Jacksonville Wedding Photography | Jen's Photo Journal » Lifestyle http://jenshannonblog.com Florida Wedding Photography | Simply Fabulous | St. Augustine Wedding Photographer | Jen Shannon Photography Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:16:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Just Like “The Notebook” http://jenshannonblog.com/2010/07/09/just-like-the-notebook/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2010/07/09/just-like-the-notebook/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:49:59 +0000 Jen Shannon http://jenshannonblog.com/?p=2919 He sat next to Molly, telling us how in the 3rd grade he told Molly he was going to marry her. He told the story of how they met, how they got married, and some great times in between. Not without tears did he talk about his love for Molly. “We’ve been married for 66 years” he said. Pops, Colby’s grandpa, has been ever so faithful in visiting since Molly, Colby’s grandma, had to be put in a nursing home. Every day Pops goes and spends time with Molly. Every other day, he takes Suzy, their little, black poodle, to visit her. Molly hasn’t officially been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but she’s been living with Alzheimer’s type symptoms for about two years. Molly is so sweet. Unfortunately, she didn’t remember most of us, but for a brief moment she said, “I’m sorry I have forgotten what you all look like, but it had to happen.”

Remember the movie The Notebook? Their story is very much like that story. That movie made me cry. It was one of the sweetest love stories I’ve ever heard, at least until I heard Molly and Pops’ love story. As he spoke about how much he loved her, I could see in his eyes that he still looked at her as though they were falling in love in third grade all over again. Every morning, he changes her sheets, spends time with her, eats breakfast with her, and cares for her the way no one else can.

Molly is a very lucky lady. It’s hard to find a man that stays by your side and loves you no matter what happens, who’s faithful to you even when you don’t remember him, and who spends every day with you, even when you’re not at home. He recalled several stories of how so many of the folks there don’t have people who regularly visit and how many of the male spouses have already moved on to someone else. Not Pops, though. He adores Molly. I think she adores him too. Here are some photos from the visit.

Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2010/07/09/just-like-the-notebook/feed/ 1 Colorado Part 3: David and Debbie in Estes Park http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/12/24/colorado-part-3-david-and-debbie-in-estes-park/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/12/24/colorado-part-3-david-and-debbie-in-estes-park/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:11:59 +0000 Jen Shannon http://jenshannonblog.com/?p=1527 I’m REALLY excited to be posting these photos! David is my father in law and Debbie is one of my mother in laws (she’s Colby’s step mom). I’ve known David and Debbie probably just as long as I’ve known Colby. That’s 9 years as of two weeks ago. They are awesome in laws and I love spending time with them. They used to live in Florida, that’s where Colby and I met, and moved to Colorado in 2004. Debbie is the one who inspired me to go to college and she took me out to dinner to Olive Garden to do a mock interview for my first job I ended up having with Aetna. David was always supportive of Colby and I’s relationship, even in the rough times Colby and I have had, and has always trusted that Colby would make good decisions for himself. It has sucked a lot to not be able to get back there as often as we should, but hopefully now that we’ve gotten to a better place financially we will be able to visit at least once or twice a year.

These photos were not easy to come by… David HATES having his picture taken and he hates the way he looks in photos but about a month or so ago Colby said I could never get his dad to agree to let me do photos of him and Debbie. You know what that means right? I HAD to set out to take on the challenge and prove him wrong! I knew it wouldn’t be easy but I had Debbie on my side! hahaha! So Debbie got him to grudgingly agree to it and I’m happy to report that they loved the photos! Colby…. You know what I’m going to say… Boo ya!!!! Not only that but he agreed to let me post them online! That’s a big step! So I hope you enjoy the photos below! David and Debbie have been married for 11 years! I hope when Colby and I are their age we are half as happy and cute together as David and Debbie are! They’re a perfect fit for each other. I love you both!

