Announcing a Fall Family OUTDOOR SHOOT DAY!!!

-Scheduled for Saturday October 13th, 2007-
-OUTDOORS at Como Park in Saint Paul-
(Only 9 slots available!!!)


Bring the family and get that
perfect outdoor picture!

Scheduled to coincide with peak autumn
colors (though one can never be sure). :)












This special all day shooting event offers you:
- a 45 minute outdoor session time
- an 8x10 print included
- an online gallery of your images for you to view and/or forward to friends and relatives
- a discounted session price of just $59 (for up to 6 people)
- NEW! 10 Free Holiday Cards to all Outdoor Shoot Day participants (these will be given as a bonus on top of any other cards you might order; no card order necessary to receive the 10 free).

While these sessions are intended for FAMILY PHOTOS, they are open for CHILDREN ONLY sessions as well. Shooting separate photos of kids together and/or individually is part of each family session.

Each relaxed session will include casual photos of your family playing / walking / cuddling as well as the more traditional family portrait with big smiles aimed at the camera.

Other details:
-For families of more than 6 people, please add $5 per person.
-In case of rain, clients will have the option of: 1) shooting indoors at their same day/time, 2) rescheduling for the next day Sunday Oct 14th, or 3) reschedling for a morning or afternoon slot during the following week, based on current availability.
-Payment is required in advance to reserve your spot and keep the day running smoother, and can be made by check or credit card.
-Slots will be booked on a first come first serve basis.

Time slots are as follows:

9:45am - confirmed, Nyberg
10:30am - confirmed, Dobrovolny
11:15am - reserved, Peters
-
12:45pm - confirmed, Wallace
1:30pm
2:15pm
3pm - confirmed, Such
-
4:15pm
5pm - confirmed, Fahning

Please contact me with your first, second, and third requested time slots. Email: stphotoanddesign@juno.com or visit www.stphotoanddesign.com for other contact details. Once payment is complete your spot will be confirmed. The week of the shoot, final directions and details will be emailed out. Online galleries will be ready to view approximately 10 days after the session.

Halloween Costume CONTEST!!! Free event!

How cute is your kid going to be in their Halloween Costume this year!?!? Adorable, I'm sure of it. I love seeing little ladybugs, brave spidermen, and beautiful princesses dance around the neighborhood each year.

(Delia and her friends in their costumes a couple years back. Note: we'll be using a white background for the upcoming event, not black).

To see as many cute little munchkins in their adorable little costumes as possible, I decided to offer a "Halloween Costume Contest!" (this is INSTEAD of the Halloween shoot day I had planned on earlier). And it's FREE!!!

You might see some of these posters floating around local coffee shops and such:


Here's the details as the poster might be hard to read at this size:
- Ages 10 & under allowed to enter.
- Get a free photo taken of your little one in their costume!
- TREAT BAGS for every child!
- Gourmet snacks and treats for moms & dads.
- Boutique items to browse & purchase.
- Prize entries for parents!

WHEN:
Two different days & four time slot options to come on over and show off your Halloween get-up:
A -Tues Oct 30th, 10am-noon - lots of availability
B -Tues Oct 30th, 12:30-2pm - lots of availability
C -Wed Oct 31st, 3-4:30pm - some availablity
D -Wed Oct 31st, 4:30-6pm - FULL
(updates are as of Sunday, Oct 28th)
REGISTRATION WILL BE TAKEN THROUGH Monday for Tues sessions, and through Tues for Wed sessions).

1) REGISTER:
Email me at stphotoanddesign@juno.com with your name, email, phone, and the number of kids you're bringing, plus YOUR CHOSEN TIME SLOT (A, B, C, or D). You will receive a confirmation email with directions the week of the event.
(There is a MAXIMUM number of kids allowed for each time range, so register early to get the one you want!)

2) Show up anytime during your time range. Allow for about 15+ minutes (possibility of additional wait time depending on when people arrive).

