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All you need to know. 
A seamless experience starts here. 

DETAILS

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What to wear

Locations

FAQ

GUIDES

The Light

After the session

experience

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Rise & Grow Academy

Booking your session is simple, intentional, and designed to feel seamless from start to finish. Every step is guided so you feel confident, prepared, and fully present throughout the experience.

We’ll begin by selecting your date, time, and location. From there, we’ll choose the collection that best fits your needs —
unless you already have one in mind. Once your session fee or retainer is submitted, your date is officially reserved on my calendar.

A seamless process, thoughtfully tailored to you — because no two stories are ever the same!

Your Experience, Thoughtfully Designed

KEEP READING

This is where everything starts to come together.

I’ll work with you one-on-one to refine your location, guide wardrobe choices, and understand the vision for your session. Whether you come with a clear idea or need help shaping it, this step is designed to feel easy, collaborative, and stress-free.

I use soft, natural light and minimal props (with the exception of studio and branding work). Outdoor sessions take place during sunrise or golden hour for the most flattering light, while in-home and studio sessions are typically scheduled in the morning or early afternoon.

Refining every detail with intention 

Intentional sessions. Simple, guided choices.

Keep reading

This is more than a session — it’s your story

From there, I carefully hand-edit each selected image to ensure it reflects your story with intention and care. Your final gallery is delivered within 2–3 weeks after selections are made — a fully refined collection of your moments, preserved beautifully.

Hand-edited with
intention

Where It Comes to Life

Within 48 hours (season dependent), you’ll receive a proof gallery to view and select your favorite images.

When choosing, focus on the moments — the connection, emotion, and expressions. All final adjustments, including light, tone, composition, and subtle refinements, are part of my editing process and will be thoughtfully applied to your selected images.

Simply choose what speaks to you most —
I’ll take care of the rest.



Reliving the moments, beautifully preserved

After the session

If you’re looking for more detailed information tailored to your specific session, you can click below to explore my guides. They go deeper into what to expect, how to prepare, styling tips, and helpful details for your session type. Each one is designed to give you clarity and confidence so you feel fully prepared and excited leading up to your experience.

Senior GuideBrading Guidefamily guideSports Guide

The Guides

ENROLL NOW

You can expect a relaxed, fun, and easygoing atmosphere where you’re free to simply be yourself.  For seniors, sessions blend confident posing with natural movement that reflects your personality and this season of starting a new chapter.  For families and toddlers, I focus on play, connection, and candid moments guided gently along the way.
For beach sessions, we embrace the elements — movement, water, wind, and golden light.  No matter the session, the focus is always real connection, honest emotion, and moments that feel like you.

Beautiful portraits will always be part of the process, but the real magic lives in the unscripted moments. During your session, I’ll guide you through natural poses and gentle prompts, while also encouraging connection-driven movement — hand holding, lingering smiles, quiet in-between glances, and quick bursts of laughter that can’t be planned.

what to expect during your session

For Portrait Clients

If you’re searching for wedding details, you’ve found your way—just to a different corner of my world. While this space is curated for portrait sessions, wedding photography is approached as a fully tailored experience, thoughtfully designed to document your day with depth, refinement, and care. Every moment, from the understated to the unforgettable, is captured with an editorial eye and a deep appreciation for your story. I invite you to step into a space dedicated entirely to your wedding experience.

Your love story deserves its own space!

WEDDING CLIENTS

KEEP READING

Natural prompts, genuine connection- a session that feels more like time together than posing for photos. 

A Relaxed Experience

From styling to session flow, everything is carefully planned to reflect your vision and feel like you.

thoughful planning

Choose your date, location, and collection with ease — I’ll guide you every step of the way. Once the deposit or payment is made you are officially booked.

simple booking 

From the moment you inquire to the final delivery of your gallery, every step is thoughtfully guided. I take care of the details so you can focus on what matters most — being present, connected, and fully in the moment.


This experience is designed to feel easy, natural, and tailored to you from beginning to end.


What if your photos felt as effortless as the moments themselves?

