{Smitten By} Shannon Sewell, Portland, OR Children's Portraiture

About four years ago {pre-photographer}, my husband and I hired Wreckless Girl {who shot the image of Shannon above} to do our maternity shoot. When viewing her website/blog, I was somehow linked to Shannon Sewell. I was immediately drawn to Shannon's style. I knew nothing about her other than her being a Portland photographer and taking amazing and magical images of mainly kids. I knew when I started {Smitten By} that she was definitely on the top of my 'to do' list. Last week she agreed!! So here you have it, at last...{Smitten By} Shannon Sewell, Portland, OR Children's Portraiture.......

{CMP} Since they are super involved, do your kids help with prop idea? Or help inspire what you are going to be shooting?

{SS} My kids do help a lot. They are always giving me shoot ideas and my daughter loves to do all the crafts with me. My son has actually taken a few of my bio pics!

{CMP} This makes me excited for my daughter to get a little older. At three years old, she doesn't quite understand what mommy does, other than be sticking a huge camera in her face. Your kids seem so wonderful!

She Shannon and her amazing kids here, where she was featured in {FRAMED}!

{CMP} You say that your goal is to let kids just be kids...with that said do you stylize shoots per individual child by interviewing them, or do you just get an idea and go with it?

{SS} I do it both ways. If I have the idea first then I seek out a child that fits the bill. Sometimes though I meet a child or am hired to shoot one that inspires the concept. I never want to push a child into a mold or look that isn't them. The good thing about kids though is that everyday they are a different character or idea..Kids love to play & pretend and I am right there to capture it all!

{CMP} I love how you don't do any pushing and just let children be themselves. Make believe in a sense!

{CMP} As a mom of two children, how do you balance it all? What are your secrets?

{SS} I am very conservative with my shoot scheduling {one to two a week, MAX} I work very hard to not overbook myself and the kids activities and time with them go on the calendar first. Gotta learn to say 'no' to people...It's hard but so worth it. 

{CMP} I am a mom as well, and only to one child. A three year old. I think with building a photography business you get caught up in getting the ball rolling. This month as a matter of fact it hit me. I have to slow down. I don't want to look back ten years down the road realizing I've missed whats really important! Thank you for the reminder :)

{CMP} Your style in 5 words, go...

{SS} Whimsical, Imaginative & Good Clean Fun!

{CMP} Beautiful!!!

{CMP} Do you prefer shooting outdoors or inside your studio?

{SS} I love both equally...I think it just depends on the concept when I make the decision.  I don't think I could make myself just stick to one. 

{CMP} I think you make both equally creative! Not many photographers can do that with studio shooting.

{CMP} All of your shoots are so amazingly themed with simple props. What is your favorite type of theme?

{SS} I really like using {grown up} crafts in a whimsical way that makes them kid friendly and imaginative.

{CMP} I had never realized but they are all very {grown up}. You would think it lets kids have fun 'playing' something they may want to be, but only have to for a couple hours!

{CMP} What made you decide to stick to children's portraiture?

{SS} I have a great connection with kids. I like to be silly and joke around. I love that they have no facades. I'm not good with those, {or small talk, or niceties or any of those other things that are suddenly expected when you're an adult}.

{CMP} It's great that you can be all of those things and still be a kid at heart too!

{CMP} Three favorite {types} of props...

{SS} Anything I can make out of paper, fabric or unique found gems.

{CMP} Lovely.

{CMP} In using a lot of designer clothing and props, do you have a few favorites?

{SS} Yes! Knuckleheads & Zozobugbaby are my go-to's and have opened the door to so  many amazing designers....Eden's Boutique, The Measure, Lollipops Designs, The Trendy Tot, Lisa's Mini Mad Hattery is another one of my favorites to conspire with. 

{CMP} Looks like my blog readers and myself are going to have to do some shopping!! Personally, I have fallen in love with Zozobugbaby already! You can see a lot of Shannon's images using products by clicking the store links above!

{CMP} Being a children's photographer, what is your favorite age to shoot?

{SS} I love 6-8 year olds...Still little enough to be carefree but old enough to listen.

{CMP} I would have to second that! Two/Three year olds have been rewarding lately, as parents show up to shoots totally stressed because their child is, well...in toddlerhood. As photographers, it's always nice to have parents leave feeling like what they wanted was accomplished.

{CMP} Kids can be funny...Tell me about a shoot that will always make you giggle...

{SS} ...My son is the most funny, whitty kid I know. He constantly is cracking me up. I was doing their Christmas shoot last year and I was trying to get him to laugh and nothing was working or getting genuine giggles. I was finally like 'come on...HOW can I make you laugh? He says, "Um, say that one funny word". Me. "???" Him. "The thing that girls haaave" Me. "Boobies??" Him. Fit of wild, embarrassed giggles. So that is now our inside, no fail way to get giggles. awwww-little boys. Gotta love 'em!

{CMP} If you haven't checked out Shannon's {FRAMED} episode yet. Do it now! Hilarious...Her kids are so stinking charming, love it!

{CMP} What would be your favorite outside location?

{SS} Right now I am loving desert locations. The hot wind whipping the hair around, the barren/blank canvas. It will probably change tomorrow though!

{CMP} Oooh that sounds super pretty! Can't wait to see more of it.

{CMP} You say that you became a photographer after shooting pictures of your kids. What finally made you take the leap into professional photography?

{SS} I love doing it and I had a friend ask several times {& offer to pay} to do pictures of her kids. They turned out and the addiction began....

{CMP} There always seems to be those people that believe in you before you believe in yourself. Or see something in you that you don't even know exists yet! And wow, I am glad she did!

{CMP} I know this is hard, because I couldn't choose just one looking at your imagery. Your single favorite shoot?

{SS} Honestly? Anything of my kids. It changes as time goes on but it's almost always a serious close-up. I'm a sucker for soulful eyes. 

{CMP} I love how your kids are so willing.. and totally go with it, you guys have perfect family photog chemistry!

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Thank you so much Shannon for agreeing to be featured in {Smitten By}. I have loved your work since before I was even a photographer. I can't say enough about the magic that you bring out when shooting kids. You have a gift, a serious gift.