This week was Emily’s birthday, and she celebrated the milestone with a photo session wearing a little black dress that was a gift from her Grandma and also wearing grandma’s pearls. Opting against the beach portraits that many people who live on or visit the Outer Banks enjoy, we simply stepped out the door and into the garden.

Standing under a crape myrtle tree in full bloom, Emily struck her first pose, although a bit shy at first, she quickly eased into a series of fun and dramatic poses. From the garden to the tailgate of her Papa’s old Ford pickup, to a stroll down the lane with the family dog. Emily’s beauty and poise shined through the brief session. In a mere 20 minutes we captured a number of stunning images of this lovely young lady.

Birthdays, Anniversaries, retirements, all of these events are a great time to get a Milestone Portrait at Shelley Chamberlin Photography. Mark your special event, call us today to schedule your Milestone Portrait Session 252-453-4366.

Milestone Portrait sessions can include not only birthdays and anniversaries, but engagements, military service acchievements, sports awards, Equestrian ribbons ceremonies, graduation (high school, college, prep school, charter school, medical and law schools), career achievements. Milestones are a personal matter, and if you consider it a milestone for yourself, then it’s a good enough reason to have a Milestone Portrait session.

We will go to your event, location or recommend a location suitable for the type of Milestone you are marking. Give us a call and let us help you commemorate your special day!

Shannon & Patrick

Location:  South Nags Head, NC

Photographer:  Shelley Chamberlin

Officiant:   Jay Bowman

Flowers:   Sugar Snap Events

Cake:   Great Cakes

Dress:  Splendid Bridal in Kentucky

Jeweler:  Stafford Jewelers in Kentucky

Cheryl & Josh

Ceremony Location:  Sunrise service on the Beach at Corolla, NC

Photographer:  Shelley Chamberlin Photography

Officiant:    Rev. Shirley Ann

Reception:  Breakfast reception at the Good Egg in Corolla

Dress: David’s Bridal

Flowers: creations of the bride

Trash the Dress Session: by Shelley Chamberlin, at the Whalehead Club and the beach in Corolla

Leigh Ann and Jeff

Location: The Pearl

Photogapher: Shelley Chamberlin Photography

Catering and Wedding Cake: The Pearl, Sea Ranch Hotel (Kill Devil Hills, NC)

DJ: John Harper

Flowers: Creations of the bride herself

The bride and groom’s friends served as officiant, violinist and baker for the groom’s cake

Lindsey and William

Location:  Hampton Inn, Corolla, North Carolina

Photographer: Shelley Chamberlin Photography

Officiant: Rande Banks

Wedding Cake: Just Desserts

Flowers: Renee Landry Style

Catering: Kelly’s

Lifestyle portraits of your family offers a look at your family in more depth than the Big Box store studio shots that give you an extremely limited type of poses and no location ocpportunities and the “beach portraits” that we all love. It allows for a  greater range of locations (including your own home), earlier daytime sessions, change of clothes, and  a bit more privacy depending on the location you choose.

A few days ago I photographed the Shelton family in their backyard on a canal on the Outer Banks.  I photographed their wedding several years ago, their first baby belly, their newborn’s photos and pictures of him for the next couple of years. This past Fall they were blessed with the birth of twin boys. A few days ago was the second time I have photographed them as a family of FIVE! Wow! They are all so adorable and sweet!

We went out to their backyard with a blanket, picnic basket and a few dozen blue balloons. Once the little guy realized that the balloons weren’t going to carry him off into the sky he was happy to enjoy the afternoon and playing in the grass, reading a book with Mommy, Daddy and little brothers.

These sessions usually last 2 or 3 hours when little ones are part of the plan, so we brought snacks, water bottles and juice boxes in our picnic basket.  Even though Shaiden has seen me throughout his life, camera in hand most of the time, at his age kids tend to not want to necessarily do the typical, sit down andmug for the camera, so it’s important to be prepared to go with the flow andjust let them play. A happy child is the most important thing when photographing the family. You want them to remember it as a positive and fun experience, and not a time that they are getting reprimanded and yelled at or punished for not fitting into the “standard” idea of what is expected at a portrait session.

You must think outside the box in these situations and be able to think on your feet and laugh it off if things don’t go as planned. At the end of the session I gave him a giant lollipop that had him all smiles and doing everything we asked after that…Duhhh. I guess I should have given that to him at the Beginning of the session! Well live and learn!

Senior portraits are a chance for high school seniors to show their style, their fashion sense, their “coolness” (is that a word)?  Whether on the beach, at home, with their friends, or pet.  Perhaps they want some photos with the love of their life (their car, motorcycle, surfboard or guitar), it’s a great time to express themselves.

Photo retouching is included on all portraits you receive (no additional cost).  Sign your friends up for senior sessions and get big discounts on your portraits.

We offer fun and trendy designs on your senior rep cards and photo books.

I think it’s important to get to know a little about the seniors I am photographing. To give them photographs that show who they are and what they like to do. It also gives me the chance to get an idea of the style they like best. Call us today to schedule a consultation.

New this year is the Senior Pack, it includes 100 senior rep cards and a silver tin, 24 page 5×5 hard cover Photo Book of up to 24 of your favorite images from your session, 40 page-4×6 spiral notebooks (your image on the cover and on each of the pages inside (set of 4), and digital image download of all photos of your session.

Check out our new Senior Rep Cards which are very popular right now! Some people call them Rep Cards, some call them Buzz Cards, but it’s a great way for your high school senior to give her friends and classmates a photo of themself and contact information as well as a positive message to remember them by. Like business cards, only skinnier! 

I met Linsey this past week when her mother asked me to photograph their family at the beach in Corolla, on the Outer Banks. Linsey, a recent high school graduate, looks like an exotic beauty with her lovely skin tone and her gorgeous black curly hair.  She came to her session in a flowy, flirty beach dress and just the right amount of jewelry to make a dramatic impact.

An OBX senior session

Fashion photography is one of my passions. If you have seen any of my trash the dress photographs you will get an idea of my style. After taking a couple of shots at the edge of the water we moved to the shade on the steps that lead from the beach over the sand dunes.  With minimal directing, she seemed to understand how to pose, how to tilt her head and the exact right away to hold her hands so they looked expressive.

We then set up for some shots in the sun. While we did get some nice shots, the sun was a bit strong.  All in all, the best shots were definitely on the steps in the shade.

As a photographer, I love it when I come across someone that is so photogenic that I could photograph them forever, and for FREE. Well, maybe not forever, and maybe not for free, but I was ecstatic when I sat down and began looking at the photos from the session. I couldn’t wait for Linsey and her mom to see them. The images are simply breathtaking! I can’t wait to photograph her again next year!

Linsey, I don’t know what your career goals are but you could definitely make a splash in modeling!