Fransisco-Carboni Wedding

This is a sneak peak for my wonderful wedding couple from this past weekend! It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding, and a BEAUTIFUL day...all around! Its so hard to not post about 75 pictures on here, but I just can't, so I will post a few teasers to help ease the wait for the happy couple :)


I had SO much fun at this wedding! As you can tell, my favorite shots are ALWAYS the non-traditional shots. The traditional stuff is fine, we all need those...but my heart and soul scream for the *fun* shots! I got so many *fun* shots for Matthew and Karla....ohhhhh, it makes me happy!!


I hope you guys enjoy your little peak! I promise to work hard so you can see the rest as soon as I possibly can get them ready!
~Shellie









*This shot with the blue sky and the kiss is one of my favorites and I knew it was going to be from the moment I "pictured it in my mind" that day!!! The sky was stunning and the kiss makes it that much sweeter!

Online Images :)

Did you guys know...you can choose FIVE images from your session to have for online display? Yep! Got MySpace, or Facebook and wanna show off your awesome new pics? Just let me know! Each image is small but easily seen for online use...and will have my copyright across the picture, and you can use them anywhere your heart desires online...even on your families blog!!

So, if you are an online junkie ( like me) and want to show off your recent session to all of your online boards and communities, just shoot me an email and we will get those ready for you! ...Just another perk of having your portraits done with me! ;)


Have a great day guys!!
~Shellie

Phone resolved!.

Hi guys!

Repair man came out at 10am today and fixed the phone line!!!! YEA!! ... AND I got a new cell phone ( still 309-241-7782) so call away!! Wahoo!! Thank you for your patience!

OH and just a Thank you for being so sweet about the fact am sick and sound just terrible!!! ...your kind words DO make me feel better!! You guys are so great!

Thanks guys!
~Shellie

Vendor Show Plug!

Hey Everyone!

In November there will be an awesome vendor show! There will be all kinds of vendors there for you to shop and and sign up for goodies! It's a great way to get some Christmas gifts started and be able to see a ton of different things in one centralized location!

Date: Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Peoria Christian Middle Schools Gymnasium

I will be there with a Display... and it will be a pretty one, hehe!! I will be doing a raffle...and if you come out and a picture from YOUR session is displayed then you get to sign up 2 times and double your chance to win! YEA! Also I'll announce my new Special for the month of December too and you will SOOOO wanna hear it!! ..it will make a great Christmas gift!

I'll also have some Gift Certificates there as well so if you wanna give the gift for memories, sign right up and get it done that day while ya see me :)... AND to make the deal sweeter, if you purchase a gift certificate that day, I'll add $50.00 t to it! :)

Have a great day guys!!! Hope to see you out there!
~Shellie

Christmas Cards!!!

2007 Christmas Card Gallery is up and running!! Those of you who have had sessions, or will be soon just email me for the access code and you can browse the selection. I have a TON to choose from, so many beauitful designs, the sample above is just that, and small sample! 4x8, 5x5 and 5x7 sizes to choose from, so a size for everyone :)

Be sure to order all cards before thanksgiving!!! I'll send out an email too...but I got excited to share, hehe!!

Cutie Couple

Blogger is giving me grief! These are the only ones I can get to load, the rest are red X's for me...making me crazy! ANYWAY, this couple was sooooo cute and fun! I'll try and post more later, I dont know what the issue is!

OH and just an update for the Photo Contest...you guys are going crazy!!! hehehe!! There are 4 images that are literally within 5 votes of each other and the others are not that far behind, so its really anyones call still!!! Keep spreading the word and keep the votes coming becuase it very well could come down to a tie...I'm a little concerned! I need a back up plan if that DOES happen!!

Availability, remainder of 2007!!

Availability update for the rest of 2007!! October has literally 2 time slots open, and then I'm completely booked for the month! If you are considering a session in October, here are the 2 times and dates....grab them FAST because I have been contacted this week by a few people, so they wont not be open long!

October
BOOKED- Thank- You everyone for an AWESOME October!!!


November
November 1-9th - no openings.
Saturday - November 10th.... afternoon is booked, Morning is open and after 4pm is open
Saturday - November 17th, after 4:30pm only.
Saturday - November 24th, all day open!
Friday - November 16th - BOOKED.
Monday's, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in November I am only available after 5pm.

