a few shots I've been reworking - photoshop is a big playground, and so far I've only mastered the sandbox.

Coming up next: Revisiting "the list".

{time}

2009-03-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

does time ever go by so fast you don't even realize it's happened? that's how I feel March has been. I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. my apologies. I haven't been doing much shooting these past couple weeks as I just haven't had time or any subjects, but that should all change soon. I'm starting a photography class next week and can't wait. It will be great to get some feedback and learn some new techniques. I also have a few shoots tentatively lined up this spring which i am so stoked for. Thanks to everyone for passing along my blog and recommending me to your friends, it's greatly appreciated and an honor. Here's a few bonus shots from past shoots.

*hearts*

ps. you may notice something new to the right. It's my flickr slideshow! click it to see more.

iNSPIRE

2009-02-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

dear friends.

I just spent 5 minutes trying to think of a different way to start this post, you know to keep things fresh, but I couldn't come up with anything. Maybe it's because it doesn't seem right to just jump into it, i mean how personal would that be? alas, "dear friends" continues.

the title of this post is inspire. this weekend has been full of it. from talks with friends, another adventure at market collective, movies, music, and other blogs, there's been plenty to take in. I am grateful for all of this. You may have noticed the little blurb to the right of this post. It's somewhat like my personal mission statement. "living. learning. discovering. seeking inspiration. seeking to inspire." I try to remind myself of this often. This year I've made a conscious decision to be more creative. To tap into that part of me that's been dormant for awhile now. The point of all this, we are all inspired by something and I don't think it hurts to be reminded of this. To remember to look for that inspiration, so we don't forget what we want, where we're going, and how we're going to get there.

Now a few fotos from a mini shoot with Sterling. You may be noticing a developing trend of babies. Why? because there is a serious baby boom in this city, and i seem to be in the middle of it. oh, and they make pretty easy subjects, unless they're cranky. :)

much love,
shannon

{family}

2009-02-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

dear friends.
this weekend was both valentine's day and family day. Appropriately, i have a post of a family full of love.
a family post on family day. Mr & Mrs. Smith (and baby Garrett too)

*hearts*

Shannon

le petit

2009-02-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

dear friends.

meet ms. maya. I had the pleasure of attending her 1st birthday this past weekend. She is too adorable for words.

2009-01-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

friends.

a few photos i wanted to share.

much love.

shannon

the list

2009-01-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

dear friends. my apologies. i have been neglecting my blog for the past couple weeks. therefor, let me start with Merry Christmas, Happy New and all that stuff. I hope santa treated everyone well.

That brings us to this. The List. A couple years ago i started making a list. I start it around the new year, but add to it throughout the year. I know many of you make your own lists. I've decided to share mine, for some added accountability. I know many of you make your own lists, feel free to share them in the comments if you'd like.

The List 2009

1. Pay off credit card and keep it under control

2. Run the Melissa's 10k run

3. Take a photography course

4. Shoot 3 portrait sessions

5. Bring my lunch to work 4 days a week

6. Read 12 books

7. Do yoga

8. watch an entire sunrise

9. Set foot on another continent

Below are a few fotos from the holidays, here's to hoping for a great 2009!

Much Love.

Shannon

Beloved Friend.

2008-12-21T21:53:00.000-08:00

Dear friends. I know this is not my normal day to blog, but I couldn't wait to share. I've mentioned her before and I probably will again, firstly because she's a dear friend and secondly because she's immensely talented. Amy Seeley is a singer-songwriter-story teller who I feel incredibly blessed to call one of my best friends. Anyone who has seen her perform knows she has a way of capturing your heart. Her lyrics tell her story, which often connects with a story of our own. Love, Loss, Learning - themes we all know well. She is actually who inspired the name Beloved Photography.

Yesterday she released her latest album, eight belles. It is delightful and I am so proud of her. For any of you still searching for a Christmas gift, you can buy a digital copy on her website (link is to the right). My favorite songs are look up, look out and I've got ideas. Ms. Seeley, many hearts to you.

2008-12-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

Dear friends.

I realize this post is late. I apologize. I don't know if it's a legitimate excuse, but the cold is really getting to me. I think my body is starting to freeze. We are made of mostly water so it's possible right?

Anyways, BIG news. I purchased my new camera! Since google shut down my "camera fund" I had to come up with an alternate source - thank you Christmas Bonus! :) Last weekend I braved the cold and snow to hit the camera store. It was so worth it. We are still getting acquainted but I think it's going to be a lovely friendship. Unfortunately it's just been to cold to get outside and play, but I've found plenty inside to shoot. Alas, new fotos to post!! I thought it was only appropriate to have a festive theme being so close to Christmas, that and I've been wrapping gift for the past few days so there was plenty to work with. I hope you enjoy!

*hearts*

ps. This coming Saturday my good friend Amy Seeley releases her new album eight belles. What I've heard of it is beautiful and I would highly suggest checking it out. It's what I will be listening to next week, for now I'm listening to L.E.S. Artistes by Santogold

can you express ship that?

