Shelly Connell Photography bio picture

Welcome!

I have been a photographer for five (very fast) years.  It has been a very fun and challenging journey to get to where I am today.  I had zero confidence in myself to take photos, so with the help of my very supportive family,  I decided to go to Holland College and get empowered with knowledge.    

I am still drinking up any and all photography information that I can.  This will always be a learning journey for me and this blog is just one more way to learn about the photography world that is out there.  So I hope you enjoy what I have to say and join me in my learning.

Charlottetown Synchro Naiads

My daughter Makenzie has been in Synchronized swimming for 3 years. This is her first year in Competitive Synchro and this weekend was out first experience with an “away trip” with her team.

First off, I just want to say how proud I am of my daughter and her team of 9 other girls. They came in 1st place. It was really exciting for them to come in first but that was not the most important part. The most important to me, was seeing the confidence in all of these girls. They were proud of themselves and their teammates and it was nice to see such team work. These girls range in age from 9-13 and it is a nice self esteem booster for them.

This is an amazing and beautiful sport. It is ballet in the water and these girls are so strong to be able to do what they do. The Charlottetown Naiads have a team that is practicing for the Canada Games, so if you get a chance to see them in action…do….. you will not be disappointed!!!

IMG_0355This is Reese with my daughter Makenzie

IMG_0367My daughter :)

IMG_0407The team getting ready to start their routine!

IMG_0416

IMG_0419My daughter is in the middle with her leg up doing a GREAT boost!!

IMG_0429

IMG_0439Another GREAT boost!

IMG_0445The team with their great coaches Jane and Heather :)

IMG_0507

IMG_0522

IMG_0516Getting their 1st place ribbons!

IMG_0528

IMG_0534

Gordon Connell - great photo`s awesome team work for girls to achieve there first place keep up the great work

Donna - Sooo very proud of all our girls!!!!:) beautiful pictures Shelly!!

Tara - awesome photos, looking good Mackenzie!

Wendy - Nicely done, Shelly. Woo hoo Naiads! Tier 1 Synchro Mom :-)

Tammy MacPhee - hey shelly this is great...love the pictures..we had so much fun...the pic in the paper was great I am sure MacKenzie was as excited as Reace was....

Doreen - Shelly, we are so lucky to have you! Thanks for the great pictures.

Brooklyn

Here is Brooklyn.  This little sweetheart would melt your heart by blinking her eyes.  She is wise beyond her years and has a gentle spirit about her.  Brooklyn LOVES the camera. I do believe that she is a supermodel!!    I have been taking her pictures since she was in her mommy’s belly :)  What a fun day. Thanks Brooklyn :)

IMG_8695

IMG_8680

IMG_8633

This is one of my favorite photos!!!

IMG_8622

IMG_8597

IMG_8577

IMG_8524

IMG_8462

Rachel - Very Sweet Shelly. I love her red hair..so adorable. I love the one of her on the bench looking down, the 2nd one in the group!

Donna - Hi Shelly!! Great photo Shoot!!I actually know Jennifer and Brooklyn and I don't think this child could take a bad picture!!!...but WOW!!!! these are adorable!!!and i agree with Rachel i love the 2nd bench one too:)keep 'em coming love seeing them:) ttyl Donna

Abby

Today was one of my very saddest days and as I type this I can barely see through the tears, but I feel like I must honor Abby.

Abby was not a pet, she was family.

Let me start at the beginning.  I NEVER wanted a big dog.  I am not sure looking back now why, but I was very adamant.  At the time my brother in law was living with us and a family friend was getting a divorce and Abby needed a new home.  My brother in law knew we would be a great for Abby but knowing that I would say “NO” he had to figure out how to convince me.   He snuck her in the house and hid Abby downstairs with him for a couple of days.  I am not sure how he did this because knowing Abby now, she was not quiet by any means.  Needless to say it was love at first sight.

