Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 4:23pm
Hey guys!
Just an FYI post and a SALE announcement!!!
Reminder we will be closed starting tomorrow afternoon JULY 3rd, 2009 thru JULY 14th, 2009!!
AND a July SALE annoucement!! Baby Stages in on SALE the entire month f July!! See info Below 
HAPPY SHOPPING!!!
VISIT www.shelliebenson.com/shoppe create an account, and once inside Click Shoppe and then Baby Plans
Can be purchased in advance if your baby is not due quite yet!! Our next sale will most likely be in fall!!
Byes everyone!! Have a happy 4th of July and a happy 2 weeks!!!!
xoxo ~Shellie
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 7:09pm
Hey everyone!!!
Today we have another beauuuuuutiful wedding to preview! This wedding, *sigh* I just loved it SO VERY MUCH! I’m sure you will remember the couple from a few months ago and their E-session and how much loved that as well. Well we got wonderful pictures but we got them because the couple is SO ga-ga for each other it makes my job super easy! I love couples that just melt right into each other and Paul & Nicole just totally do that and you just *know* how in love they are within like 2 minutes of talking to them and being around them, haha! I love that - I loved their E-session and I knew the wedding would be a keeper. I was right. You guys, I don’t get too choked up at weddings, I’m not a big on the crying - I can hold it together pretty well in most cases! This wedding I thinkI cried like 3 or4 times, haha! That’s just not right! *wink* The speeches and Paul sang a song he wrote for Nicole too - got me good! However, I blame the father of the groom, I was pretty good until he spoke to his brand new daughter…the sweetest thing ever and I think he needs to adopt me into the family too!! 
hehe!! ….SO much love and emotion in their family and friends, it makes this photographers heart so happy to watch and capture.
The day was lovely, the church was beautiful, the day was SO relaxed and enjoyable, we really had a wonderful time from *our* point of view working that day so I know the people that were involved and guests had to have felt the same way. We had lots of time for pretty pictures outside the church and then we headed to the reception which was on the Spirit of Peoria, and it happened to be Steamboat Days! SO the random pictures you see in a carnival type setting? That is why!!
I could talk FOREVER about this couple and this day because we truly enjoyed every moment but instead I will just leave you with a variety of pretty images instead!!!
First up, I have to post this one stand-alone. When we were shooting this shot I was ohhh-ing and ahhh-ing about how pretty the back-lighting was so I thought I better show the happy couple WHY I was so crazy about that spot!!
Now the 1st 1/2!
Okay and now last ones!!! I really couldnt narrow it down, I already had to cut out about 15 I wanted to show!! Whoops!
Seeeee? Beautiful day all the way around! Congrats to the happy couple - I see many, many years of joy for you 2!! It was an honor to be apart of your day
xoxo ~Shellie
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 5:50pm
Hey guys!!
I feel like I haven’t been able to post for a month, not just 2 weeks!! Its been SO crazy here - in case you didn’t know we had 2 weddings to shoot back-to-back weekends ( not normal for me!) and then in between we had camp for my boys (we stayed as well) and let me tell ya, as fun as much of that was - I got NO rest and very, very, very little sleep the entire time! I’m very glad everything went so well, but I’m always very glad its all wrapped up! haha!! SO needless to say that’s why we were closed for 2 weeks, no time for much of anything between rehearsals and weddings and camping and everyday chaos on top of it!
However, I’m thrilled to be able to finally share a wedding Sneak-Peek!!! This 1st peek is for Adam and Kelli - and let me tell you, the day was BEAUTIFUL. With the weather we have been having here in IL, its amazing to me that the past 2 Saturdays were literally the ONLY 2 perfect days we had in a 2 week span!! I think that was God blessing the wedding days of 2 of the sweetest couples! *wink* Kelli & Adam didn’t get rain, and it really wasn’t super hot either - so SCORE, haha!! As you will see they had a huge wedding party that were so fun and they whole day were full of smiles and laughter and beauty. I love weddings just to watch the interaction between family and friends. You just never know the “vibe” of the wedding until you get there and this family/friend group were just so great - we loved everything. The speeches and laughter and dancing and fun - just a fun day!!!
