Calvin | Senior 2015

Welcome another senior to the blog, Calvin! Calvin came to me for his senior portrait session right at the beginning of Neewollah this year (so forgive me for the delay and in sharing this goodness!). I was the perfect time of year for his shoot and the locations they chose suited the season just right.

Most senior boys tend to be a bit more serious and getting a smile out of them can be work...Calvin however had an impossible time being serious which guaranteed a genuine laugh every time I requested a somber expression. Thank you Calvin and Lisa for choosing me to be his senior photographer. Your session turned out perfect and it was a pleasure to work with you both!

Enjoy some of my top picks from Calvin's session below and check back for more blog posts coming soon!

- Love Shelby

Tate | Senior 2015

I'm back! I've been waiting to blog some fant-abulous sessions for a while now and it's time to catch up! Are you ready? Kaygo....

Today I get to share with you my first senior session in a loonnnnnnng time. Tate is a senior at Independence High School this year and has a handsome sense of style and love for basketball.

 Basically he made this really easy on me...

Aside from that he was willing to let me get a little creative with smoke bombs and a small hike down a hill for some beach side goodness at sunset. His session turned out perfect for what I had in mind and now I'm pretty certain that senior boys might be the easiest subjects to photograph.

Until next time...which hopefully won't be as long as last time!

Love, Shelby

Boyle Family Session

Long time no see everyone! Just popping in to share a recent family session that was full of energy and cuteness!

Big thank you to the Boyle family and all of the kiddos for choosing me to capture you all on that hot summer day, you guys did great and I found every giggle, tear, and ornery smile so perfectly charming!

Throwback Thursday: Patriotic Kid Crafts

Howdy everyone! I'm overdue yet again for another blog and it only seems fitting to do a Throwback Thursday edition with some Fourth of July flair!

Last summer the girls and I got crafty with these cute little bird houses. I took them outside with a sheet, some red and blue craft paint, brushes, and let them do their thing! Now we have these adorable little houses to decorate with every summer.

Enjoy and take a moment this season to take your little ones outside for some messy crafts!

Love, Shelby

All images Copyright © Shelby Demo 2014.

Using the images published in this blog without the consent of Shelby Demo is illegal and will result in a fine.

| Ry's Pink Lemonade Styled Session |

FINALLY! 

Yes I'm that mom, that doesn't prioritize my own kids pictures and takes care of other families first. I know I'm not alone in this guilt though!

Since it is summer time I feel that it is fitting to share my little Ry Baby's special 2nd Birthday Pink Lemonade Styled Shoot and Party.

Her birthday falls right at the end of summer which means it was stinkin' HOT when we did this shoot, so I set up the scene while she played inside then I just let her do her thing in the yard (with minimal coaching) until she was tired of the heat and bugs! Before posting this I decided to re-edit all of the images because my style has evolved a little bit over the last year and I am still in love with the images we got on that sticky day.

I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration from our little play date in the yard!

Love Ry's dress? Her auntie bought it online from JustFab kids. Ohhhh if only it still fit her! *mom tear*

My props were an easy find thank goodness. The banner, lemons, and pink lantern were all from Hobby Lobby. The suitcase and chair were a trade from a vintage second hand store. The flowers were a happy blessing from the previous owners of my mom's house!

Party time! We enjoy having summer birthday's good ol' backyard style. Ry's little lemonade stand table was made by her grandma and cake made my yours truly. I'm working on the baking skills. ;)

Make a wish and eat some sugar! Big sister thought it was fitting to wear her princess dress to the party, but of course! Cupcakes also made by me! Funfetti cake, strawberry frosting, lemon slice candies.

We are here to create, NOT compete!

Happy Saturday all! I don't know about you, but over here in small town Independence, KS the weather is gorgeous today! After some extremely sparatic ADHD style spring cleaning earlier today, its nap time for the kiddos while I get to sit down and blog for the first time innnnnn....forever. :(

Anywho, my latest goal has been to polish up my in person communication skills. To be honest, I am awkward as heck when it comes to meeting new people and part of it is because I have such a hard time concentrating for long periods of time....ohhhh something shiny!

Where was I? OH! So in an attempt to get myself out there and meet new people, as well as bring other local and nearby photographers together I have started a bi-monthly gathering at my favorite local coffee shop where I invite female photographers of all levels of experience and specialties to come and chat.

