Happy New Year from Feather Blue Studios!

I hope you and your family enjoyed a relaxing and joyful Christmas! Thank you to my family, clients, and friends who give me the opportunity to create modern heirlooms of the photographic kind. I am so blessed.

Sending wishes for a beautiful, adventurous, and fun-filled New Year!

~Shannon

Happy December! -- Family Christmas Photo Features

Wow! It's December already. Where does the time go! I meant to be blogging holiday shoot deadlines, and photo updates, and new plans... but that's ok. I spent that time with my family, and your family, and editing like mad, and designing some really beautiful holiday cards for my beloved clients (see some of their beautiful families through this posting). Life doesn't always have to be on a perfect schedule, it just needs to be enjoyed minute by minute, day by day. Each day brings new joys -- and I try not to miss them (I hope you don't either).

Speaking of enjoying each minute, here's an article (Huffington Post, by Allison Tate) that I couldn't have written better myself... (thank you to my good friend for sharing it with me).

I often share my passion about how investing in your family photo experience is really investing in the creation of HISTORY, and the above article hits the nail on the head. You are leaving a legacy, your family is part of it, and MOMS - YOU are a big part of it -- so don't be shy about being in your family Christmas picture, no matter how you think you look. Be part of that history for your kids.

While it might be late in the game to get a jump on the professional Christmas photo shoot, make sure you're in your snapshots this holiday season with your kids. Smiles, snuggles, and stray hairs all around.

Thank you to all the wonderful clients I did spend this fall with, sharing in a moment of your family's history. I am blessed by each of you! I truly love getting to know you and your children.

Merry Christmas everyone! Now go and enjoy your December already!!

Senior Picture Season {modern Senior Pictures, St Paul / Twin Cities MN}

Senior Picture season is still upon us! And yes, there is select space still available for some evenings, Saturdays, and even MEA days. Here are some peaks from just a couple of different beautiful Senior sessions this late summer and early fall.

Sunset is happening just a little bit earlier every day, so if you want to experience the gorgeous sun-flair / back-light effect (like in Kayla and her dog Peyton's pictures below), don't delay!

Kayla {with her adorable pal Peyton}...

Christy {self taught guitarist, how cool is that}...

FeatherBlueStudios ~ modern photography by Shannon Tacheny ~ St. Paul, MN
651.489.8281 ~ featherbluestudios@juno.com

tags: modern senior pictures, senior portraits, outdoor senior pictures, senior picture photography, saint paul / twin cities / minneapolis MN

See the WEBSITE for session details or email us for your Senior Picture experience guide pdf: featherbluestudios@juno.com. Senior Sessions start at $250.

Still space for Fall Family Shoots! {Outdoor Family Photography St Paul / Twin Cities MN}

Our October Fall Shoot Event (Sat, Oct 13th) still has room, so don't delay! We've adjusted the times slightly (moving some to the late afternoon) to allow for the beautiful warm light later in the day. Morning and afternoon options still available. See below for the new times and availability! (Can't join us the 13th? -- See below for a special offer anytime this Oct).

You may have missed the "early bird" special rate, but our Fall Special Event shoot rate for Sat Oct 13th is still an AMAZING deal at just $220, with lots of cool products included. Need more info? See the posting below this one for all the details plus images of the album & holiday card swag included when you join us that day!

New Shoot Times for Oct 13th:
9am -
9:50am - booked
10:40am -

3pm -
3:45pm - booked
4:30pm - booked

Can't make the 13th? Book any fall family shoot for Oct, in-studio or outdoors, at the regular rate of $165 and receive a special bonus of $30 order credit along with it. Valid through Oct 2012 only.

Fall Outdoor Special-Event Shoot Days -- {Child & Family Photography, St Paul}

A beautiful, busy, and blessed summer has flown by! Now it's time to think about fall...

Don't miss out on our annual fall outdoor shoot day special events! One "urban" option and one "park" option - we've got two dates and two looks to suit your calendar & your style. But slots are limited! And booking early means a bigger discount and a fun bonus, so don't delay - get your family photo shoot on the calendar today!

