Shannon
How we met
Shannon was the best work wife I could ever ask for. We worked together for 8 months, side-by-side every single day. That girl made me laugh hysterically. I still miss working with her now, 8 months later. Our little ‘Shake It Off’ team with our fearless leader, Kaz, bonded early on over milkshakes and discovering Canberra together. These ladies always knew how to make me smile as we went through some really tough times together. We couldn’t help but be bonded for life. Shan is one of my role models. She is so generous in her love for her friends and her work ethic is inspiring. While her decision skills are not much better than mine, she was the best partner-in-crime – always up for anything from building my bed to music festivals to Harry Potter trivia to puzzles to free food.
I can never thank her enough on the day she picked up the pieces of my heart and helped me clean my room. This lady would do anything for her friends and I will always have her back.
I really wanted to capture Shan for this project just like this because she is embarking on the next stage of her womanhood and is going to raise such a fearless little lady, I know it. To my fellow ‘shiny’ sister, I’m so proud of you! I felt honoured to capture her just before her delightful daughter arrived. Here stands a woman on the precipice of motherhood and I couldn’t be prouder.
Get to know Shannon
To you, what is the best part about being a woman?
Being pregnant certainly makes me feel really privileged to be a woman. While there are certainly times that are difficult, it is incredible to think that I am growing another human inside of me. The female body is so strong and I think sometimes we underestimate ourselves and forget just what we are capable of.
What is your favourite thing to do in your hometown?
I live in Newcastle and am proud to call it my home. It’s a great place with lovely people and really beautiful landscapes. I love going for a walk around the beach/lake or catching up with friends at one of our many great restaurants and cafes. We’re lucky to have a thriving food culture!
Which three guests would you like to invite to a dinner party (dead or alive, fictional or real)?
I never knew my grandfather and two of my uncles so it would be great to be able to spend just one night with them. I’d also love to meet Beyonce as she is one of the most powerful women in the world and JK Rowling, because she must have one incredible imagination to think up something as magical as Harry Potter!
What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
An Acai bowl, because they cost like $14 and I don’t get to indulge in them too often. But seriously, I think about this often. I’d pay off all our debts first then buy a new house, then give money to family and friends. Then I’d buy a round the world ticket and you probably wouldn’t see us for a while!
What would you tell 13-year-old you?
Don’t worry too much about the little things and just enjoy life. Also, don’t worry if you haven’t got your life figured out. I’m 30 and still don’t really know what I want to do with my life, but that’s OK because I’ve come to realise that we are always changing and growing, so what you want when you are 13 might be completely different to what you want when you’re 30. Just be prepared for change and don’t stress if life doesn’t always go to plan or when you stray down a different path. Everything happens for a reason!
What book did you read last? And what books are on your to-read list?
To be honest, right now my coffee table is covered in “how to” baby books. Other than that I’m about one chapter off finishing Elizabeth Gilbert’s (Eat, Pray, Love) latest book, Big Magic. It’s about living creatively and finding your passion (whether it’s what you want to do for a living or just a hobby). I have a tendency of getting half way through books and then not finishing them, so I have to start them again to remember what they were about. It’s a habit I’d like to fix!
“Stop saying sorry! I think women say sorry too much, especially in the workplace. I know I need to be more assertive and believe in myself and my capabilities. One quote that has always resonated with me is “It’s better to beg for forgiveness than to ask permission.” Trust yourself, believe in your ideas and if it doesn’t work out it’s not the end of the world. Pick yourself up and try again!”
If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?
I’ve always thought it would be interesting to see what it’s like to be a man for a day and try and figure out what goes on inside their heads. Otherwise maybe trade places with an astronaut and go out into space for a day.
To you, what is happiness?
Happiness is the little things that we often take for granted; enjoying a good coffee in the morning, snuggling up on the couch with Aaron and the dogs, laughing uncontrollably with friends, spending time with family, travelling and being able to see different parts of world or feeling your baby kick inside you!
If you were stuck on an island what three things would you bring?
Swimmers, iPod and one of those never-ending packets of Tim Tams.
How do you define success?
It’s funny because I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I used to think success was having a really good career and earning the big bucks, but when you die no one cares about those things, they care about the kind of person you were. So to me, success is being known as a kind, selfless, thoughtful and loving person.
What is on your bucket list?
Most of my bucket list is travel related. I’m lucky enough to have travelled to about 24 countries already but there’s still so much of the world I want to see; Japan, South America, Canada, Egypt, Scandinavia and Africa are at the top of the list. I’d also love to join a band and go on The Block!
What is your personal mantra right now?
Tojust go with the flow and be happy with what I’ve got. I often wish we had more money or a bigger house and stress about what I am going to do for work when I’m ready to go back, but then I remind myself how grateful I am to even have a roof over my head in the first place, to be happy and healthy and to be surrounded by great people. Everything else will sort itself out eventually.
What’s your favourite holiday memory?
I can’t really pick a favourite because all my travels have been wonderful in their own way, but I can probably pick a few more memorable moments. One would be the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower. When you think about Europe, you often associate it with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. Growing up it was one of the things I always wanted to see so I actually cried when I saw it lol. It was more the anticipation and finally seeing something in the flesh that I had dreamed about for so long. Other than that Paris was actually a bit overrated for me, but I’ll always remember the feeling I had when I saw the tower sparkling at night. Another very memorable time would be the opening ceremony of the Running of the Bulls Festival with my friend Bridz. We met a group of Aussies and a few Spanish people and just had the best time throwing sangria everywhere.
