Shadeleaf Studios » Raleigh Durham Photographer, Shallyse Gastelum, Newborn, Children, and Family photography

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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Snowy Still Life {Durham Photographer}

I wasn’t born and raised in North Carolina. I was born in Utah, but spent enough of my childhood being raised in Arizona (we moved back to Utah when I was in high school) that snow still seems a bit magical to me.

I know a lot of people make fun of us here in North Carolina because of the panic and preparation that ensues from the weatherman reporting a possible 1-2 inches of snow. I used to make fun of it myself. Until last month’s snow storm forced my family to stay home for half a week. Now I understand.

While it was a bit inconvenient to be stuck at home and we definitely started feeling cabin fever toward the end, it was nice to experience the beauty of a snow covered landscape. And I love the fact that my daughter gets to enjoy a REAL “snow day” every once in a while (we used to get a LOT of snow in Utah, and I don’t remember school ever being canceled). Snow is so much more fun when you get to take a day off because of it.

I managed to capture a few abstract images the night the snow began to fall. While portraits are my passion, it was fun to take the focus (pun intended) off of people for a little while and just think about capturing art for the sake of art. Here are a few of my favorites.

Posted in Studio Portraits, Uncategorized

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Monday, March 1, 2010

Venus Vision

On a recent trip to D.C. area, I had the pleasure of spending time with Michelle Cantrell, author and owner of Venus Vision. The goal of
VenusVision.com is to encourage women to accept themselves as they are and to showcase real beauty in real women. The site provides everything from tips on relationships and parenting to fashion and beauty advice that counterbalances mainstream media. It is the ultimate resource for the modern woman who, like us, wrestles with self-acceptance and balancing the various aspects of our lives.

After meeting with Michelle, it became apparent that Shadeleaf Studios shares a similar mission. We strive to showcase each person’s unique beauty, creating images that not only capture the physical form but also the radiant energy that sets us apart. We firmly believe that every woman deserves to have stunning portraits, not only for themselves but also for their families. How many times have you scanned through family photos, rarely finding one image of the mother? Often times they are behind the camera or behind the scenes, making sure the needs of everyone else comes before their own. We believe that it is time for women of all ages to step in front of the camera in order to see themselves as others see them…beautiful just the way they are.

Inspired by the mission of Venus Vision, Shadeleaf Studios will be offering a very special portrait package just for women during the months of March and April. Book a “Venus Session” with us and receive a complimentary mini accordion album containing your favorite session images (makes a great gift for your spouse or significant other). Schedule a session with a friend (or a group of friends), and you’ll each receive a $35 portrait credit to use toward the prints or product of your choice. Whether you want to emphasize the sensual or serious side, we will consult with you to determine the location and style of images that would best suit your personality.

Venus sessions are all-inclusive (meaning the price for your session includes the session fee AND a selection of prints and/or digital negatives) and start at just $250. Contact us for full session details.

Michelle Cantrell, owner of Venus Vision

Her beautiful daughters who inspired her to start Venus Vision over a year ago.

It’s your time to step in front of the camera to create images that will be cherished by both you and those people who love you. Contact us to set up your very special “Venus” session today.

Posted in Uncategorized

by Larisa

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Monday, February 22, 2010

I Love This Little Girl {Chapel Hill Children’s Photographer}

In the past, I’ve avoided sharing images of my own children in an attempt to keep the blog more “business-like.” For the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want this business to go. I’ve come to realize that one of my favorite things about owning a photography studio (aside from the fact that I get to do what I LOVE and use my camera and be creative and all that fun stuff) is the opportunity to get to know my clients. I truly feel like you’re my friends by the time our session is finished, and I’m so grateful for the experience of meeting each and every one of you.

I’ve come to the realization that while I get to know many of you during our sessions, you may not have the chance to get to know me quite as well. I share your images and your story here on the blog, but rarely do I share any images of my family. Since photography is such an integral part of my life (second only to my family and my faith), it’s only natural that a good way to get to know me is by seeing some of the images I create for myself and for my family. So I’ve decided that it’s time for me to open up a bit more on the blog. I know that I feel much more comfortable when I know the person taking pictures of me (when I actually allow myself to be on “that” side of the camera). It’s only fair for me to allow you to get to know me a bit better – either before you book a session with me or after the fact.

With all that being said, here are some recent images of my oldest daughter. I love this little girl so very much! She has one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever seen, and I love to watch her interact with the world. We took this series of portraits while her daddy was out of town with her younger sister in tow. It was fun to go to downtown Chapel Hill and allow her to play model for the day for this fun urban session. She also didn’t mind the “bribery” of hot chocolate and cupcakes that I offered for a good expression (yes, I admit that I bribe my own children in the name of my art – I’d never have any images of them looking at the camera if I didn’t!). It was super cold outside when we started taking portraits, but she was a great sport, and definitely earned her bribery.

The weather will be warming up soon, so now is the time to contact us to book a funky urban portrait session. Urban sessions are GREAT for showcasing your child or family’s personal style. Depending on your “look,” we can customize your session to be contemporary, vintage, or a combination of both.

Stay tuned to the blog for some exciting news, specials, and giveaways. Great things will be happening this year, and we want to share them with all of you!

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Friday, February 12, 2010

Miss “W’s” Mini Session {Durham Children’s Photographer}

I first had the pleasure of photographing Miss W when she was 6 months old – the “perfect” age when she was sitting up but not yet crawling. She was much more mobile this time around, but just as adorable as the first time I met her. She definitely made me work it – I can’t remember the last time I jumped as high or sang as loudly as I did during her session. But it was probably good for this little out of shape body to fit some exercise into the daily routine.

Once we gave her free reign to run around and play with her soccer ball, the smiles came out in full force!

Did you know that we offer a standard mini session fee that you can schedule at any time of the year? 30-minute mini sessions are all-inclusive (they include the session fee AND a disk of high-resolution digital files). A mini session is a great option if you just need a few updated portraits of your child or want to showcase a special outfit but don’t want to invest in a full-fledged portrait session.

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