Jen Shannon Photography, Chicago Wedding Photographer

Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/12/24/colorado-part-3-david-and-debbie-in-estes-park/feed/ 0 Slideshow from the Crouch family shoot http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/09/26/slideshow-from-the-crouch-family-shoot/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/09/26/slideshow-from-the-crouch-family-shoot/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:35:41 +0000 avrilrae http://avrilrae.wordpress.com/?p=126 I finally got some great slideshow software and can start showing off the slideshows I include for my clients when they purchase a DVD of images from their photo shoot with me. Here is the slideshow for the Crouch family photo shoot I did back in August.

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Jen Shannon Photography, Chicago Lifestyle Photography

Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/09/26/slideshow-from-the-crouch-family-shoot/feed/ 0 Scott and Mandy’s Couple’s Portraits and Reception http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/09/11/scott-and-mandy%e2%80%99s-couple%e2%80%99s-portraits-and-reception/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/09/11/scott-and-mandy%e2%80%99s-couple%e2%80%99s-portraits-and-reception/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:34:23 +0000 avrilrae http://avrilrae.wordpress.com/?p=157 Scott and Mandy tied the knot last month in Colorado. They had their dream wedding in the Rocky Mountains and had no regrets of it being a destination wedding! Although most of their family couldn’t make it, they still wanted to celebrate so they had a reception here in Illinois with all of their friends and family, but not before we got some great couple’s pictures! Scott and Mandy have had a long but wonderful history together. While I didn’t have much time to get to know Scott and Mandy the time I did spend with them was fabulous and their love for each other was apparent.

Scott and Mandy, thank you for having Colby and I be a part of your home celebration! Congratulations on starting your married life together!

First, I have to start out with my latest addition to my bloopers page! Scott and Mandy’s dogs were too cute but Sadie really wanted to see what was going on. They also have the cutest name for their other dog. His name is Chicken Nugget! I LOVE it!!!

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Jen Shannon Photography, Chicago Wedding Photographer

Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/09/11/scott-and-mandy%e2%80%99s-couple%e2%80%99s-portraits-and-reception/feed/ 0 Lifestyle Portraits in Channahon, IL http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/08/02/lifestyle-portraits-in-channahon-il/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/08/02/lifestyle-portraits-in-channahon-il/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:24:18 +0000 Jen Shannon http://jenshannonblog.com/?p=754 I’m so glad we decided to reschedule this for today. Yesterday’s weather was icky for a lifestyle shoot, but today proved to be worth the wait. We met Tim and Kristan Crouch at their home in Channahon. They have five beautiful children, Morgan, Mary Grace, Collin, Monica, and Christopher ranging from 2-11 years old. When the kids were ready, we headed out for McKinley Wood Forest Preserve. I absolutely loved this forest preserve. I had no idea it exited but it reminded me of some of the state parks in Florida where I grew up complete with fishing, canoeing, grilling, sunshine and plenty of greenery! The kids were so much fun. From soccer to playing with daddy long leg spiders (an accidental spider death or two! hahaha) these kids knew how to have a great time. It was almost as if God knew we were coming to the park so he placed a very sweet older couple there with a dog and bag pipes that the kids got to play with. They started out blowing bubbles and ended as a group with smiles on their faces. Because they were so good, their Mom and Dad took them to Dairy Queen for a treat :) What kid wouldn’t want to be good for Dairy Queen?? Here are some of the photos from today :) I should mention, this family has the most gorgeous eyes!

Little Monica smooshing Christopher’s cheeks together. I LOVE these shots!

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Morgan and Christopher. Morgan is the oldest.

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Monica and Christopher. They seemed to be little buddies.

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Monica and her beautiful eyes.

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Morgan and Mary Grace blowing bubbles.

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Collin has gorgeous eyes too, doesn’t he? He got to play the bag pipes!

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Mary Grace and her beautiful smile!

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From left to right, we have Collin, Christopher, Morgan, Monica and Mary Grace.

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Collin piggy backing on Morgan’s back.

