The I BELIEVE Project

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

Help Spread the Word for the I BELIEVE Project

Help Spread the Word for the I BELIEVE Project Last August I launched the I BELIEVE Project, where a South Central Pennsylvanian wounded servicewomen and/or female cancer survivor/currently in treatment will win a complimentary contemporary glamour session —hair, makeup, manicure, sea salt therapy session, and exclusive product pricing. In today’s virtual world, getting the word out is rather simple—just repost, share, and forward this post. Everything you need to know can be found under “The I BELIEVE Project” tab on my website–what is the I BELIEVE Project, what’s included, qualifications, the timeline the day of the session, how the winner is picked, how to submit your name, who are the team members who help make this project happen, and the official rules. Help me give a woman from my community a chance to have this wonderful experience and to enjoy high-quality images of herself that she will be proud she owns. Most sincerely, Shannon Shannon Hemauer

Holly B: The I BELIEVE Project Winner’s Story

Holly B: The I BELIEVE Project Winner’s Story I must start this blog thanking the businesses who helped me give Holly B this wonderful experience: Sass Salon & Day Spa in Mechanicsburg, PA, gifted a manicure and a sea salt therapy session. Natalie McKee gifted hair styling. Nath Mao gifted makeup application. Nicole Smith of Premier Designs (Use access code NS83) provided jewelry to wear during the session and a $50 gift card to purchase jewelry afterward. I also must thank my wonderful assistant and dear friend, Alisha the Assistant, who just brings a level of fun and happy energy to every session. I sincerely believe these businesses made this a truly blessed day for Holly. 🙂 And to celebrate them, I must post a group photo (minus Sass). And in honor of the upcoming Christmas holiday, I took the liberty to add Santa hats on them. So…on to Holly’s story. Man. This women is amazing. She has such a radiance about herself—I think she’s just realizing how inspiring she is to those who are fortunate enough to cross paths with her—and I’m glad I got to be one of lucky ones. Holly was diagnosed at 34 with breast cancer, which does NOT run in her family, and the only way she found out she had it—and this will give you chills—was during her yearly exam, her nurse was performing the standard breast exam and even though she didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary, this woman just had a feeling Holly needed to have further testing. The medical world tells us 34 is too young to have breast cancer, but something just didn’t sit well with this nurse, so on pure instinct she recommend Holly go get a mammogram. This nurse saved Holly’s life. Holly had no symptoms—nothing felt out of the

Announcing the I BELIEVE Project

Annoucing the I BELIVE Project I am thrilled to finally announce after several months of planning the launch of the I BELIEVE Project! The I BELIEVE Project gives wounded servicewomen and/or female cancer survivors/currently going through treatment who are legal residents of a South Central PA county a chance to feel beautiful and to see they are still feminine by offering a free boudoir or glamour session, which includes: SENSUAL package plus five 11×14 prints from Shannon Hemauer Photography of Dillsburg, PA Hair styling services from professional stylist Natalie McKee of Dillsburg, PA Makeup application from licensed makeup artist Nath Mao of Harrisburg, PA Salt Therapy Session and manicure service from Sass Salon and Day Spa located in Mechanicsburg, PA The idea for the project was first conceived when I was reflecting on my eight years in the U.S. Air Force. November 2014 would have been my 20-year anniversary in the military and I wanted a way to give back to the servicewomen who had come after me. While discussing the idea with my sister, Andrea, Andrea made a comment about how powerful a boudoir/glamour session would be to the women who had been injured during their service. Further reflection led me to decide female cancer survivors/currently in treatment would also benefit from this powerful form of feminine photography. And so the I BELIEVE Project was born! The project got the name of “I BELIEVE” because I believe all women should feel beautiful, and I have witnessed first hand what a confidence builder and transformation a boudoir session is for women. The goal of the I BELIEVE Project is to help women see themselves as beautiful, inspiring, and powerful. The I BELIEVE Project team is made up of myself; licensed makeup artist Nath Mao of Harrisburg, PA; professional hair stylist Natalie McKee of Dillsburg, PA; and Sass Salon and Day Spa in Mechanicsburg, PA, who is proudly offering the winners a Sea Salt Therapy session and a manicure. Lastly, my wonderful assistant, Alisha Newcomer, helps me stay on task and assists in creating many of the lovely props and outfits many of