Barbara + James :: Elizabeth Park West Hartford Connecticut Engagement Photography

These dear ones are set to get married in early May up in Massachusetts, where I will gladly put on my wedding guest hat and dance my post-baby booty off. But first, let me share my favorites from their Elizabeth Park engagement session in West Hartford. Barbara has been a dear friend since the summer of 2001, the same summer I met Sean, and I am so thankful I can call her a friend. She and James are so sweet and funny and natural together, which made our time hanging out doing photos super easy for me.

Go over there and snuggle? No problem.

Twirl her around and make her laugh that big Barbara laugh. Got it. 

Look at each other like you simply adore each other. Oh, you're already doing that. Yay!

I was pumped to spend a beautiful September day with them at one of my favorite local parks. Even though it was technically fall, the air was warm, the sun was golden and there were still gorgeous blooms everywhere we turned. I swear, this park is magic. 

Mallory + Ryan :: Bird Park Walpole Massachusetts Anniversary Photography

How is it possible that Valentine's Day is tomorrow? Wasn't it just Christmas, like, a week ago?

If you're like me, Valentine's Day can be a bit of an afterthought. You maybe get a card, some wine and have a nice dinner. We've never been big on jewelry or anything crazy for a "Hallmark holiday".

HOWEVER! That doesn't mean romantic gestures aren't appreciated. One year, Sean had a barbershop quartet show up at my office (in a blizzard!) and serenade me in front of my coworkers. I'm not sure I ever blushed so red in my life, but it was so unexpected and sweet, I'll always remember that. Some years it's just another day, other years we like to surprise each other with something a bit more fun. 

When I think about what I'd really love at this point in our marriage, it's more photos of just the two of us (and a vacation)! I would love nothing more than a day to just be together, having it photographed, doing something fun or silly, just focused on each other. Marriage can tend to take a backseat once you have kids. It's easy to lose focus on the foundation that your family is built on. And these pictures wouldn't just be for Sean and I, they'd be for our kiddos to look at years from now, to see our love for each other, that we're more than just mom and dad, but two people who decided to commit to a life together, to build a home and grow a family. The love doesn't stop after the wedding day!

It doesn't matter if it's been a year or 5 or 25 - it will always be worth it to invest in photos to capture your growing relationship, family, a new home, pets, kids. Anniversary sessions are a beautiful way to "treat yo'self" and document your years together beautifully. Get dolled up out on the town or spend the day in pjs snuggling at home, sipping coffee and curling up in bed. Whatever your style, you'll have a beautiful collection of images that show how you've changed and grown since your wedding day. (hint: Sean and I were practically babies. I look at our wedding photos and it feels like a lifetime ago!)

So if you're scrambling at the last minute and really want something special to give your sweetheart, drop me an email at hello@shannon-sorensen.com and we'll chat!

I recently did an anniversary shoot with Mallory and Ryan at Bird Park in Walpole, Massachusetts, and it was so much fun. They were so sweet together, so kind, and they also brought their pup, Eddie, who was a perfect gentleman. Their session reminded me of how important it is to take time as a couple to just be together and enjoy each other. Be silly, laugh, play, snuggle, throw leaves in the air and kiss! Life is short and there's no time like right now to give each other the gift of being present and making memories together.

Rory + Erin :: World's End Hingham, Massachusetts Engagement Photography

Rory, Erin and I spent a hot July day hiking World's End in Hingham to capture their engagement photos. We were on the southern edge of a thunderstorm, and we ultimately got caught in a bit of a downpour, which made for some really fun, moody photos. 

These two are so much fun and I can't wait to photograph their wedding next spring! Their ceremony is at St. Mary's in Scituate, where Sean and I were married, and their reception will be at the Jones River Trading Company in Kingston, which I have not had the pleasure of shooting at - yet!

Fun story? Rory crashed my wedding. Yup. He and his friend Brendan have been long time friends with Sean's sister Kerry, and they kept telling us they'd crash our wedding. And they did! They showed up at our reception in suits and joined the last hour of the party, at which point, the more the merrier!

Considering the weather, we had a lot of fun on this shoot. I was newly and secretly pregnant, so I tried not to huff and puff too much climbing the hills at World's End. Luckily, Rory was distracted by trying to catch Pokemon, and Erin was gracious enough not to say anything if she noticed said huffing and puffing. It was like hanging out with friends, which is always a treat. I am so excited to witness their marriage in a few months!

I am currently booking 2017 weddings for June through December. Inquire here for availability!

Fall Mini Sessions!

Whether you believe Fall started September 1st or you have 2 more weeks of beach weather ahead of you, now's the time to start planning for Fall Mini Sessions!

I had so much fun with last year's mini sessions in Duxbury that I am planning early and a LOT of days to make sure you have a chance to get some great updated family shots, a mini maternity, headshots, a mini engagement or celebrate your anniversary! I will be in Connecticut and Massachusetts at a variety of locations!

Drumroll please...

October 15 - Newburyport, Massachusetts

October 16 - Duxbury, Massachusetts

October 22 - Windsor, Connecticut

October 23 - Fairfield, Connecticut

November 5 - Walpole, Massachusetts

Price: $150

Time slots: 8:00am // 8:35am // 9:10am //9:45am

Inclusions: 20 minute session; online gallery to view, share and purchase prints; 15 downloadable high resolution digital files 

All sessions are booked on a first come, first served basis with a signed contract and payment in full. In case of rain or inclement weather, a mini session date will be rescheduled as soon after the original date as possible. 

Please contact me at hello@shannon-sorensen.com or using the Contact form on this site to inquire.

I look forward to seeing your beautiful faces this fall!

