Claire and Mike got married in Yosemite at the Wawona hotel over Thanksgiving weekend. What an awesome weekend! We decided to get together the day before and do some shots in Yosemite Valley, and it was incredible. The Valley this time of year is so peaceful, and the autumn tones and colors were gorgeous. Claire and Mike were amazing together and we got some great shots! They used to work in Yosemite so they were really familiar and comfortable in the park. We had so much fun getting shots in the Valley!

Please check out the photos below. You can also watch the slideshow below or you can also watch it on its own page HERE.

I’ll be posting up images from their wedding later this week and my own adventures in the park on Thanksgiving, so check back soon.

Shawn

Shawn

So I’m in the process of designing some new business cards. I’m going to have my logo on the front and I’m going to have an image on the back. I’d love to hear what your favorite image is from these. Thanks!

Shawn

Here’s what the front will look like.

And here’s the images I’m considering for the back.

Please leave me a comment if you have a favorite. Thanks so much!

Shawn

I had a really cool trip up to Nevada City this week to visit my friends Erin, Joi, and Katie. It was so fun and my first time in Nevada City! It’s really cool that these 3 amazing ladies are all living together up there. They’re all really good friends of mine, and they just got a house together a few months ago. Their house has such a great feel, and it was such a treat to stay with them for a few days.

On the drive up I caught an amazing sunset over Mono Lake. Mono Lakes is one of my favorite places, and at sunset it has the most amazing colors.

Erin and I had a killer breakfast at Pine Street Cafe in historic Nevada City the next day. I don’t go out to eat really ever when I’m at home, but I love to check out cool little cafes when I’m traveling.

Then we headed down by the river. The Yuba river is gorgeous, and we walked for a few miles and scampered along the rocks in the river. It was so much fun, and so refreshing to hang by a river. I do love where I live in the desert immensely, but I sure miss time down by the river, so I love when I get the chance to be by a river. They’re so peaceful and insightful, and bring me much joy.

The next day Erin and I went up to the Donner Summit area and had an incredible day running around the high country from dome to dome and feeling the high country crispness.

We finished the day with dinner at my good friends Annie and Bernie’s in Truckee. I had such a great trip up to a new area with amazing friends. Can’t wait to go back!

Shawn

Recently a friend of mine sent me an interesting political video, and I thought how easy it is in political matters for people to feel so strongly, whichever side they may be on. I know I’m being vague, but what I’m getting at is that it got me thinking and I just wanted to share some of my thoughts.

What can we do to promote love instead of fear?  What can we do in our own lives to consciously make our decisions based in love rather than fear? How can we let others know the importance of feeling love and not holding fear in our thoughts and emotions, and encourage them to live that?

I challenge each of you to try and make sure you let at least one person know everyday that you love them, and appreciate them.  And I challenge you to go beyond that and tell one person each day who you wouldn’t normally tell that you appreciate them.  Whether its a friend or coworker, or some random person you meet at the grocery store who helps you with a question, or the person who makes your morning latte.

That person who pointed you down the right aisle at the grocery store might have a much nicer day because of a comment you make about appreciating their help, which might lead them to do something unexpectedly nice for their family when they get home, which might make their kids and spouse feel special and appreciated, which might lead to a happier family life, which might lead to children growing up favoring peace and love over fighting, which might help change the world.

We all have the power of choice, and if we choose love instead of fear, we’re helping to change the world.

Peace,
Shawn

Wow, I haven’t posted in a while. I got a prolonged sickness of strep throat that kept me down for almost 2 weeks. It sure feels amazing to not be sick when you’ve been sick for that long. Especially for me, because I hardly ever get sick, so I’m not used to it. I totally appreciate feeling good now, which it can be too easy to take for granted.

Anyway, I spent some time today going through a lot of the landscapes I’ve shot over the last few months. I was so busy with weddings that I didn’t get out to shoot landscapes as much as I’d like, and what I did shoot I never really got around to processing until now.

So I thought I’d share a few. Hope you Enjoy!

Shawn

SR