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Jen Shannon Photography

Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/08/02/lifestyle-portraits-in-channahon-il/feed/ 1 Hustle Up the Hancock and My First Celeb Siting http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/05/19/hustle-up-the-hancock-and-my-first-celeb-siting/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/05/19/hustle-up-the-hancock-and-my-first-celeb-siting/#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 18:00:41 +0000 avrilrae http://avrilrae.wordpress.com/?p=314 I’ve FINALLY finished editing the photos I took of my family at Hustle Up the Hancock. It was early on a Sunday morning. I was dead tired from a photo shoot I did the night before for Love Your Pets. I opened my eyes and thought, “Ugh… I have to go downtown again… Didn’t I just get home from there??” I took in a deep breath, relieved that the sun was finally out after months of cold misery, and knew that it meant a lot to my family to go watch them climb 94 flights of stairs to the top of the Hancock tower in Chicago. I was up and ready in about 20 minutes and off Colby and I were, headed for the hotel across from the Hancock that my parents and little brother were staying in. We got there and had awhile to sit around so I took some pictures of the view outside of their hotel room and a coat laying on a bed near the window. Then, it was time for the climbers to get going. As my dad, mom, and Kevin went to go take their place in line, Brian, Dana, Colby, and I headed up to the Signature Lounge on the 96th and ate some finger food while we waited. After about 40 minutes they all came up to greet us. I learned my mom made it up in 21 minutes, Kevin in, I think, 25 minutes and my dad in, I think, 35 minutes. I was happy to learn that my mom, who is 52, and my dad, who is 62, are still in great shape enough to climb 94 stories! I wouldn’t last past 5! We took some pictures and stood around for a little bit then made a plan to go back to Brian’s condo (my oldest brother) and have some lunch. I went back to the hotel with my parents and Kevin but before we could go back, I decided to lay on the ground and take some pictures of them at the Hancock. That’s when my first celeb siting happened. Yup. Jerry Springer pulled up in a stretch limo. I didn’t want to act like the paparazzi so I took some pictures of the back of his head hoping he would turn around and not see me taking pictures of him, but that didn’t work because my dad yelled out, “Jerry! You gonna climb with us or what???” So I decided the proper thing to do would be to not stick my camera in his face and take a photo. So enjoy the picture of the back of his head… hahaha! You can see in the picture of them next to the Hancock where I am laying on the ground my little brother looking over spotting Jerry Springer. Anyway, that is the story of Hustle Up the Hancock.

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Jen Shannon Photography, Chicago Lifestyle Photographer

Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/05/19/hustle-up-the-hancock-and-my-first-celeb-siting/feed/ 0 High Fashion!!! http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/04/25/high-fashion/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/04/25/high-fashion/#comments Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:10:26 +0000 Jen Shannon http://jenshannonblog.com/?p=1276 Tonight’s shoot was so fun. We attempted to do a “high fashion” photo shoot with my mentor, Monica, and her husband Jeremy. They bought a couple of fancy outfits and we were off to a run down barn/house not too far from where Jeremy and Monica live. Click the above photo to see the gallery.

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Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/04/25/high-fashion/feed/ 0 Lifestyle Shoot http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/04/25/lifestyle-shoot/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/04/25/lifestyle-shoot/#comments Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:02:47 +0000 Jen Shannon http://jenshannonblog.com/?p=1257 This morning Monica set up a photo shoot for me with Jason, Niko, and Nyah Lewis. Nyah was so adorable. Here are some of the photos from the lifestyle portrait session.

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Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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]]> http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/04/25/lifestyle-shoot/feed/ 0 Stephanie’s Portraits http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/03/21/stephanies-portraits/ http://jenshannonblog.com/2009/03/21/stephanies-portraits/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:12:14 +0000 Jen Shannon http://jenshannonblog.com/?p=1177 I recently had a homework assignment to do some portraits of a friend, but of course, I couldn’t just do your “say cheese” type of portraits. Check out these portraits I took of Stephanie. Stephanie is a good friend that I met last semester in my Art History I class.

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Jen Shannon Photography, Florida Wedding Photographer

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