3) Kids get to goof off in the studio and get their photo taken (no fee, no purchase obligation, photos will be available to see in an online gallery).

4) Kids & moms/dads/friends hang out and enter to win great PRIZES, enjoy SNACKS & DRINKS, shop the "mini-boutique" of photo items and holiday gifts, and more!

I will choose three (3) cute little ones (finalists) to post on my blog, and then anyone and everyone will have one week to vote for the Halloween Costume Contest Winner! Winner will receive a $20 Target Gift Card, as well as a Fantastic Photo Frame, & Free 5x7 Print. (The three finalists will be chosen based on their costume AND their photo. Winner is responsible for picking up their prize. All 3 finalists will receive a free 5x7 print).

So sign 'em up, dress 'em up, and bring 'em on over!!! Can't wait to see all costumes. :) Email me to REGISTER!!!

FYI, if you're not familiar with my photography business, you can check out my main website at
http://www.stphotoanddesign.com. I am a contemporary photographer with a cozy little studio in the Como Park area.

Blog Oops!

Ok, so I will naively admit that I just realized that those of you who are signed up to "get my feed" - where the blog posting comes automatically to your email, rather than you actually going directly to my blog - are getting an un/pre-edited version of each of my postings! So I am sorry for the misspellings, strange photo order, or anything else that might look/seem a little off with each one (maybe you've been thinking I'M a little "off!")

The reason for this IS: when I create each posting, I tend to shoot down my ideas, upload the photos, etc. and then immediately "post" it so that I can see what it actually looks like, and then go back in and make 1, 2, or 5 different edits depending on what problems it's having (if you're at all familiar with blogging, you'll know that the "preview" option does not really allow you to get an idea for what the posting will actually look like, so I've found it more convenient to see the actual post before editing - particularly where photo placement is involved; they tend to overlap or be odd colors, or do all sorts of weird things).

So, OOPS! If you have been getting this "rough" version sent to your email, I apologize for my "faux pas." I'm really a little more meticulous than it may seem. :) If you don't believe me, click onto my actual blog (you might have to hit refresh) and check out the "refined" version of each posting. Or don't waste your time... I'm sure you have better things to do. :)

Cheers,
Shannon :)

Feed My Starving Children - fall photoshoot donations

Last year around Christmastime I had the honor of spending a day at a Feed My Starving Children location. FMSC is a very unique organization that has a very real answer to world hunger. We took part in packing up actual meals (think the perfect nutritional "instant rice mix") that get sent to real kids who are starving each and every day. We heard wonderful stories of malnurished children who had been nursed back to health through the food source of FMSC. And we heard some tragic stories too. Desparate mothers who felt it was better to abandon or "dispose" of their child rather than let that child face the painful reality of a slow death via starvation. It is hard for me to write even now.

Hunter is 6 months old now and pretty relaxed; but in his "early days" :) he was a hungry and demanding baby. Even on a well balanced schedule, being fed every 3 hours with solid naps in between, when he woke up from his nap he would scream at the top of his lungs, like he was facing death itself, until he got his bottle. Sometimes it was hard not to laugh at him, so intense and upset over something that took just 3 minutes to prepare.

But even with my good sense of humor over the crying uproar, it passed through my mind many a times the horrible heart-wrenching reality that many mothers across the world hear their child scream in hunger and have nothing to feed them. It was then that I decided to do a fall fundraiser for FMSC.

Fall is my busiest time of year by far. For each regular family/child shoot in Oct, Nov, and Dec, I will be donating $10 to FMSC. While I can and will continue to support groups like FMSC and World Vision on my own, I knew this would also be a good chance to raise awareness about FMSC and what they do.

So check out www.fmsc.org and learn more about how you can help them on your own. I'm hoping to volunteer again this fall, but I do know their food packing sessions fill up fast - it is such a unique and hands-on opportunity that many church and school groups book their times far in advance. But take your family if you can (they even do kids birthday parties!) - you will not regret it and your familiy (as well as one across the world) will benefit from the experience.