45-50 minute time slots
(PLENTY of time for group smiles, kids separately & together, and some family snuggles and adventure time - no pressure: we can do it all)

Saturday, SEPT 22nd, 2012
"City Street Charm"
(St. Paul amongst trendy Selby / Grand Ave)
9am - reserved
10am -
10:50am -
11:40am -

Saturday, OCT 13th, 2012
"Fall in the Park"
(Autumn Colors in the Como Park area)
9am -
9:50am -reserved
10:40am -
& 1pm - reserved
1:45pm - reserved

Call 651.489.8281 or email featherbluestudios@juno.com to book your slot today!

Senior Spokesmodel - Grace! {Modern High School Senior Pictures, St. Paul / Minneapolis, MN}

It's Summer! And that means Senior Picture Season... It's one of my favorites -- somewhere between fashion and portraits, edgy and relaxed, working with gals and guys at exciting stages of their lives... I love it! Meet this year's High School Senior Picture Spokesmodel for "The Senior Scene" - our Senior Picture division - Grace! Get to know Grace here (& enjoy the adorable pix too). Grace and I decided on a bit of a "Parisian" look for this first outfit - the blacks and grays with the tres chic red flower. I got my photography start in Paris, so it's dear to my heart! Merci to Grace for the fun time, looking forward to shooting more with you soon... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AN INTERVIEW WITH GRACE... Q: What's your favorite color? Grace: gray or yellow Q: Ice Cream flavor? Grace: Bananna Pudding! (rare but fabulous apparently!) Q: What fashion trend or clothing item do you adore? Grace: my gray knit sweater! Q: What do you look forward to doing in the summer? Grace: reading or playing ultimate frisbee Q: How about school? What subjects get you excited? Grace: anything artistic, or math... Q: What is one thing you would love to do/be/see in the future? Grace: I REALLY want to go on a missions trip to Africa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you're interested in a Senior Picture experience by Shannon of Feather Blue Studios, don't delay! Booking now for summer through fall. Check out http://www.FeatherBlueStudios.com and our facebook page {for Senior Girls} - http://www.facebook.com/TheSeniorScenebyFeatherBlue. And then contact us at featherbluestudios@juno.com or 651.489.8281 for details & to book!

Happy Happy Joy Joy

glimpses from a beautiful Spring day...

How Dare I! {belated. CRAVE spread. moi.}

I'm realizing that even after all the hours I poured into shooting for the CRAVE book this fall (and telling you about it no less), I somehow neglected to post my own final spread from the book! How dare I! So here it is, Feather Blue (& yours truly) in all it's glory...
(yes, the image is a tad small. i do believe a little clickity-click will change that).


Because one probably isn't enough for you (like good chocolate), here are a few more spreads from the many women I had the pleasure of working with. These women are all amazing, I tell you.




I have just a few (really, a few) books still available for purchase... So if you want one, get them while they're hot! --- contact me!

Sharing the Love... Worldwide. Always.

Dear Friends of the Studio!

As I worked on my business plan for the New Year, one thought kept coming back to me. I wanted whatever I put my efforts into, whether big or small, to make an impact well beyond myself. In a good economy or a bad one, I wanted my time, my efforts, my creative talent, to benefit the world around me. Since childhood I have had a compassionate heart toward those in need, and have long been a personal supporter of organizations such as Feed My Starving Children, World Vision, and more, locally and worldwide.

In the past, Feather Blue Studios has teamed up with local organizations like Second Harvest Heartland for our Halloween Costume Contest event and food drive, and most recently with our Feel the Love, Share the Love campaign's clean water drive for the internationally-minded Charity:Water.

But I have decided that for 2012 and beyond, a portion of ALL shoots will go toward local and international charity organizations - ones that reach out to the body, mind, and soul of individuals in need here and throughout the world.