A seamless, guided experience

adventurous 
well-traveled 
fun
grandparents
college grads
athletes
planning their next trip
playful
little ones
unapologetic 
thoughtful
first time parents
high school seniors
avid-readers  


adventurous 
full of personality
planning their next trip
playful
unapologetic
first-time parents
thoughtful
college-bound energy
joy-filled
growing families
deeply connected
fully present
high school seniors

adventurous 
well-traveled 
planning their next trip
playful
unapologetic 
thoughtful
wine enthusiasts
avid-readers 


adventurous 
well-traveled 
planning their next trip
playful
unapologetic 
thoughtful
wine enthusiasts
avid-readers 

  


my clients are

who I work with /

Light, along with wardrobe directly shapes the final gallery Soft, even light creates a timeless, natural look with smooth tones and clean consistency. Golden hour adds warmth, depth, and a more cinematic feel, while open shade keeps everything balanced and cohesive. Harsh midday light creates stronger contrast and a more stylized result. The light chosen throughout your session influences the overall mood and storytelling of your images.

Personally I love sunset light and tell my clients for my full sessions at sunset that I like to have them take place about 1.5 hours before sunset, and we’ll shoot until the sun dips away—or until your toddler, teen, or spouse decides they’re officially done with me. Usually the sun is gone before we are.  That soft, golden, glowy light is what gives your photos that dreamy, beautiful feel you see—and it’s always worth it.

The Foundation of Every Image - How It Shapes the Look of Your Gallery

Why Light Matters

My personal favorite. Sunset offers the most flattering, warm, and dreamy light — perfect for soft skin tones, glowing backgrounds, and that timeless, golden feel. It’s ideal for almost all session types and creates the most consistently beautiful results.

Sunset

Golden Hour Magic

We use shade, structure, and intentional placement to create soft, even light beyond golden hour. Midday sun is typically softened or avoided, though it can also be used intentionally when it serves the vision.

Open Shade

Sunrise

Light In Layers

Soft, quiet, and often overlooked. Sunrise light is gentle and fresh, with fewer crowds and a peaceful atmosphere — perfect for city streets or beach sessions or anyone who loves a calm, early start.

Soft Morning Light

The Light
Matters

morning light in the open with brighter colors and textures 

Open shade in the late afternoon.
shade from the rocks provided even
light and the colors chosen were
 warm and bold.

Sunset on the beach with that golden glow back light and a bold red dress adding contrast

Location, wardrobe colors, and time of day all directly influence how your final images will look and feel. 

The colors you choose to wear can either amplify warmth, soften the overall palette, or add depth and contrast — shaping the mood of your gallery in a subtle but powerful way. Just like Warm sunset light enhances rich, glowing tones, while midday sun creates brighter contrast and a more defined, dynamic feel.

How light, wardrobe, and location
shape the feel of your final gallery.

Editing With Intention

02
  • Coordinate, don’t match
  • Select a shared color palette that works together
  • Avoid distracting logos, neon colors and busy patterns
  • Use layering for texture, depth and movement
  • Shoes and socks matter
  • Choose timeless pieces over trendy items
  • Aim for a connected, natural story in every outfit
  • Keep accessories simple and intentional
  • Incorporate soft neutrals with subtle pops of color if desired

To help you feel confident and camera-ready

How to create a cohesive, elevated look that feels natural, intentional, and true to your story while still reflecting individual personality. A thoughtful balance of color, texture, and tone creates a connected, timeless, and effortlessly polished gallery.

Simple Styling to Creating a Polished, Unified Look

part two

01
  • Stick to neutral, muted, or earthy tones for a timeless look
  • Layer in deeper or bolder hues for a more dynamic, standout aesthetic
  • Keep patterns subtle and minimal to avoid distraction
  • Choose soft, flowy fabrics that move naturally
  • Incorporate texture (knits, linen, cotton) for depth and interest
  • Prioritize comfort so you can move and interact naturally

Simple tips to create a connected, polished look

Choosing what to wear should feel simple—not stressful. The goal is to create a look that feels like you while ensuring your images remain timeless, cohesive, and beautifully elevated. 