Abby had the best qualities,  we can learn so much from our pets.  She never judged me on any decision that I ever made.  She had patience (except when she knew she was coming in the truck or going for a walk).  Abby had pure and honest love in her heart, every moment of every day and lived in the moment.  She was up for anything, Abby you wanna….? and her answer was always “YES”.  Abby listened to all of my families secrets and was the best friend to my kids (especially on days when they really needed a friend).  She was a lover not a fighter :) She was the neighborhood dog that everyone loved.  I always laughed when I would come home from work, Abby was always waiting for us, but we would come to find out that she would spend the whole day with neighbors and 4:00 everyday started her walk home.

A funny story about Abby :)    I am not sure why but one night Abby was outside, it was very late and instead of coming home she decided to go to the neighbors and at the time their back door opened very easily and Abby knew this.  So at 1:00am Abby gets into bed with them and was there the whole night!!!

In Abby’s prime she would see us coming home and get right in front of the car and bounce up and down.  It would take 5 minutes to go 5 feet.  My husband would do yard work and a job that should take 1/2 an hour would be an hour because he would have to stop and throw a stick or a ball and no matter how far it was, Abby found it :)

Abby was 14 years old and her body was starting to hurt.  She almost died two summers in a row with heat stroke, her hips hurt, we could not keep the infection out of her ears and she had a hard time breathing.  Even with all of this she was happy every single day.

So on December 2, 2009 at 1:30pm we had to say Good-Bye :(

If there is something to learn from my Abby, it is patience, kindness, always show love with no judgement and say yes to life.

I am going to miss hearing the click click on the floor, the 3:00am drinks of water, opening the door all by herself, the balls of hair and her snoring beside me as I work on my computer.

Our house is just way too quite without our Abby :(  I love you…..


IMG_9387

abby

Donna - Oh Shelly....and Family...I am sooo sorry i feel your pain and i to know the feeling of the loss of a beloved family member or pet as some do call them....I love the pic of you giving her a kiss it made me cry and i wish i hade one like this with my Nike (My baby before my babies) that Chris and I had, and had to have put to sleep...Thinking of you today:) Donna

Tanya Amyote - Oh my gosh, Shelly, I am so sorry. I remember you telling us about Abby over the summer. I can only imagine how broken your heart must be. I'm so, so sorry. :(

Maggie - Oh Shell, So sorry to hear, Abby was a great dog, such a "Lab". Hugs & kisses from me & Gromit.

Corey - So sorry to hear about Abbey! So sad :( I'll have to tell Dad about her because he's always asking about her; he'll be pretty choked. She was such a great friend :((

Rachel - Oh Shelly, I just cried reading this. Abby was definitely special and I am sure she will be very missed by all of you. I am so sorry that you had to go through this, as I have before felt your pain. *hugs*

Kim Roach - I just cried reading this. So sorry about Abby. :(

Brian & Tanya

This summer I had the privilege to meet and take the wedding photos of Brian and Tanya.  Tanya is a photographer in Ontario…you can give her some blog love here  http://photographybytanya.ca/blog/ .  It is so nice to see and feel love when taking wedding photos and with Brian and Tanya, I certainly felt that.  As fast as Tanya cried, she laughed that much more.  It truly was a fun wedding with lots of talented singing, including the bride.

_MG_1736

_MG_1876

_MG_1932

_MG_2319bw

_MG_2385

Dawsyn

This little lady is such a sweetheart.  She had a hardy belly laugh that was very contagious.  Dawsyn was born on my daughter’s birthday (she is now 13)!  So when I was taking Dawsyn’s photos, I could not help but think of my daughter when she was that old.  They grow so fast and I know that everyone says that but it is so true.  Enjoy the moments :)

IMG_8874

IMG_8888

IMG_8900

IMG_8909


IMG_8948

IMG_8956

IMG_8959

Kaitlyn :)

Well now I can say that my job officially rocks!!!  I spent the afternoon with a 2 week old beauty and I loved it!!!!  She is so beautiful that she ALMOST makes me want to have another ……almost  :)