(note: these photos are from the FMSC website, and photo credits belong to the designated FMSC photographer who took them).

Need a Mortgage???

A few months back my hubbie started his own mortgage business, Neighborhood Lending, Inc., and I have been meaning to write about it ever since! Yours truly got the gig of designing his "creative identity" - logo, business cards, web layout, etc. Check out my handiwork at his website. (I should note that BWoods Design put up the web page for us, and she also does a great job with all of my behind-the-scenes "technical web stuff.)

So if you happen to be in need of refinancing, looking for lending for a new home, or perhaps adding a second mortgage, get in touch with Tim and see what he can do for you. He's been doing mortgages for eight years, so he's one sharp cookie! ;) But even more importantly, he's sincere, honest, and will look out for your best financial interests.

Tim is looking to transition into another type of job in the future (management? law school?), but he plans on hanging on to Neighborhood Lending either way, so keep him in mind. A little bonus is that this new business has allowed Tim to work from home for the past few months, so Delia, Hunter, and I have been enjoying his company. :)

My Sister's Married!!!

My younger sister Erin got married this past weekend "up north" in Crosslake, MN where my parent's have a cabin. She married David Olson, and while we haven't known him for long, we're happy to welcome him into the family!

The wedding went beautifully, the weather was great, and despite the fact that I was not the photographer (rather a bridesmaid) I managed to take over 400 pictures. Don't ask how... I just can't help myself! Here are a few of my favorites, and a funny one or two as well. (And I'll throw in a couple engagement pix that I took just 3 months before - yes, they planned their wedding in just 3 months - an incredible accomplishment). :)























While not your typical lighting, I thought this photo came off as rather striking.






One of the few photos of me; pinning my sister's dress up so she won't trip.















An especially gorgeous picture of my two other sisters. :)


The reception was held at this location, the White Fish Lodge & Suites in Crosslake. We had the pleasure of staying there for two nights; the hotel is very unique - it has a high-end, up-north feel. (Delia didn't want to leave after spending two nights on the top bunk of her log bed, watching TV in the corner of "her own" room).




























While we couldn't actually get a good picture of my own family, we did manage to get this cute one of Delia & Hunter with their "Bapa & Mimi" - my parents.


Delia and two of her beautiful aunties.


My sleepy little flower girl (but she came through when it came to walking down the aisle!)


















She had these beautiful birch bark candles all over the reception... elegant but rustic.




Hunter "and guest." 6 months old now! Flirting at the reception with a "slightly older babe" - the daughter of my friend Jennie - in his sophisticated get-up.
















Erin & David's engagement pix - we took these back in May. Engaged over Memorial Day Weekend, married Labor Day Weekend!

Nora - 9mos old

Little Nora (9mos old) is one of my favorite babies to shoot. And how could she not be, with those giant beautiful eyes of hers! Plus in every session with her, there's one photos where she looks like she's got it all figured out... this first one is the one.

Hot Mama! MATERNITY meets fashion. New packages.

Now offering MATERNITY PHTOTOS with a fashion flair! None of that cheesy portraity stuff, just you and your baby belly, looking GREAT! A great way to cherish the end of your pregnancy and preserve images of you and pre-born babe for ever. And as your little one gets older, he or she will be thrilled to see their "hot mama" before they were born.


















NEW Maternity Session Package! One look (outfit) session including an online gallery and one 5x7 MATTED PRINT - printed artistic-style with words as shown below (custom wording/type available) for just $89. Various mat colors available to match baby's nursery! What a great piece of artwork to add as you prepare your new little one's room. (Recommended during the 7th-9th months of your pregnancy). All maternity packages come with a FREE Newborn session coupon (for baby 0-6 weeks).