OH and I have to mention I LOVED their DJ. Why you ask? Well he was a sweetheart for one, but when we walked into the reception 90% of the songs for the first hour of the reception were Michael Buble!! THATS RIGHT, my most favorite singer IN THE WORLD…and it was loud and awesome so I was one happy photographer bouncing around singing and shooting beauuuutiful things! *giggle* that I promise I will never forget just because I love to shoot and listen to him so yeah, I was happy!
I tried to narrow down their peek and it was impossible - so many great things. They have twin 18mo old boys too so I had to sneak in some of them - and the flowers, and cake and bride & groom shots *sigh* ….well enough rambling here is the “way too many preview” for the happy couple to enjoy before they get their proofs in the weeks to come!!
Oh and I’m not sure if I showed it in the Peek but they had a cake that matched their wedding cake at each table! It was SO pretty and such a great idea - I loved it?! AND I have to say that they have had the *best* first kiss as a married couple that I have ever witnessed, haha - you had to be there, but hopefully the picture will make you smile as well - it was adorable!…okay here are some more because I have too…
CONGRATS to you two - it was an honor to be a part of your special day - I hope you love your little preview {{hugs}}
xoxo ~Shellie
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 1:43am
[ CLOSED - June 12th through June 22nd]
No access to phone or email until June 22nd, thank you for your patience and we will be in contact as soon possible upon re-opening!!
http://www.shelliebenson.com/blog/?p=883
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 1:29am
Hey guys!!!
Okay getting ready to be closed for the next 12 days and I HAVE to get up 2 sneak-peeks because the following cuties wont get thier galleries until after we back up and running after the 23rd!!! Everyone else - I’m SO sorry you didn’t get a Peek here on the blog, BUT your galleries will be sent to you tomorrow so SMILE!!! *wink*
First up we have *E* and her sista - you have seen them both before over the past year - but *E* turned 1 (tears) soooo this was her last session to wrap up her first year!! She has changed so much and gotta so grown up!!! I LOOOVE her smile, its the kind that melts your soul and makes you just smile the moment you see it! Her big sister always comes along to her sessions and likes to dress up in my girlie skirts and tutu’s - and you all know how that makes me happy!! *giggle* - nothing better than a true girlie girl
And next up we have *L* - you wanna talk about a great smile?! HE has one too - you just wanna kiss that face!!! Im sure you will remember his as well even though it seems like he grew up SO much in the last 3 months! I love his red hair and big blue eyes *sigh* SOOOOOOO CUTE! He has stunning parents so he was destined to be that cute, let me tell ya haha!!
Okay - and those will just have to hold over the mommies and daddies for 2 whole weeks Hope it does the trick!! When I get back I will have wedding images GALORE to share - 2 beauuutiful couples, I’m excited!!!!!!
Have a GREAT 12 days everyone!!!! I’ll be posting the *CLOSED* sign shortly
xoxo ~Shellie
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 6:17pm
Hey guys just a few quick things! June is CRAZY. As you all know June 12th thru June 22nd we will be closed, and I will be unavailable but I thought I better give a general heads up to the public as far as booking and some info so you guys will in in the know!!
- CLOSED June 12th thru June 22nd. (no access to phone or email during that time)
- CLOSED July 3rd thru 13th ( will have some email and phone access, but vary random)
- BOOKING: I got nothing left for the month of June. July has open dates starting the 20th.
- PLEASE, please, please book appointments by email if at all possible!! Much quicker response time!!
- NEWBORNS: We can always squeeze in newborns (2 weeks old and younger) but please get in contact with us as soon as you possibly can so we can find a spot for you between sessions!
- ORDERS: Orders placed June 9th thru July 13th will have at least an extra week processing time because of our Closed dates! We will do our best do get everything out as fast as possible, of course.
- BABY PLANNERS: Baby Planners if you have not scheduled your next session yet and you are due in the next 6 months please try and get booked as you know Fall will be here before we know it and fall books up oh so quickly!
As always email me if you have any questions or need anything!! Thanks guys and I hope you have an AWESOME week!!!
xoxo ~Shellie
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 4:18pm
Hey guys!