IMG_8328_4x6

So peaceful……

IMG_8336_4x6
IMG_8430_4x6

IMG_8404_4x6

IMG_8241_4x6

I love Kaitlyn’s expression here :)

IMG_8339_4x6

IMG_8317_4x6

:)

IMG_8256_4x6

Stephanie & Shawn

Since I started my blog in late August, I did not have a chance to show some of my super fun weddings that I had this summer.  So over the next couple of weeks I will show you my summer weddings.  I can honestly say that I “LOVE” my clients.  On this day it was raining and I thought for sure we would be not getting any fun shots, but Stephanie and Shawn were up for anything!!!!   We were running in the rain and having fun….it was one of my best wedding days this summer. I really do love my “job”and feel blessed that I can do this and give my brides & grooms special memories forever :)


IMG_2071

IMG_2101

IMG_2534

IMG_2788

IMG_2938

IMG_2985

IMG_2967

IMG_2978

My Granny….it’s her birthday :)

I am sorry to tell you all but, I am not a “true” Islander :) I moved to PEI when I was ten years old from Calgary and lived with my grandparents for 3 months until we could move into our house.  This is my first memory of my Granny and Grampy Shea.   My grampy was a farmer and a bus driver and my granny was the best baker I had ever meet :)  There is nothing better that a warm wood stove full of bread raising…..and that is what my Granny did.  Over the last two years my Granny has lost her husband of 40 some years and one of her daughters to MS.   She has also been going through treatment for cancer.  She is a strong lady with a very contagious laugh.    So here is a few photos of my granny and one of the old bus in the yard :)


_MG_0235-4x6

_MG_0212-4x6bw


_MG_0227-4x6bw

_MG_0221-4x6bw

Halloween Fun

Another fun Halloween year has come and gone.  My daughter LOVES Halloween.  We start thinking of costumes in the summer and every year she has had great ideas.  This year was no different except for the fact that the costume was decided the day before Halloween, due to complications on her first costume idea.   There was also a school dance with a dress up theme as well.  So here is the fun.  Enjoy!

This is my daughter and her friend getting ready for the dance :)  My daughter is in the red sweater.

IMG_8133

IMG_8142


IMG_8146

This is my husband as a Vampire on Halloween…

IMG_8170

This is my daughter :)

IMG_8187-1

My daughter’s best friend :)

IMG_8216

IMG_8225

And this is me…..

IMG_8232

Donna - Great costumes guys!!!!

Barbara and Lois - The halloween pics were fantastic!! Saving the one of you for last was a master stroke -- we were hysterical!! We may have to hang around for halloweeen next year!!

My favorite brother’s engagement party

Well, I am very sorry blog world for not paying any attention to you.  I am back on track and I will pay more attention to you from now on.

This summer I had an engagement party for my favorite brother, Trevor and his beautiful bride to be, Sayaka.  It was fun to see all of our family and his friends.  Over the years, my brothers parties have changed from party all night to chasing kids around the yard.  Now most of the boys are married and have beautiful families, so I was able to capture some of the moments…..  here is some of the memories from that day.

Sayaka getting in a driving lesson :)

IMG_7763

Loralie and Kenneth

IMG_7768

Mr. Hottie

IMG_7802

Even Trevor admires Mr. Hottie :)

IMG_7805

Mr. Hottie’s beautiful daughter Nia Jane :)

IMG_7812

My Dad

IMG_7808

My too cool brother Trevor :)

IMG_7821

Daniel and Amanda :)

IMG_7827

John & Jamie Lynn

IMG_7832

Brad’s Beautiful Family

IMG_7835IMG_7837IMG_7839IMG_7843

IMG_7845

Trevor & Sayaka

IMG_7852IMG_7853IMG_7859

Jayden

IMG_7897

IMG_7919

My Cousin and Auntie :)

IMG_7911