As a side note, check out this great new site for maternity tees! (Cool maternity wardrobe can be hard to come by, I know). The site's not quite finished yet, but they tell me it should be done soon! shoppresh.com

Hunter - 3mos old - & Delia's new haircut

Well, Hunter is 5 months old now, but I am finally posting his 3 month photos (though they were taken at 3 1/2 months, which might make some of you who are a bit delinquent on your own kids' photos feel better, as I have a studio in my home and thus don't even have an excuse!) He's a bit chubbier now, but he has the same bright eyed look you see here, and he's turning out to be quite a cheerful little guy, always smiling and giggling. Lately, he keeps his tongue hanging out all the time!









"Delia's Summer hair cut" - Delia wanted to get in on the fun of Hunter's picture session, so she jumped on in! But it turned out to be a good chance to capture what we're calling her "summer haircut" - really the result of her cutting her OWN hair, and then me having to give her a haircut to blend it all together. You wouldn't know it with the cute little barrette she's got in, but she's really hiding "80s bangs" under there - since that's where she went to town with the scissors.

SummerFest - YOU'RE INVITED - Saturday August 11th

Well, after all our hard work, SummerFest 2007 is just around the corner! We'd love for you to come join us... stop in for some free popcorn or freezie pops, the magician performance at 1pm, or to browse the artists and crafters we have lined up. Saturday August 11th, 10am-4pm. Hope to see you there! (I'll have a booth there with my jewelry and such - come say hi!) 4294 Hodgson Road, Shoreview, MN 55126.

Artists Needed!

(This is a postcard advertising last years' event - this year the art fair will be August 11th)).

Hey All!

I am looking for ARTISTS, CRAFTERS, & DESIGNERS to particiapte in SummerFest 2007, an Art & Craft Fair (in coalition with a children's carnival) that my church hosts each year. I am the Art Fair Coordinator for this exciting event, now in it's 3rd year, and we are always looking for new creative people to apply! If you are interested, or you KNOW SOMEONE who might be, please read on...

SummerFest is a lovely one-day (10am-4pm) outdoor event with a reasonable entry fee of just $25 (+ a $5 jury fee) for a 10' x 10' outdoor space. This year it will be on Saturday, August 11th, and is held on the grassy lawn of River of Life Church in the beautiful suburb of Shoreview, MN.

The event is lightly juried to keep the quality up and multiples of artists in the same category down. We are looking for ORIGINAL handmade and/or originally designed product from artists & crafters of all styles.

We have a multi-faceted marketing campaign, including professional signage, ads in local Shoreview papers and the Twin Cities Kids Directory (see it in July!), a door to door drop, and a direct mailing to art & craft buyers, amongst other things.

This art fair and children’s carnival event is free to those who attend, and includes live entertainment, free snacks, a $1 lunch, kids games, and more! (So save the date and bring the kids!)

THE DEADLINE: We need applications in by JUNE 30th! (Some late entries may be accepted if we do not fill all the categories, so if you end up reading this in July, please shoot me an email).

Please click HERE to pull up a pdf of the artist "fact sheet" and an application. If you have any questions, you are welcome to email me at stcollection@juno.com or Debbie at info@findtheriver.net.

Thanks! We look forward to hearing from you!

Introducing: The new "elite petite" baby program!!!

I'm excited to announce my new baby program, designed for the 3-6-9-12 month stages!

The "elite petite" baby program (thanks to all my friends and family who voted on the name - it won by a landslide!) will offer parents of new little ones the opportunity to get 4 sessions in one year at a discounted rate, in addition to elite freebies (such as the onesie pictured - available in blue or pink), free prints, and special discounts.

Please click HERE to see the ever-adorable pdf flyer that will give you all of the exciting details! (which can also be found on my website)

SPECIAL OFFER: Give your friend of family member the gift of photos for a whole year! $20 off any "elite petite" gift certificate or membership purchased in June or July 2007; regular price of $215, sale price of $195! Perfect as a group gift for an upcoming baby shower. :)

Please call or email if you have questions: stphotoanddesign@juno.com, 651.489.8281.

