Shari Hanson Photography

I love the Hopkins family! They are long-time family friends from California so I was super excited when Kellie reached out about doing a session while they were going to be in town. We met up at Kissimmee Lakefront Park and had fun creating some new memories. I especially love the last slide!! It was so good to see them again and catch up a little bit. ❤️

There are so many pretty spots for photos here! We did these at the library in Windermere. My nephew graduated last year (I know, I know, I am horrible at posting!!) and so he needed some senior portraits and they also wanted some family shots. Right at the end of our session the sky filled up with black clouds and it started to rain! I was so glad we got them finished before the downpour! Working around the weather here in Florida definitely makes the job interesting!

Now Booking: Southern California Mini-Sessions!! Limited sessions available.

For more info & to book your session, EMAIL: [email protected]
or TEXT:714-865-3885

A few months ago I got to take some prom photos with my son Josh and his friends. We met on top of a parking garage & had some fun! These kids looked great all dressed up and had a fun night together. I loved the colors of the girls’ dresses and boys in suits will always win over this boy-mom heart! Josh is a senior this year and I’m looking forward to watching him make more great memories like these with his friends — but also a little sad about how fast time is flying by these days!!!

I have a little story for ya…

There once were two mamas raising their families in Southern California. They lived only a little over an hour apart from each other for many years, but they were completely unaware that the other even existed.

In July 2021 one of these mamas and her family headed east on a long journey across the country to a new home in Orlando, Florida. Soon after this family arrived at their new home, they sent their oldest child off for two years to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to serve in the state of Washington…all the way back across the country! It wasn’t easy to say goodbye but they had faith that he would be protected and were proud of his decision to dedicate himself to loving and serving the people in Washington.

A few months later, a mutual friend brought the two mamas together via social media. (I guess it really CAN be wonderful sometimes!) It turned out that the mama who was still in California was preparing to make the very same journey to the very same city that other mama’s family had just moved to!

In December 2021 that mama moved her family from their home in California across the country to their new home in Orlando, Florida. And now these mamas are friends and live only 18 minutes away from each other!

A few months later, that mama’s family was preparing to send off their oldest child to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to none other than the state of WASHINGTON!

Are you crying yet?

I share this story with you because to me it is a miracle and MIRACLES MUST BE SHARED! I cherish this experience because it is such an awesome reminder to me that God knows ME and loves ME. I know without a doubt that he places people in our lives for a reason. He knows that we need each other! And how awesome is it when he places people in our lives who can 100% relate to what we’re going through? It’s super comforting to me!

So, here are some photos that I took of my beautiful new friend’s son Luke, right before he left on his mission to Washington. We met on the beautiful grounds of the Orlando Temple and had a fun mini-session together. Isn’t he so handsome! And of course I had to include a shot of this mama with her boy!

Now a huge piece of both of our mama hearts are in the state of Washington!

Did you know that LDS missionaries get 50% off their sessions? Let me know if you need some photos of your missionary and we’ll make it happen!

TGIF! Who else is ready for 2 weeks of no school schedules??!! 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

It’s crazy that we’re already half way through this school year!

Let me know if you need portraits of your high school senior in the next couple of months! We all know that time flies and you don’t want to wait until the last minute to capture them before they leave the nest!

This family is so rad! They all have the most amazing blue eyes and I love their adorable kids who love to be silly and have fun together! 💛