Photography In the Light - Seniors - Janna Ellinwood

 Most photographers, when asked, will admit that they prefer a specific type of photo session.  Personally, I enjoy photographing adults.  It's not that I don't like doing family session or photographing children, I just enjoy the flexibility that comes with working with a subject who can, a) take directions, b) stand still, and

 c) who, generally, wants to be photograhed.  In that vein, I was more than happy to do a senior photo session for Janna.  Not only is she just beautiful inside and out, she is so photogenic

and uplifting to be around.

The location that I used for this session is one of my favorites; an abandoned house that is just begging to be photographed.  I have done sessions here in all seasons and for all purposes and I still

enjoy each time I get to shoot here.  Maybe sometime I will do a post of all the different sessions

I have done at this location. 

I have made no secret of my affinity for blue eyes.  As soon as I saw Janna, I knew we were going to have fun.  Her eyes just drank in the light and photographed beautifully.

 When I first opened this picture on my computer, I was a bit taken aback.  It was almost erie, in a haunting way, like a little girl who had just set her house on fire.  After editing it, and staring at it for 10 minutes, it grew on me and I really like it now.  It's still a bit freaky, but in a good way, I think.

 Love her facial bone structure in this shot.  If you are a photog, you will immediately know what I mean.  If you are not, you will think im weird and looking too far into things.

 Accessories really do make the shot.  If I ever do a photo session for you, do me a favor and bring lots of accessories....hats, scarves, jewelry, cute shoes, coats, ect....they can take an average picture up a notch.

 One of the things I like most about this location is just the variety

of settings to take advantage of.  The house itself, of course, the field behind it, the fallen

trees; it has really been a great find for me.

 Fresh, clean, and beautiful....that's why I love seniors.

What a day off works looks like for the Bean Family.

Periodically, my husband feels the needs to acquire a project.  Generally, I dont mind.  It's good for his psyche to be elbow deep in a messy chaotic "man mess" and it gives he and Noa a chance to hang out.  Sometimes, though, I wonder if he knows what he's gotten himself into.  Case A: this boat. 

I came home from shopping yesterday to my husband telling me that he had bought a boat.  Now, he didnt spend much on this at all, so its definitely not the $ that bothers me, but I see something like this and I wonder a) how long it will be an eyesore in my driveway, b) how long is it going to take him to clean it up, and c) what is my share of the profits.  To his credit, he usually doubles his money put into it, and he is great about letting Noa be his little helper. 

So, on this beautiful sunny day, my husband is outside tinkering on this boat and chilling with the four year old.  Honestly, Im thankful that he's so capable, creative, and vested in spending time with our sons.  I am a blessed woman. 

  - I take out the camera to get some "before" pictures of the boat. 

Noa finds this to be a perfect opportunity to cheese it up and

pose for the camera.  He obviously gets that from me.

 Yep, that would be my sewing tape measure stolen

from the sewing room. 

It's official, spring is coming.  This does

my heart good.

 Here she is, Austin's newset find.  He calls the process of acquiring

these boats, "sailboat picking."  Noa is especially fond of

this activity, and they spend Saturday mornings driving around

back country roads looking in peoples yard for abandoned

sailboats.  This is what they found last week.

 Hard at work

I was shocked today when for a snack, Noa told me he wanted

celery with peanut butter.  Noa generally has an aversion to celery that

competes with an arachnophobic's aversion to spiders.  Come to

find out, he just wanted to lick the peanut butter out of the celery.  

 "Don't worry, mom.  I'm not going to chop up the flowers,

I'm just going to watch them to see if they come out."

Happy President's Day!



Photography In the Light - My 5 month old

I try every few weeks to get new pictures of Banyan.  He's almost six months old now, and growing so fast, so I try to remember to just capture him doing everyday baby things.  He's learning to sit right now, not that theres any proof of it in these pictures, but its just an example of how fleetingly short the new baby stage really is.  Today Banban was just chilling on the couch and I noticed how blue his eyes are getting, so I grabbed the camera and clicked away. 

