M + N | 35mm Wedding Photographer Los Angeles

M + N | 35mm Wedding Photographer Los Angeles

It’s hard to know how to start this post.  This day was just spectacular.  The love and beauty present was overwhelming, I’m not usually a crier but oh man the tears were flying.  It was my very first time being a bridesmaid for my very first close friend tying the knot.  I knew I wanted to take pictures but also wanted to be present and not inside my camera the whole day (I tend to get swallowed up by my viewfinder).  I decided to bring my new 35mm camera along and limit myself to 2 rolls of film – Kodak Porta 400 + Holga 400

Some lessons I’ve learned from these two rolls – BE PATIENT.  I jumped the gun so many times worrying I would miss the perfect shot.  Better to wait, get a feel for the moment, listen so you will know if someone is about to change their expression.  2 – If you know you missed the shot, and you really think it’s a solid shot, try again.  It feels like you only have one chance with film but it doesn’t have to be that way!

I know they will have millions of perfect images of this day from their photographers, here are a few imperfect ones…

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Melissa and Nathan – I LOVE YOU GUYS!  HAVE FUN IN PORTUGAL!

 

Shannon

info@smwimages.com

http://smwimages.com

Love to connect on instagram – @smwimages

Day at the Horse Show | Family Documentary Photographer Los Angeles

Day at the Horse Show | Family Documentary Photographer Los Angeles

This was such a beautiful day!  Snowcapped mountains in the distance, blue ribbons twirling with the wind, majestic creatures, and some family bonding…perfection.  Documenting these family experiences is one of my favorite things!

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Ciao!

 

Shannon

http://smwimages.com

info@smwimages.com

Green Thunder – Soccer Game Photography in Los Angeles

Green Thunder – Soccer Game Photography in Los Angeles

This was my first time capturing a soccer game and I absolutely loved it!  The intensity and focus of these girls was so inspiring, it reminded me of my soccer days and that one time I was hit so hard in the face by the ball that I thought my nose didn’t exist anymore.  Luckily everyone kept their noses in this game.

Soccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, PortraitsSoccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, Portraits3b4a83343b4a85223b4a9261Soccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, Portraits3b4a88163b4a9127Soccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, Portraits3b4a92983b4a9471Soccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, Portraits3b4a9419Soccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, PortraitsSoccer Game Photography - Shannon M West Photography Los Angeles - Event, Kids, Parties, Portraits3b4a9940

So much love :)

 

Shannon

info@smwimages.com

http://smwimages.com

Halloween Jack – Kids’ Birthday Party Photography in Santa Monica

Halloween Jack – Kids’ Birthday Party Photography in Santa Monica

I have been photographing Jack since he was a wee baby (and his family years before he came into existence).  Now he is 4…I think the world is stuck on fast forward.

Anyhoos…I am terrible at dressing up for Halloween,  please send your costume ideas my way.  I’m pathetic, one year I dressed all in green and said I was a chia pet.  Another year I dressed in pj’s and said I was “nighttime Shannon”.

These kids know how to do it right…here are the Halloween shenanigans!

Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer 3b4a64113b4a64373b4a64793b4a6492Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer 3b4a6544Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer3b4a65653b4a65783b4a6609Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer 3b4a66873b4a67513b4a67923b4a68493b4a6867Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer 3b4a69243b4a69553b4a70053b4a70093b4a70513b4a70783b4a71213b4a71453b4a71533b4a71763b4a71883b4a72333b4a72573b4a74933b4a73233b4a74543b4a7531Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer3b4a75663b4a77423b4a78603b4a78683b4a78923b4a78933b4a78973b4a79073b4a79273b4a7943Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer3b4a80523b4a81983b4a82863b4a8291Halloween Birthday Party Santa Monica - Los Angeles - Shannon M West Photography - Kids birthday party photographer

 

Fin!

I’ll be in Denver for the next week to visit one of my favorite people.  See you all in November!

 

Shannon

http://smwimages.com

info@smwimages.com

Bubblemania!

Bubblemania!

I was invited to document Colin’s 2nd birthday last weekend (the cutie that can’t keep his eyes off the magic bubble solution below).  It was my first time encountering this type of entertainment at a kid’s birthday party and, let me tell ya, I’m sold.  It was even hard for me to keep my eyes off the bubbles and in my camera.  Here is their website if any LA parents are interested –

http://www.bubblemaniaandcompanyla.com

Invite me to your next bubble party so I can take more magical pictures like these!

Bubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - CaliforniaBubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - CaliforniaBubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - California3b4a34873b4a35023b4a35603b4a35613b4a36153b4a36403b4a36823b4a37183b4a37673b4a37793b4a38243b4a38513b4a39063b4a39573b4a40143b4a4115Bubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - California3b4a4324Bubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - CaliforniaBubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - California3b4a4473Bubblemania - Bubble show at a kids birthday party - Shannon M West Photography - Los Angeles - Pasadena - California

I’m having this at my next birthday.

 

– Shannon

http://smwimages.com

info@smwimages.com

 

 

 

 

Fiddlin’ away!

fiddleI was lucky enough to attend the Topanga Fiddle and Banjo Festival this Sunday morning!  What an inspiring place to be for a wannabe fiddler.  It was shocking to see how young and incredibly talented all of these kids were..(why didn’t I stick with violin in 5th grade!!).  Don’t miss it next year – https://www.facebook.com/topangabanjofiddle

Wish I took more pictures but I was busy enjoying the impressive musical jammings-fiddle9fiddle7fiddle12fiddle13fiddle11fiddle3fiddle6fiddle5fiddle4fiddle10fiddle2

 

-Shan

http://smwimages.com

smwimages@hotmail.com