Though this has been on my mind for a few months, I was wary of how to announce it, especially without a final game-plan in place, lest it be seen in any way as a marketing effort or as something noble that I am doing on my own. When really I am humbled by the chance to use what passes through my hands, even when times may be "tight," to make a difference beyond myself.

So I am making this statement simply to hold myself and the studio accountable to this plan and let those of you who share like-minded values know that others are with you in desiring to making a difference, big or small. As a small business, one that is often seasonal, I do not expect that I will be making a large dent in the needs of the world. But that's not the point. It's when our hearts are willing that we can be used to make the biggest difference, even when it may seem small. I know that many of you have found your own ways to do so as well -- and if not, start thinking creatively!

Blessings & Thanks,
~Shannon

Happy Valentine's Day 2012!

Happy Valentine's Day all!

TODAY ONLY: we have a very special way to "Feel the Love, Share the Love."

Double your money with a Safe Valentine's Day bet...

Click HERE to be part of it!

...And don't forget to "Share the Love" with your friends from our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/featherbluestudios
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS - Here to get the details on our Feb mini-shoots for both kiddos & headshots? Keep reading the posts below. :)

$69 Headshot Event {& Charity:Water Fundraiser} - Models, Actors, Business Professionals

Don't miss out... THIS FRIDAY!

Headshot Mini-Session Event
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, 2012 {St. Paul, MN}

Booking 20 minute mini-sessions throughout the day! (in 30 minute increments)

Just $69! (Regular headshot sessions: $195-$235)

Time-Slot UPDATE - Currently remaining (as of Wed):
11:30am
12:30pm
1pm
2pm - booked!

JUST ADDED!!
3:30 - booked!
4pm
4:30pm


Update your headshot while making a real difference in the world...
$10 from each session will go directly to the AMAZING organization Charity:Water, providing clean and save drinking water to people in developing countries.

This special event is perfect for actors & models, musicians, artists, and business professionals & more.

Shannon Tacheny of Feather Blue Studios is a fun, experienced, and all-around-savvy photographer who's also been part of the local talent community. She runs Feather Blue Studios, as well as Model Integrity, a resource for aspiring models.

Natural retouching is included with each final image to even out skintones, brighten eyes and smiles, and give your image the captivating edge it deserves.


IMPORTANT NOTES:
-The $69 payment is due in advance to hold your time-slot.

-This time around, a makeup artist is NOT included in this rate (though it is in our full individual sessions) so please come camera-ready; there will be a small area for doing hair & makeup touch-ups before your session

-This is a mini-session event. Your Session will be apx 20 minutes (a lot can happen in 20 minutes) so please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early to have time to prep

-You will receive an ONLINE GALLERY about 3 days after your session where you can view your headshots. You will get to view the top 10-20 shots to select from.

-ONE jpg headshot (of your choice!) is included in the rate; after you select your photo, we will do natural RETOUCHING on it and it will be emailed directly to you within about a week! (Additional jpg images, also including retouching, may be purchased after you've viewed them starting at just $29).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


TO BOOK YOUR TIME-SLOT:
-Contact Shannon directly at 651.489.8281 or featherbluestudios@juno.com

-Currently slots are available on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24th throughout the day - please call for current availability.

-Once your time-slot is booked, you'll be emailed a pdf on wardrobe-ideas, and a input form to communicate to Shannon what you want your headshot to convey!

***To see more sample's of Headshots from Feather Blue Studios, visit www.FeatherBlueStudios.com and click into the Fashion Link (talent-industry headshots) and/or Commerical link (business professional and commercial headshots).***
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DON'T FORGET:
-Feel free to make an even greater impact in the lives of individuals across the world who desperately need clean & safe drinking water by making a DIRECT DONATION toward our Charity:Water Goal: Feather Blue Studios Charity:Water Drive

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feather Blue Studios is located in the Como Park area of St. Paul, MN
www.featherbluestudios.com ~ 651.489.8281

"Feel the Love, Share the Love" - February Mini Sessions & Clean Water Drive!

Calling all hip kids, happy tots, and modern mommies!