My Last session of 2007 will be November 30th, guys!! The only sessions I will be shooting from December 1st thru January 15th, 2007 are Newborns and Baby's First Year Plan Members. (and of course, my winter wedding...dont worry Melissa K. if you are reading this, hehe!!)

You CAN start booking for 2008....You guys know how quickly April-October book up so if you have a date next year you want 110% for sure...feel free to grab it now. Baby Planners...not to worry, we will always get you in, your top priority!! ;) I am trying to find time to create a calander for "ease" but I'm just so swamped right now, it's gonna be put on hold!!

Thanks guys for such a great 2007 so far...I swear, I have THE BEST clients ever!!!!!! OH OH OH!!! Christmas Cards are NOOOOW available!! Be watching your email soon for more info!!

Thanks everyone!!!!
~Shellie

New splash!

I have a new splash page on my website! It was really time for a little update! You can see it, of course, at http://www.shelliebenson.com/

This week should be called design week...I have been trying to use what time I have this week to get some new promo cards designed, and some book pages designed, all kinds of goodies for me to hand out in packets, booths and displays...I just needed some new stuff! Its all so pretty but goodness it's so time consuming. In the process I kept using that image of the baby girl (Kadyn) by the red barn because its just flat out one of my new favorites and I decided they HAD to be on my new splash page! Once I get an idea started in my mind, I have to complete it or it just never happens, haha!

As you can see there are some new "buttons" too, the baby leads here, to my Blog and the happy little girl leads to my Online Gallery and Proofing area. The other one will soon lead to a wedding site! That however will take me some time, but keep checking!!

Recognize her?

She is in the PHOTO CONTEST!! Yet another Baby Planner...can you tell I like baby planners???? oh MY I love to watch them grow, but Newborns are just one of my favorite ages ever...and this is why...loook at that sweetness! I love this aby girl, love her...I cant wait to see her again in November. I could have posted so many, but here are a few faves!!

Baby Boy...and family :)

This is one of my little baby planners! He is soooo cute and had grown SO much since his newborn session! They are the sweetest family, these were some of my favorites from the session!

Mini Session, BIG smiles!

Oh my dear goodness... think this little girl is SOOOO cute! These are some one my favorites, I got thats 3rd on down a 18x24 for my booth display..she just makes me smile with her sweet little happy faces!!!

2 little boys...

It's due time for some pictures on here, dont you think?! I have so many I'm just gonna post some of my favorites from a few sessions for now! These 2 little guys were so great, they didnt make me chase them around to much and they listened so well! I think they need to come and teach *my* boys a thing or 2, hehe!!

WOW!

You guys just ROCK...I gotta tell you that!! I think its gonna be a given that I have to make this a monthly contest becuase the Photo Contest hasnt even been up 24 hours yet and there are SOOO many votes!!! Holy cow, I wasnt expecting that, I'm so excited!!

Keep the votes coming guys...I'll be dead honest, as of right now there are 3 pictures right now that are in fierce competition already!!! Thanks soooo mucf for getting so involved and pulling in all of those votes...keep up the great work!! ....GOOD LUCK!!!!!

PHOTO CONTEST!

Here is a little photo contest for ya!!!
(You will have to click on the picture below to see them bigger!)

Here is how it works....ONE vote per email address please!! Get your friends and family to vote for you too! Any random person can vote as well...so even if you do not know any of the little ones in THIS contest, you might in the future, so please vote for your favorite picture, no matter what!

The picture with the most votes will get a 11x14 of THAT image! YEA! Keep it, give it as a gift...whatever you may like, but you get it 100% free just because you got the most votes! Now, I want to do this more often, so if we get a nice response then that will be the kick to make it VERY often, or just once in awhile :)



Send your votes to: contest@shelliebenson.com ONLY!! All votes sent to other email address's will not be tallied, so be sure to send your votes here guys and gals!

I will give some names of the "contestants" too in case you are hoping you know someone, hehe!!
1) Isabella S.
2) McKenna C.
3) Caudill kiddos!
4) Kylie D.
5) Kadyn C.
6) Ryleigh C.
7) Davis girls



Good Luck Everyone!!! Voting starts now and will go the entire month of October! November 1st the winner will be announced right HERE!!

Raffle Winner!

Sorry, I'm a day late!! I "orgaanized" my office...and then I forgot where I put my raffle entries!! hehehe...typical of me!

I just drew a winner for a free $100 session fee that includes a $60 print credit and it's Jennifer Block - Chillicothe, IL! Congrats to Jennifer!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

~Shellie