PS - If you have current "baby plan" coupons from the former program, they are still valid through your expiration date (through your child's one year session).

Coming Soon... Custom Framing options!

The search for Custom Framing...

I have been looking to offer some framing options, particularly a custom collage type frame with 4 openings to display a baby's 3-6-9-12 month pictures. This seems to be impossible to find in your basic retail store, so I did some investigating and found a custom framer who can do this at a reasonable price - it will be directly through me, so need to make an extra stop!

Thanks to those of you who voted as I was considering the best possible style! Over 75% of you would prefer a black wood frame with 4 4x6 openings, so that will probably become the "standard" which I can buy in multiples and will be available at a slightly better price. For those of you who have a different preference, other sizes and moulding will be available, for a slight upgrade.

High-quality custom framing is never cheap but I should be able to offer it at a reasonable price (probably the $75-$95 range - yet to be finalized) compared to purchasing it at a custom frame shop on your own. The quality is significantly better than what you would buy retail (though nothing like this seems to exist anyway), as the frames will be actual wood and the double mattings are acid-free archival quality (most retail frames are just plain old paper that will not effect your photos well in the long run and many "wood" frames are actually pressed saw-dust).

I will also be offering a line of assymetrically-matted frames for larger prints, for those of you that want a modern look like me. Samples of both these will be in the studio in the next 4-6 weeks, and once they are I will put images up on the blog!

Recent Shoot - Taly

Earlier this month I had the honor of doing a photo session with Taly, who is the newly adopted daughter of my friend (and former boss) Deirdre. Taly is 5 years old and came home with Deirdre from Ecuador in February. Deirdre also brought back this beautiful outfit - traditional dress of Ecuador - for Taly to wear in the shoot. Taly is a fun, active, happy little girl who will be keeping Deirdre very busy! :) We look forward to seeing more of her, as she is very close in age to my daughter. Here are a couple of my favorite pix from the shoot.




Fyi, Deirdre is an artist who owns her own jewelry design business, Deirdre Handcrafted Jewelry (which I used to work for!). You can check out her really cool stuff at www.deirdreandcompany.com. If you're looking for an original gift or just something fresh and new for yourself, her stuff is perfect. And if you know anyone who has adopted overseas, she has a new line for adopted children and families, which make very special gifts. Check it out!

NEW Online proofing system! (& more!)

After much research and months of planning, I am excited to announce I now have my NEW ONLINE PROOFING SYSTEM set up and ready to use! This system will be used for all children/family and high school senior sessions.

Effective May 1st, 2007 all clients will receive an online proof gallery with their session, (rather than printed proofs).
Why is this great for you?

- One less appointment... no need to make an extra trip to pick up your proofs!
- See your pictures sooner... All galleries should be up within 7-10 days of your shoot (sometimes even sooner).
- Sharing privileges... now you can email your gallery link to grandma in your hometown or your favorite great aunt in Paris!
- Easy ordering... place your order directly online; no need to mail or drop off an order form.

A sample gallery can be viewed by going to my website and clicking on the "Client" section, then "Public Galleries." Questions? Please let me know! My goal is to make the process as user-friendly as possible. At each shoot, you will receive a sheet filled with information regarding the ordering process.

Also effective May 1st, there is a new FLAT RATE session fee (for up to 5 people) of $65 (rather than various rates for the number of individuals). And the price of adding an additional look has gone down - now for just $20 (rather than $29), you can add a second (or third or fourth) outfit change & background to your session!

Reprint prices have also been adjusted, while still maintaining their affordability compared to other photographers of the same caliber & style. These can be viewed on the price pages of my website.

Because pictures is what it's all about, I know you may want 4x6s of all your favorites! Currently, a set of printed 4x6 proofs (your choice of either 16 or 24 different images) is available at a reduced cost (60%+ savings from ordering each 4x6 on its own). These can be ordered alone or with your reprint order. All other reprints are ordered a la carte as always, though various packages and specials will come and go. (In the next couple months, there should be price breaks available for ordering multiples of the same image (ex: 10+ of the same 4x6), or similiar scenarios, once the online system is updated).