It's time for our February Mini Shoots {best. rate. of the year} AND we are very excited to announce our "Feel the Love, Share the Love" campaign, in honor of Valentine's Day this month. What better way to "share love" this month than by making a difference in the world!

Help us share fresh, clean water with individuals in developing countries through the wonderful organization Charity:Water. (Don't let me convince you, go to their website yourself and see the wonderful difference they're making!)





Modern Mini-Shoot Know-How:

-3 Days Only:
Monday, Feb 13th (afternoon slots)
Friday, Feb 17th (morning slots)
& just added! Saturday, Feb 18th (limited late morning slots)

-$69 for each 30 minute mini-session (we can pack a lot of cuteness into 30 minutes)

-up to 2 kids each session (or kiddo & parent!); for each additional child, add $10 and we’ll add 10 minutes

AND It gets better... Your “Feel the Love” Mini Session INCLUDES:
-8 uber-cute art-design wallets
-1 (lightly web-marked) digital image – perfect for facebook or email
-an online gallery for you to view your images (& order "the good stuff" prints)
-a 20% off your print order coupon code when you order within the first 3 days!
-a luxurious little sweet-treat for you & your little one(s) - it is in honor of Valentine's Day after all :)

($179 value)

{click on the image if you'd like to see it larger}

With our “Feel the Love, Share the Love" Campaign capturing this stage of your child’s life means helping another child across the world…$10 from each shoot will go directly to Charity:Water – bringing clean & safe drinking water to people in developing Countries. (And where 100% of your donation goes toward the need!)




What are you waiting for? Call or email us today to book your time-slot, post this baby to your facebook page so others can help out with the Charity:Water cause, and get shopping for your kiddos close-up duds!

featherbluestudios@juno.com ~ 651.489.8281
www.featherbluestudios.com ~ St. Paul, MN {Cozy Como Park Area}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can't be part of the mini-shoots but still want to help?

Here's an extra "sweet treat" for you... DONATE $10 or more directly through the Feather Blue Studios' fundraising page, email us to confirm, and we'll send you a $10 Studio Gift Certificate valid toward any session April through November of this year. The drive page will be active through MARCH 31st, and the $10 Studio Gift Certificate reward will be ongoing through then, so don't stop spreading the word once Feb passes us by...


*And don't forget, take a minute and SHARE this blog link (or cut & paste http://www.featherblue.blogspot.com) to your facebook or twitter page. Help us "SHARE the love" by sharing the link!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Mini-shoot dates don’t work for you? Want more time to enjoy the Feather Blue Studios' experience? Regular Portrait Art Sessions are on an exclusive sale for $120 (regularly $169) + $30 of portrait art credit! through March 9th. Regular sessions include up to an hour and a half of shoot time, an online gallery, plus a post-session viewing appointment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feather Blue Studios {modern photography by Shannon Tacheny} is located in the Como Park area of St. Paul, MN, serving Minneapolis and St. Paul. The studio specializes in Modern Portrait Art for babies, children, and families, HS Senior Pictures, Commercial Photography, and Fashion Photography for models and actors. To visit the studio website go to: www.featherbluestudios.com.

Fall / Winter Photo Features {Child & Family Portrait Art - Minneapolis, St Paul MN}

The Oct/Nov/Dec holiday "portrait season" went by in a whirlwind, filled with exhilarating child and family sessions, holiday card designs, and too-cute-for-words portrait gifts. I wasn't able to take the time to feature as many of the sessions on the blog and facebook as I would have liked, but now that it's January and I've had a chance to catch-up and relax a bit, here's a glimpse of a few faves from this fall/winter 2011...

{from our fall outdoor "urban shoot day" near Selby Ave here in St Paul}


{gotta love the energy}


{part of a wall collage capturing baby at 6m old}


{this one is a design for a pillow (it will have tan suede fabric edges), so very sweet, no?; these images make great modern portrait art, but were also shot to use for the modeling endeavors of this photogenic crew}


{one of my favorites of the year - what more can I say}