There is no pressure to take notes, there is no requirements of any sort. We simply meet up, buy a coffee and maybe a muffin, and talk about the things that make our wheels turn. Whether it be from balancing family with our passion, or trying to figure out a better business model that will benefit our clients the most! So far I have hosted two gatherings and although they have been low in attendance it is incredible how helpful and extremely fun they have been.

So, I encourage YOU...yes you photographer (or even another form of artist/business owner) sitting at your computer screen surfing Facebook looking at other photographers pages and either judging or hopefully interacting with them... Get out there and reach out to another photographer. We have all been guilty of blaming others for our "industry being in the state that it is in" but have you ever thought for a second that you should stop judging others and start helping them out? Granted, some people may not want help, some may not even want to network with other artists...but it WILL NOT KILL YOU to try. Make the connection, share your knowledge, and receive others knowledge as well. It is an incredibly uplifting feeling to give to each other rather than spectate.

Besides, we could all use a break with a yummy Vanilla Latte and a raspberry muffin that supports a local small business. [Insert shameless Ane' Mae's plug here! ;) I can't help it they are my guilty pleasure!]

Get out there and join us! Or even better if you are nearby start a meet up of your own! We are all here to create, not compete! Checkout the info on my next meet up below or if you decide to start one of your own in your neck of the woods, enjoy a free download .PSD of my web flyer!

Download a PSD template of this web flyer here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/l2d1rnto8pdgmwv/PhotogsCoffee.psd

Thanks for following me and enjoy your weekend!

Love, Shelby

Dear, beautiful ice and snow...Come back to me...

Much to my dismay the snow and ice has gone before I had the opportunity to get some really spectacular shots...*cue pitiful music*

However, I spent that time with my babies and I wouldn't change it for the world. :)

Any-who, when the winter weather first rolled through we got a hefty amount of freezing rain here in Kansas, so I did take the opportunity during nap time to try my hand at freelensing in the back yard.

Don't know what freelensing is? Check out this link or google for more >>>
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/insights/blogs/photography/how-freelensing.html

This was my first go at it and much to my surprise, it wasn't as hard as I expected. Since taking these images I have found other methods that I am hoping to test out soon as well but until then, here are my only wintery images thus far.

Enjoy & Happy Monday all!

- Love, Shelby

Instagram Inspiration - My Noteable Events of 2013

I've been wanting to start some Instagram Inspiration Boards for the blog for a while now, so here is my first installment of the project!

Here are my most noteable Instagram captured events of 2013!

1: Backstage at the 2013 Neewollah professional show. (I prefer to run around and take the behind the scenes photos rather that sitting and listening to the show)

2: My wonderful husband upgraded me to the 5D Markiii last spring! I was struggling with my old camera and constantly pushing it past its capabilities. I was due for some better gear.

3: My little Ry baby turned two in August! Shes no longer my baby but my little ornery toddler! Her birthday was pink lemonade theme and her birthday photos were cute to boot!

4: My desk! I started a new job over the summer at Grass Roots Design group and it has been an absolute blessing! I have a great passion for graphic design and this position has been the perfect fit for my family and I.

5: This last December I finally started my first annual Christmas Micro Minis event! It went off fabulously and my vision came to life exactly the way I had wanted. This truck was the perfect match to the inspiration I had found for the sessions and I mean...come on look at it. Just look at it!

6: First anniversary cake with the husband! I was actually very tasty. :)

7: My first and definitely not last Mumford and Sons concert. Holy cow they rocked my socks off and I can't wait for them to go on tour again. AMAZING show!

8: My precious Diem Lynn began her first dance classes this year. She's a natural of course, and was sooo excited to start in this photo.

9: Finally, this year I ventured outside of my comfort zone and participated in my first musical (not a singer). It was a blast and I officially caught the theater bug. This years Neewollah musical was Young Frankenstein and I couldn't have worked with a more talented and hilarious group of people! Not to mention we all pretty much knocked it out of the park every single show night! Boom!

Well folks I hope your 2013 was packed full of blessings like mine. I look forward to the new journey's to come in 2014 and pray that you all have many blessings to come this year as well.

Keep your eyes out for more Instagram Inspiration boards to come! Each board will have a different theme and if you have a category request don't be a stranger and comment your ideas below!

Mucho Love,
Shelby