Studio Announcement

I am excited to announce that I am taking a giant leap and pursuing my photography work full time! It's been almost six years since I started this journey, and I've been looking back through my folders of weddings, families, babies...so many happy memories that have kept driving me forward to this point. I'm thankful for everyone I've had the opportunity to work with, and am excited with anticipation of what's to come!

I have always felt the pull to pursue the work that I love, that not only fulfills my creative heart, but puts something good out into the world. It has always been about making beautiful photographs that can be passed down and treasured for generations. It has always been about connecting closely with the people I work with. It's always been about celebrating love, family, relationships, joy and sorrow, friendship and individual stories of strength. It has always been about creating images that are honest, emotional, and heartfelt. 

Thank you for being here, and for your continued support. It truly means the world to me. 

Cheers,

Shannon

Molly + Sam :: Duxbury Massachusetts Engagement Photography

Oh, my dear friends...Molly and Sam are two of my friends from home, and it was such an honor to photograph their engagement photos in Duxbury, just down the road from the street they grew up on. I've had the joy of watching them get together, fall in love, face growth and change and pain, and overcome it stronger than before. I am so incredibly happy that they are getting married next summer!

They chose a special place for their engagement photos, a field at the end of the street where they grew up. In high school, they would walk together to this field, sit under the tree and talk; it's their place. It's where their love formed. Imagine the talks that big tree has witnessed, keeping their words safely protected in it's old branches. 

I wish my friends so much happiness in their life together. I am proud to share these photos with you today from their engagement session. 

Erin + Mike :: Sandy Beach Cohasset Massachusetts Engagement Photography

Erin and Mike's engagement session was the perfect New England summer session for me. We met at Sandy Beach in Cohasset early in the morning, and within five minutes we ditched our shoes and were having a blast. I've known Mike since we were babies, as our families lived next door for several years. I was so thrilled to meet Erin and even more thrilled when they asked me to photograph their wedding. They are so sweet and funny together, it was like getting to hang out with family all morning. 

I wasn't sure how I'd do shooting in the sun, walking on a beach at 8 months pregnant, but it was actually pretty energizing. When you are doing work that you love, it doesn't feel like work! 

I can't wait to photography their Cohasset Harbor Inn wedding in a few months! It'll be a new experience for me because my parents will be guests!

Ross + Renee :: deCordova Sculpture Park Lincoln Massachusetts Engagement Photography

Oh, I just adore these two. Somehow I am lucky enough to connect with couples who are so sweet and unafraid to love on each other. And they aren't just putting it on for the camera, they just naturally show each other love and affection in a way that is authentic and genuine and you can't help but just smile and fall a little in love with them. 

Yes, I fall in love with my couples. I can't help it! They are rockstars. 

I spent a quiet fall morning with Ross and Renee at the deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and if you've never been here, you must take a trip! What a cool place! We just kind of wandered around finding fun ways to use the artwork within the photos, but the property itself is so perfectly New England. Tall pines, lots of foliage. It doesn't feel over landscaped, it's just this little slice of artsy, laid back Massachusetts that you would not expect in this small suburban town. 

I was so inspired by this shoot, I need to come back here in every different season. I'm not sure if and how often they change out the art, but I could spend all day here and probably not see everything they have to offer. 

I am so excited for Ross and Renee's wedding in March. They are getting married at the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, which will be a new venue for me. But more importantly, I can't wait to see these two say their vows and spend the day surrounded by their friends and family.

How lucky am I to get to witness so many beautiful beginnings of families?

Liz + Nathan :: Elizabeth Park West Hartford Connecticut Engagement Photography

Liz and Nathan met up with me at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford Connecticut on New Year's Eve for a wonderfully snowy, winter engagement session! They will be my first wedding this spring and I am so thrilled to be working with them. They are sweet, kind, funny, and fell in love over shared geekery, which just makes my heart flutter. I'm so thankful they have chosen to work with me and trust me with their wedding day photography. If their engagement session was any hint of what's to come, their wedding day is going to be so much fun!

Here are some favorites from their engagement session!

Amanda + Zach :: Collinsville Connecticut Engagement Photography

I love discovering new places, and Collinsville, Connecticut is definitely a gem of a small town that I look forward to exploring! Amanda and Zach introduced me to this sweet town where Zach proposed to Amanda. They showed me all their favorite places, and we did a little exploring along the river until we found a cool spot to wade into the water. It's such a tucked away little town in Farmington Valley, you'd never know it's there. But you'll fall in love with it, from the small shops to the old New England homes and the river area that is bustling with swimmers, kayakers and boaters. 

It was a gorgeous summery day with these two, and I was so happy to spend it outside in great company. Here are some of my favorites from our time together. 

Emily + Tom :: Yale New Haven Connecticut Engagement Photography

I love shooting at Yale. Love, love, love. I walked around campus for Emily and Tom's engagement session and was just awestruck by the architecture, the little nooks and crannies and the stonework - oh, the stonework! Everywhere I turned was a new angle I wanted to shoot. And I will admit, I definitely imagined what it would be like to be Rory Gilmore and be walking around campus as a student. It felt good!

Emily and Tom are so incredibly sweet, and Emily and I actually went to high school together, so I was thrilled she reached out to have me photograph their engagement pictures. They currently live down south, but were back up in New England for the holiday and we made it work!

I loved Emily's dress choice for the shoot. I adore yellow in all it's cheerful glory and I thought it just popped so nicely against all the cooler tones buildings. 

Emily and Tom are incredibly sweet together. I feel like I'm hitting the jackpot getting to meet so many genuinely nice, kind couples who truly care about each other. It makes my job easy, so much that it doesn't feel like work at all. It's more like hanging out with friends. 

So I hope you enjoy Emily and Tom's summery Yale University engagement session!