My friend (and client!), Leslie, invited Devyn to her son’s birthday party today. It is so cool that Trent has his birthday around Halloween, because it will sure make for some cool parties - just like today’s was! Devyn had an absolute blast.

First, here’s Trent’s big sister, Riley, the ladybug. Riley has the most captivating eyes . . . .

Here is Devyn before the party:

My daughter is already marching to her own tune. Oh boy! All of the kids were outside jumping in the astrojump, and Devyn wanted to sing and play piano!

Sad Clown:

Watching the action:

Devyn told Natasha when she got into the car that she was going “shopping.” It was so cute! Her hat didn’t fit in the vehicle with her. Ahhh, the life of a clown!

She can REALLY jump! I was surprised at how good she got at the whole astrojump thing!

Cute clown:

More: Sliding
Bouncing ponytails.
Super High!
Sliding away.
SCARY clown!

Well, I’m sure there will be more by the time Halloween hits. But that’s it for now!

-shawna K

I am so excited! I can finally make this announcement because it IS official! I will be teaching my first-ever photography seminar at a convention in Las Vegas this Spring! I am sooo looking forward to it. Okay . . . maybe I am a little stressed about it, too! But mostly I’m excited!

Shawna Krystek
“From Boudoir to Wedding: Releasing the Supermodel Within”

Shawna K will demonstrate how to communicate with and photograph your clients in such a way that the average bride will feel (and look!) like a model. She will discuss techniques for getting couples excited about their wedding-day portraits, using the engagement session as a warm-up tool, and developing a rapport with your clients for ultimate trust and control. Shawna will also show you how she uses boudoir photography for add-on wedding sales (targeting brides for intimate portraits), and her processes for taking the portraits and supplying the album as a gift for the groom. Sit-in on a video of real-life photo shoots and witness case studies of real brides looking and feeling like models.

Shawna K is the owner and lead photographer of shawna K studio in San Diego, California. During a brief stint in law school and while ending her career as an editor, Shawna picked up a camera for a much-needed creative outlet. Completely obsessed with couples in love and their weddings, Shawna turned her camera on brides and grooms in 2001 and hasn’t looked back.

See ya in Vegas!!!!!!!!!

Every once-in-awhile, these people with amazing faces cross my path and I simply cannot stop photographing them. Michelle is one of those people! She’s not a *real* supermodel . . . but she seriously could be! She sure looks like one! I am so surprised that this wedding started on time, because I really could have kept taking Michelle’s picture for forever! Not to mention that her groom, Aaron, is super handsome, and their families are just adorable! I will definitely be posting more later . . . but here’s Michelle:

-shawna K

Just a quick reminder about studio hours:

Consultations and portrait sessions are always by appointment only. The appointments can be made for just about any mutually agreeable time, including weekends and evenings.

Phone calls are returned during the following business hours:

Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am to 7 pm.
Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Saturdays, only when we don’t have weddings!
Sundays and Mondays, closed.

Thank you for your understanding!

-shawna K

No, I’m not really going to do a quote of the day (my word, I do not have that kind of time!). But I joined a newsgroup recently and someone had this as their signature. I felt compelled to share:

“Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman.

Taking pictures definitely makes me come alive.

-shawna K

I don’t know why, but I get so excited when San Diego Style Weddings comes out with a new magazine. I have to painstakingly scour each and every page looking for pictures of mine that they used editorially. Of course, I already know what my ad looks like, but I submit pictures to them all the time for use with their articles (I get photo credit, of course). Last year, one of my signature images (the main one on my website) was used as a half-page image over an article about destination weddings. I don’t have such a large picture in use this time, but many of you will find images from your wedding.

My ad this year is of Nichole waiting to be told that it’s time to walk down the aisle. It’s a gorgeous image and will be entered into print competition this year. I am hoping it will score well (I’m still trying to come up with a brilliant title).

Others of you will find your pictures in the Oct/Nov ‘05 SDSW:

Michelle & Johnny: Cake monogram, page 34
Cindy & George: Cake from above, page 41
Lauren & Brett: Cake, page 43
Loren & Brandon: Cake, page 43
Miriam & Omar: DJ, page 146
Melissa & Scott: Hors d’euvres, page 191
Kimberly & Tom: Hors d’euvres, page 208
Miriam & Omar, DJ, page 229
Tracy & Terry: Bouquet, page 266
Kimberly & Tom: Chair arrangement, page 272
Alynne & Dave: Make-up, page 291
Alynne & Dave: Make-up, page 300
Melinda & Patrick: Cake, page 315
ME! Scary!, Page 325
Nichole in the ad: Page 366

I think I’ve mentioned that when I am editing, I get the chance to re-visit some of my favorite pictures. Well, this one was a difficult one. It was super dark outside (as you can tell), and I didn’t want to risk using my camera’s 3200 ISO setting for fear that it would make an unusable picture. I know now that the Canon 20D 3200 ISO is great . . . but I took this shot at 1600 for safety’s sake. Anyways, I thought it turned out brilliantly. I think Sandy and Lee can be convinced to use this one at the end of their album!

-shawna K

I have been photographing Carter since he was just a newborn. I can’t believe how fast he’s growing! Here he is at 18 months - and as you can tell from the dirt and the swimming pictures, Carter is ALL BOY! He’s so fun and sweet - and wild! What a riot!

Here is Carter with his mom, Natasha. Natasha is a hair stylist and she’s so beautiful. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph a bunch of Natasha’s friends and relatives . . . I regularly photograph her niece and nephew, and last year I photographed her brother’s wedding. I should mention that Natasha is also the perfect mom! It’s such a joy to work with such nice people!

-shawna K

Due to the high volume of weddings we are photographing and albums we are delivering, we are going to be on a very strict time schedule for holiday cards and portraits this year. As a courtesy reminder, I wanted to let you know that the last day to take holiday portraits is October 30, and the last day to order holiday cards and enlargements is November 15. The studio will continue to accept holiday portrait orders from November 15 through November 30, but there will be a 50% rush fee for all orders placed after November 15. The studio will be closed from December 20 through January 2. We will also be closed from November 20 through November 25. So, if you are interested in having your portraits done in time for the holidays, please call (619) 861-3630 to schedule your appointment today! Thank you!

It seems that every October I am completely swamped with weddings. For some reason, I sit at home in June (when you would think everyone is getting married), but come October I am super booked. Well, this year is different. June was extremely busy (in fact the whole summer was!), but October is slow. The nice part is, I finally get to photograph the Sunset Safari for the Jarrett Meeker Foundation!

The Sunset Safari is the primary fundraising opportunity for the foundation, which pays for zoological educational programs for disadvantaged children. The event is held at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. For more information about the foundation, please visit www.jarrettmeekerfound.org/, and keep checking back here for pictures from the event!

-shawna K