So this is a “plug” for my wonderful new stylist and her BEAUTIFUL new salon in Peoria Mindi is co-owner of Salon True and when I got my hair done last month she was telling me about all of the wonderful details of her new salon to which I knew I would love just by hearing her speak of it. …When someone *truly* loves something and has a passion for their job it shows, that’s all there is to it!! Miss Mindi has been blessed with the gift of making you look beautiful, as well as make you *feel* beautiful because of her warm, caring and giving heart and spirit. You literally fall in love with her the moment you meet her and I felt like I knew her for 15 years just after 5 minutes with her, haha!! …THAT is what I love …plus I have a special place in my heart for anyone who truly uses and appreciates that God given talent they were blessed with!
SO of course after hearing about the salon and then SEEING the salon I asked if I could of course give her a plug here on the blog!! Gotta love supporting local business because local ROCKS! If you are in need of a stylist go stop in or give her a call - you will not be disappointed I can promise you that. They are in the Tanglewood Center on University, just look for the gorgeous Salon True logo above the door - cant miss it
The salon is beautiful, as are the owners - totally worth stopping in to make YOU beauitful, in my humble opinion
Have a GREAT day guys!!!! xoxo ~Shellie
Friday, June 5, 2009 at 12:40pm
This little girl - I wanted to keep her! haha!! She was Sooooooooooooooooo sweet and so beautiful *sigh* I just have a special place in my heart for little girls. Especially little girls who come in and ask if they can wear my cutie little skirts and funky rainboots!! THAT is always a treat when they ask themselves, I was giddy with excitement! haha!! Oh you guys you should have seen her walk down the sidewalk swishing that skirt in those Zebra boots, hehehehe - it was ADORABLE! I seriously need to have a videographer come along on some shoots with me because it seems like I’m ALWAYS saying OH we need that on video! …for example we had a little baby boy a week or 2 ago who we sat down on the floor and he thought it was fun to spin himself around on his tushy in circles *giggle* It was seriously the cutest thing! But ya had to be there….seriously we could make a DVD of all cutie moments like that and I would cherish it forever!! I love my sessions, always filled with cuteness!!!! Of course then I would be reallllllly embarrassed letting everyone see me be a total dork when I’m shooting, LOL!…might need to rethink that idea
ANYWAY - I’m rambling (shocking, I know) but I am feeling accomplished today checking things off my to-do list slowly but surely! I wanted to post little “C” so you could enjoy her sweetness too!!
Enjoy that sweet face!!
xoxo ~Shellie
Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 11:21pm
Hey guys!
I’m on a roll - I thought I would multi-task and while a gallery was loading up and I’m awaiting an email I might as well post another peek!! This is for a sweeeeet family I had a session for Saturday. The weather held out and the day was BEAUTIFUL - it was just a lovely evening filled with lots of smiles and great pics!! *wink* I said I wasn’t going to show any “group” family shots on the blog since its really not my speciality and I am all about the non-posey cuddly shots - HOWEVER, I did throw a couple in because even if they posed, they turned out very pretty!!
This was down in Morton - if you guys ever want green pics I love shooting there in the evening, the light is so nice its just so nice there! Here ya go Jill…I know your stalkin’ the blog
Do you recognize Miss “O” in there??? I took her pics when she was just a baby and now look how big she got - and all of her hair!!! Oh it was so great to see her and her momma *happy memories*
Okay folks - back to work I go! Have a great evening
xoxo ~Shellie
Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 1:23pm
Hey guys!
Sooooo Im like WAY behind this week, and I gotta get a few teasers up for some mommy & daddy’s!!! I’m gonna be fast today - no chatty Shellie!! Haha!! THIS is “I” and as you will see, he rocked him very first session last week!!! Those big blue eyes just melt your heart and he was SUCH a happy little guy!!! I literally had to tell myself to stop shooting because it was way to fun!!
Gotta show these 2 first, there are a series of these that I just LOVE SO MUCH!! These make me love my job that much more, they are just so pretty and “real” *sigh* I loved this little man…
AND a few more because we have a ridiculous amount of cuteness as always, haha!!
I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.
I get SO busy and so frustrated because of no time for anything the past couple months (and no sleep) and then I get that camera in my hand and someone shows up with a perfect little baby boy or girl and all that other stress just goes away….Im SO blessed. SO, SO, SO blessed.
Hope you enjoyed “I” as much as I did and as much as I will when I get to proof that perfect little face!!! Have a great day guys - if I can muster up some time I’ll try and get one more Sneak-peek up today!!! Have a GREAT one!!
xoxo~Shellie
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