Effortless Styling for
Timeless Portraits

part One

Let's Find your Vibe

What to wear

Next

01/04

Private Farm in White Hall
Private Farm in Hampstead
Oregon Ridge Nature Center
Jerusalem Mill
Three Blessings Tree Farm
Hampton Mansion

A Little Bit Country

THE NEXT 

02/04

Baltimore Museum of Art
Sherwood Gardens
Georgetown
Harbor East
Jefferson Memorial
Clipper Mill
Pier 5 Parking Garage 
Federal Hill
Mt. Vernon
Walters Art Gallery
National Harbor
Pier 5

IN THE CITY

Next

03/04

Fenwick State Park
Assateague Island
Ocean City Boardwalk 
The Big Chill
3 r's Beach
Addy by the Sea
Rehoboth Boardwalk
Selbyville

Eastern Shore

Next

04/04

Downtown Annapolis
Kent Island Resort 
St. Michaels
Eastport
Terrapin Nature park
Easton

Annapolis

The locations

WHAT clients ARE SAYING

DON'T TAKE my WORD FOR IT

THANK YOU for being such an amazing
photographer! Thank you for capturing the sweetest moments and my last
year of high school! I would not
have wanted anyone else to do this for me!

Maddie

Hey!! I just wanted to reach out and thank you again!! We have done beach photos several times and can honestly say it
was the best experience we have ever had!!

sophia 

Thank you @shannonmarie.photography for
capturing these even in pouring rain, we will cherish these forever!! Can not stop looking at them. Thank you so much!

alex

Thank you so much for coming today Shan. I feel like I have a little piece of home with me when you’re around… it just feels so familiar.  I am so grateful for you! These are absolutely perfect!

Kate

Shannon your pictures are
s00000 good! Thank you so
much! They exceeded what I
was hoping for. Beautiful!

Maddie

The photos are stunning, WE
are over the moon happy!
Thank you so much!

hannah

Just wanted to say thank you again for our awesome session yesterday! I feel like you really go above and beyond for us and I know the pictures will be gorgeous.

Courtney

Let's Do This

Come as you are, trust the process, and don’t worry about getting anything “perfect.” The best images come from real connection and presence, not perfection. My goal is for you to leave feeling comfortable, seen, and with images that feel like your story—honest, beautiful, and timeless.

There’s nothing you need to perfect or overthink. Just show up as you are and allow yourself to enjoy the experience. This is going to be fun, relaxed, and full of real moments you’ll be glad you didn’t miss.

Trust the process -
Just be you

As your session approaches, give yourself permission to slow down and simply enjoy the anticipation. The week of your session is all about ease—try on your outfits, make sure everything fits comfortably, and take a moment to steam any wrinkles so everything is ready to go.

Hang your pieces together so you can easily grab and get dressed without any last-minute stress. A little preparation now helps everything feel effortless later. Most importantly, breathe—you’ve got this. 

Final tips for a relaxed, stress -free experience

Trust The Process • All About You •

you’ve go questions we have answers

We combine personalized coaching, done-for-you resources, and practical business strategy tailored specifically for creative entrepreneurs. It’s not just theory—it’s built for action and results.

Absolutely. I guide you with natural prompts and gentle direction so nothing ever feels stiff or forced. My goal is to create images that feel like you — not overly posed, but beautifully connected.

Yes, depending on your session type. I’ll guide you on what works best so everything feels cohesive and not rushed.

That’s completely okay — and honestly, expected. I don’t rely on perfect behavior. I gently guide the session in a way that allows for movement, play, and real moments. Some of the most meaningful images come from those in-between, perfectly imperfect interactions.

If you’d like help, I’ll guide you every step of the way. From color palettes to outfit coordination, I help you choose pieces that photograph beautifully and feel like you. I also provide a detailed styling guide to make the process simple and stress-free.

If you’d like additional support, I can create personalized style boards with direct shopping links. Purchasing new items is never necessary, but I’m happy to help if you want that extra guidance.

For styling support, I recommend reaching out at least a month before your session. However, if your session is last minute, still reach out — we’ll work with what you have and create something beautiful together.

In the warmer months, sunset sessions fall right during what is typically dinnertime and bedtime for little ones — and I get that.  I completely understand the hesitation, that they will be exhausted and not themselves… but I promise, I’ll make it fun. I would choose that dreamy, golden light over an early bedtime again and again.

When you’re looking back on your photos, you’ll remember the laughter, the snuggles, and how it all felt. And you’ll have those moments frozen in the most beautiful light. If your session is close to dinner, I always recommend feeding everyone beforehand — happy, full kids make all the difference.

And if bedtime will be a little later than usual, consider letting them nap a bit longer that day or bringing pajamas so you can go straight into bedtime when you get home. I promise it will be worth it. 

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