Shanna Chess Photography

Kelsey and Tyler booked a Fresh 48 session and a newborn session with me a few months ago. A few days into November, I got the call that Leon was coming! I went to Riverbend hospital less than twenty-four hours after baby Leon was born to meet the new little man and do a Fresh 48 newborn photography session with him. What a cutie!

My younger sister Lea was induced on September 17 th and I blocked out a few days in my schedule so I could travel up to Aberdeen, Washington to be with her and do Fresh 48 photos . Lea was almost 42 weeks pregnant with Harrison and she was definitely ready for him to arrive! I think we all were! I mentioned in Lea’s maternity photography post that this is my first nephew—I am mom to two beautiful daughters and aunt to three amazing nieces, all of whom I love to bits, but the first little boy in the family was pretty exciting! Labor was slow at first: I think Harrison was way too comfy in mama’s belly and not too anxious to face the world, but once things got going it was fast and furious! My little nephew was born at 4:14 a.m. on the morning of September 18 th and we were all thrilled to welcome him to the world and to our family!

Amber and Alex contacted me recently and booked a Fresh 48 photography session as well as a newborn session for their sweet baby boy, Jax. It’s always exciting for me to visit a family and their new little one, just introduced to the world, so soon after the birth. It really is a privilege to witness and capture some of those first intimate, life-changing moments. I was able to visit this family at Riverbend hospital shortly after Jax was born and get some wonderful pictures of his first few hours of life. Enjoy!

I did Betty Lou’s maternity session in November of last year and have been looking forward to the arrival of their twins ever since. Well, guess what? They’re finally here! I was so excited when I heard that they were really and truly on their way, and I’ve had a great time getting their photos all edited and prepped for the blog. I hope you enjoy them!

I was so excited for the Vedder family when little Asher arrived.  Especially after Amanda had emailed me a few days prior to let me know she decided to cancel her elective induction on Monday, only to have little Asher arrive all on his own on Tuesday :)  They are such a gorgeous family and little Asher lives up to their reputation ;)  I can't wait to get him in the studio next week!  Enjoy.

When Sarah and Drew booked their maternity session and said they wanted to add-on a Fresh 48 session instead of a newborn session, I was a little bummed at first.  I absolutely love doing newborn sessions in my studio.  They are my passion.  But then I actually got excited for Nolan's hospital visit!  I take a lifestyle approach, use natural lighting, and all edits are done in black and white.  There's no posing really--just new...raw...beautiful.  I loved doing it--different than what I'm so used to doing and sometimes switching it up a bit can be refreshing  :)  Thanks Sarah and Drew and congratulations on your new bundle!  

Please bare with me.  I am trying to figure out Google+ and I noticed there were pictures that I uploaded to this blog on there.  I only saw really old images and things like my logo or the background design that I uploaded when I first opened my business.  So I deleted them from Google+.  Apparently, that deletes them, and ALL OF MY PHOTOS EVER UPLOADED from this blog as well :(  Yes, I am yelling. This will take a very long time and some images are off my computers and on my external hard drive by now. I need to decide how far back I am wanting to fix the posts. So I am slowly re-uploading and editing blog posts from the past almost 2 years.  Ugh.  It may take a while.  All the pictures can be seen in my portfolio here .  Sorry and thanks for your understanding!

I've decided to add a new session type to my repertoire :)  Introducing the Fresh 48 Session. What is this session, you ask? Well, I come to the hospital that you have delivered your new bundle of joy at within the first 48 hours of their life.  I take pictures for up to 1 hour and photograph in a lifestyle type format.  These images will be in black and white and completely candid.  I try to take the pictures like a fly on the wall--just observing you bonding with your new bundle of joy.  I can print any images that you like, but with the nature of this session, all Fresh 48 sessions will include my time, talent, editing and ALL final digital images. The fine print:  I am a mother to 2 young girls and I cannot always drop everything to come to the hospital right away.  That is why I am not offering birth photography at this time, though I would love to add that at some point.  The 48 hour time frame gives me the opportunity to come to the ho...