Creative, original photography is truly an investment for a lifetime of memories. Each print, a work of art for your home, office, or as a gift, represents a moment in time never to be forgotten. My goal is to be creating fresh, artistic images that genuinely capture the personality of the child or individual I'm photographing. My sincere thanks for valuing what I do! I look forward to continuing to offer you the best in original, modern photography.

For more details, please check out my website at www.stphotoanddesign.com.

And if you're interested in a sneak peak at some of the never ending array of new ideas I'm developing for the studio, you can check out my "Ideas, Ideas, and more Ideas" posting from a few days back, as well as other postings below. Feel free to email over your own ideas and keep your eye on this blog to see if they become reality!

I can take Credit Cards!

I can now officially take credit cards (in person or over the phone, not just via paypal email). Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. And my new proofing system allows for you to place your online reprint order with a credit card as well. Just one of the ways I'm making things more convenient for YOU! :)

Some recent shoots...

Just wanted to put up some of my favorite images from a few recent shoots... all are from families I have had the privelage of working with before. What fun to watch these kids grow!! (Plus I know you all want to see more pictures, and less words). :)



















All images are COPYRIGHTED - copyright2007 Shannon Tacheny Photography & Design

Ideas, Ideas, & more Ideas!

With all this time on my hands (well, more like since I'm spending hours and hours feeding my newborn and am unable to use my hands!) I have nothing to do but THINK!!! And with me, thinking is a dangerous thing, as it produces IDEAS almost non stop. Ideas that I can't wait to get to, will never get to, or have no idea how to get to! I have resorted to leaving notebooks around the house in places where I feed my newborn Hunter so that I can write them down and get them out of my head, lest they swirl around and around and around!

I wanted to share some of these ideas regarding my business (primarily the child/family aspect, as that's what I've been focusing on expanding lately) that I thought might be of interest to you. Hopefully you will be seeing the realization of all of these ideas in future posts.

- The "elite petite" baby photo program (thanks to family & friends for voting on the name!) - been working A LOT on this lately, so it will be "unveiled" very soon... can't wait to get the baby onesies with the new "elite petite" logo on them that are being printed as I write!!!

- New ideas for shooting newborns... I want to create something original here. Newborns are not always easy to photograph because they don't do too much; and since my editorial style relies a lot upon the subject interacting with me or his/her surroundings, this can be tricky. Spending lots of time with a newborn (as well as being inspired by other photographer's work) is striking lots of ideas here. Hopefully I can do a test-shoot using some of my ideas soon - I will need to "borrow a baby" though, as Hunter is getting too big!

- Shannon Tacheny Original baby annoucements - I have a game plan set up to create birth annoucements like you've never seen before - part handmade-feel, scrapbook-look; part modern photo feel printed on high quality photo paper to give it an artwork print feel. I'm hoping to find the time to create some of these samples soon (in the next couple months?) and get them posted (hoping being the key word). :) Hold me to it!!! (And while I've been doing individual hs senior annoucements, I'm hoping to create a more complete line for that as well).

- A Summer Fun outdoor shoot day!!! If I can nail down a free weekend (or a couple half or full weekdays), I'm hoping to offer a full day of outdoor shooting (at a discounted rate) to capture kids having summer fun! Think bubbles, balloons, maybe even ice cream (??) - and YOUR KIDS running around (in their beautiful bare feet) having a blast, the beautiful green grass in the background. Bright colors, simple outfits - think Gap ad or Pottery Barn catalog. Interested in this? - email me with your thoughts!

I also have ideas for updating my bathroom, re-covering my living room chair, and organizing my studio, but my guess is none of those ideas appeal to you. I have spent WAY too much time in that rocking chair lately. :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful spring weather! LOTS more news to come soon.