Photography In the Light - Families - Spence Family

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I love the beach.  I know, huge shocker, right.  Living an hour away from the ocean, is, in a word, painful.  When the Spence family approached me about doing a beach photo session, I was all for it.  I knew we would have a great time because, not only is this family beautiful inside and out, they are just plain fun.  Dave is the kind of dad we all wished we had growing up, and Amanda obviously adores being a mom.  Their son is one luckly little guy.

Photography In the Light - Maternity - Montellese Family

What a special session this was for me.  When I was 16 years old, I spent two months in Africa on a missions trip.  The "team" I went with was composed of other teens from all over the country.  After the trip was over, many of us lost touch and since facebook wasn't around yet, there wasn't any real way to reconnect.  One of my favorite things about having facebook has been reconnecting with old friends from missions trips; Jessica is one such friend.

When I found out that Jess lived only about 4 hours away, and that she and I were both pregnant and due around the same time, we high tailed ourselves up to Charlottesville, VA for a visit.  Jess's mother in law lives on a rediculously beautiful farm that is very very photogenic.  I jumped at the chance to take some maternity pictures for her.  Her son, Ethan, was too busy gorging himself on strawberries to get in the pictures.



Photography In the Light - Families - Chase Family

This session was fun for two big reasons. First, E and C are the same age difference as my boys, so it was like a peek at what life will be like a year from now. Secondly, it was fun because these kids are just awesome!
When E and C's mom approached me about a session, I had no idea that I was going to get to photograph two of the cutest kids in town. Thier mom owns a childrens clothing business, so not only were they dressed to the nines, but thier personalities were so outgoing and smily!
This location is one of my favorites in the fall because the river and the trees look outrageously perfect. It was a little bit chilly for our session, but the kids just had fun and make my job easy.

Photography In the Light - Brides - Georgia

    As a photographer, I dream of subjects who pose well, don't require direction, and have a general sense of how to place thier body in a way that makes for a pleasing images.  This rarely, rarely, rarely happens.  Unless you are working with a trained model, it is very uncommon for someone to just "get it."  Georgia got it. 
   Bridal sessions are so much fun because the subject is always super excited and happy.  Georgia was probably the easiest and best model I have ever had the pleasure to work with.  I did engagement pictures for her and her now husband about a year ago.  Unfortunately, I had some technical difficulties with the camera and I offered her a reshoot.  She took me up on the offer and we got to do this incredible bridal session. 

Photography In the Light - Engagements - Miquela and Jermaine

One of my favorite things about being a photographer is getting to connect with people. Miquela and I met when I was in 9th grade. We were best friends for two years until a military move relocated my family. Fast foreward almost 10 years later and I find out that she lives a mere 4 hours from me! It didnt take long for a reunion to ensue and a photo session for her and her incredible fiancee, Jermaine.
This session was taken mostly in downtown Elizabeth City, around the waterfront. It has taken me awhile to appreciate and locate locations for photo sessions in this small town, but I have found a few spots that I love in all seasons.
Thanks, you two, for a super fun session and for being rediculously photogenic. Love you both!

Aloha!

Aloha!    
     Photography In the Light is the lovechild of my favorite medium of art, photography.  I am Sheena Bean, owner of this budding photography business and purveyor of all things beautiful.  I am a Christian, wife, mother, artist, and pre-midwifery student. 
     My intrest in photography began in high school when I took a photography course at a local community college.  From there, my interest grew and eventually because this little business that allows me to share my love of photography with others.  The birth of my son Noakea, in 2007, finally gave me a subject that I couldn't get enough of, and I discovered my ture passion of photographing people. 
     Photography In the Light specializes in maternity, family, engagement, and fashion photography in northeastern North Carolina, the Outer Banks, and Hampton Roads, VA.  If you are interested in booking a session, find me on facebook under "Sheena Bean," or email sheenamariebean@yahoo.com.
     With Love,
         Sheena Marie