2008-12-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

board meetings. christmas shopping. preparing for festive parties. these are the things taking up too much time this week and alas I don't have any photos to share. I did work on my page a little bit though. You may have noticed some links on the side. These are for things I love.

Ms. Amy Seeley. My lovely and talented friend. Her music inspires me.
Someecards. If you haven't sent one of these cards yet, you need to. Not your average e-cards.
The Sartorialist. Fashion + People on the Street
Urban Dictionary. Not Webster's, but way more fun.

For those of you in Calgary, you saw the snow on Sunday. Oh how I wish I had my camera that day. The trees where spectacular. Could it be? Might we actually have a white Christmas this year? I honestly can't say I remember the last time that happened. Fingers crossed.

Hope everyone has started their baking and shopping. aka.. scoped out Crave for cookies and checked how many days you have left to order online. 14 days....

Brrr. Winter is here (unofficially).

2008-12-03T22:01:00.000-08:00

Dear friends.

Today I do not feeling like blogging, but am making myself as to make it a habit. Maybe it's because it's cold outside. Maybe it's because I got a flu shot today and I HATE needles. Maybe it's because it feels like it's been a really long week.

Never the less, here we are. I only have a couple pictures to share today, both from my trip to San Francisco this past summer. I know I've only been posting old photos, but I've been spending some of my time playing around with photoshop, and these are the results. This weekend we are having a girls night and I expect plenty of photos to come from this. Stay tuned.

As many of you know music is near and dear to my heart so I think I will also start sharing a song each week as well. This week I'm listening to: Last Request by Paolo Nutini.

2008-11-26T21:09:00.000-08:00

Dear friends.

It looks like Wednesdays are becoming my blog day. I kind of like this idea. Wednesdays are one of my least favorite days. Mid week, two days left till the weekend. two whole days. This gives me something to look forward to on this ho hum day. For now I think I will only blog once a week. It gives me 7 days to come up with something to write about. It's sort of like homework, but way more fun.

First off I must recount this past Saturday which will be called art day. I was joined by my good friend Shelley and her to-be-born baby Jones. We started with Starbucks of course. I trust everyone has had their first Gingerbread... i mean gingersnap Latte (what's with this! Why change a perfectly good name?).

The ACAD art show and sale was our first stop. I think this is becoming a tradition for us. If you've never been it's a put on by the 3rd and 4th year students and is a great opportunity to see/buy some great local art. Next was the Market Collective - an independent artist market. It was inspiring to say the least. Young people like you and me, following their dreams, creating beautiful pieces. I was lucky enough to find something for myself and a few Christmas gifts as well. The last stop the Art Central and The Siding Cafe. Perfect ending.

This day was exactly what I needed. The reassuring "you can do this". One day I will be there too. Sitting with fellow artists showing my work, hoping someone else likes it too.

Now to my progress. The camera hunt is on going and mostly in the research stage. I think I know what I want, but I'm checking out other options just incase.

I've waitlisted myself for a photo class in January; if that doesn't work out I'll get in the spring session.

Photoshop is a daunting and interesting adventure all on it's own, but I'm learning. I've posted a few of my experiments.

I think that's about it. Have a great week.

*heart* you.

ps. over 10 dollars has been donated to the camera fund! :)

2008-11-19T20:40:00.000-08:00

Dear friends. It has been a week since the birth of Beloved Photography and I have been busy. First off was creating a plan. I am a list maker. Whenever I have something coming up or I need to make a decision I make a list. Alas, the Beloved List was born:
1. Name of adventure. check.
2. Start blog. check.
3. Get photoshop. check.
4. Learn photoshop. hmm. bought a book. check.
5. Get a camera... I know this probably should be number one, but it's not, and step 5 has a list all of it's own!
6. Take pictures. lots and lots of pictures. Well, number 5 is crucial to this step so.. I'm working on it.
Now I know this seems fairly simple, but it's a start and at this point that's all I need.
So in this post I thought I'd share my first attempts with "photo art". Enjoy!

2008-11-12T21:44:00.000-08:00

Dear friends. This is the beginning of what I hope will be a beautiful adventure. Today I begin my journey in exploring art and creativity in the best way I know how. Photos. I have been in love with this art form for some time and have always said I'd be a photographer if I didn't need a "real" job, well that just won't do.

This is the birth of Beloved Photography. I chose this name because it captures everything I hope to do. Thank you for coming, I hope to see you again soon.

Find Me

2006-08-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

You can also find me:

web: www.belovedphoto.com (image galleries)

email: hello@belovedphoto.com (booking inquiries or just to say hello)

facebook: Beloved Photography {by Shannon Yau} (let's be friends!)

blog: http://belovedfotos.blogspot.com

About

2006-08-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

I am a lover of:

life. lattes. falling leaves. moments of laughter. crepes. Sunday morning breakfast. people. art. reading a good book. love. discovering new places.

Welcome to Beloved Photography. I started Beloved because I love taking photos and I love taking photos of what you love. What do you love?

~Shannon