The I BELIEVE Project

“I BELIEVE Project” Recipient: Mary | Carlisle PA Boudoir | Shannon Hemauer Photography

Boudoir Shannon Hemauer Mary Ramirez Photographer

“I BELIEVE Project” Recipient: Mary | Carlisle PA Boudoir | Shannon Hemauer Photography As you know, Mary was my second I BELIEVE Project recipient for 2017—you can read about the first recipient, Tessa, HERE. As I’ve said before, the I BELIEVE Project is my way of giving back to the women in my community by offering a complimentary boudoir or contemporary glamour portrait session to a deserving woman who is dealing/has dealt with some sort of adversity for the chance to feel beautiful and feminine. My gift includes hair/makeup thanks to my lead stylist Nath Kreider (in PA) and stylist Rachael Lubach (when in WI), dress rental, and an album. The Project got the name of “I BELIEVE” because I believe all women should feel beautiful, and I’ve witnessed first hand what a confidence builder and transformation a boudoir or a contemporary glamour portrait session is for women. The goal of the I BELIEVE Project is to help women see themselves as beautiful, inspiring, and powerful. The recipients are asked to share at least one image from their session and to share their story with my readers, for often times, many of you can relate to their stories. So, let me tell you a bit about Mary. Mary contacted me in October 2015 inquiring about a boudoir session as a surprise to her high school sweetheart husband, Ben, but life happened for her and we never even got so far as the consult. Fast forward a year, Mary and I crossed paths at an event in Carlisle, where we struck up a conversation and we ended up becoming real-life friends over the course of 2016/2017. One day Mary casually mentioned on her Facebook wall that she was finally getting professional help with her anxiety-driven depression, and I knew at that moment I wanted her to be my second Project recipient for this year, because

2016 Year in Review | Shannon Hemauer Photography

Shannon Hemauer Photography Harrisburg PA Boudoir

Wow. Where did 2016 go? It was a wonderful year, full of new friendships and true blessings. Thank you to Nath Mao, Ashley Becker, Caitlyn Harlin, and Alisha Newcomer for being a part of my team and helping me do what I do. And thank you to my amazing clients, for letting me be a part of your journey as much as you are a part of mine. Here is to an even better 2017! Until next time, Shannon

Holly | Shannon Hemauer Photography

I meet Holly in 2014 when she became the first winner of my I BELIEVE Project. She had so much fun, she came back for more in September of this year. Holly is an amazing woman. She’s so quick to laugh and has such a spunky spirit that I sometimes forget she’s been through hell and back—breast cancer-free for ten years, but she still feels at times robbed of her femininity. You can read about her I BELIEVE Project session HERE. How amazing does she look in this blue dress? The color and cut are perfect for her! Late last week I received an email from Holly, and it’s worth sharing: I am so in love with all of the photos! You make me feel so beautiful! I admit it; it is a daily struggle even 10 years after breast cancer came and robbed and scarred my body! Words can not express the feeling after seeing these photos! You have touched my heart and soul! Made me feel whole! Thank you for your amazing gifted talent! WOW. Her words confirm I’m doing exactly what I should be doing . <3 As much as I’m a part of their journey, they are a part of my own. So…Holly knows a bit about tulle. In her 2014 session, Alisha the Assistant and I made a rather large tulle skirt for her to wear for her session. It was the first time I made a tulle skirt and had no idea how much tulle I’d need. Apparently 800 YARDS will give you a rather fluffy skirt. She was, of course, game for playing with tulle for this current session, but THIS skirt was only around 150 yards, and this time I made a complete “dress”—top and skirt, which resulted in one of my favorite images from

I BELIEVE Project: Rylie

I BELIEVE Project: Rylie Rylie is a sweet, bright-eyed 14-year-old girl who was selected as an I BELIVE Project recipients for 2016 because of her courage to be her true self. I started the I Believe Project in 2014 as my way of giving back to the women in my community—women who have faced a life-changing challenge (such as breast cancer) and shown how resilient they are in spirit. The ultimate goal of the Project is for each recipient to feel beautiful and feminine—something far too many women do NOT experience. So, what is Rylie’s story? Rylie was born physically male but has always identified herself as female. At the age of 13—an age where we’re all trying to figure out who we are as individuals—she shared with her parents who she felt she truly was. During Rylie’s session, which I shot in Wisconsin (my husband and I were in town for a family reunion), her mother couldn’t help but shed a few happy tears. She told my team she had not seen Rylie THIS happy in a very long time. That only a year ago, Rylie was considering suicide because she was depressed not being able to be the real her. It wasn’t until she had her family’s support that things started to turn for the better for her. But I don’t want this blog post to focus on Rylie’s male-to-female transformation. Instead, I ask that you take a moment and let her confidence sink in. To be 13-14 and to know, ‘This is who I am and I want to be open with my story,’ makes her, in my opinion, one of the most confident women I’ve photographed to date. The story I want you to focus on is that she had the courage to transform in a world that is still learning how to accept and appreciate