Love and Valentines

This Thursday is Valentines Day. You know the day I am talking about. The one wear guys are expected to send flowers or candy to their ladies, kids exchange Valentines at school with their friends and secret crushes, and many couples try to be intentional about going out on a date. And I am pretty sure if I looked up the statistics, February 14th is a pretty popular date for engagements, weddings and conceptions :)

It is also the one where singles moan and complain about being single and in some cases, such as in the movie Valentines Day, throw anti-Valentines Day parties! And the day that many chastise and boycott because they believe it to be a Hallmark invention or just another day for businesses to make money. However history, legend and the romantic in all of us dictates a very different story.

Valentine's Day has it roots in Christian Feast Days, which celebrated the lives of many Saints by the name Valentine, and the earliest associations between February 14th and romantic love dates back to the fourteenth century in a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer and in the following century the celebration of Valentines Day as a day for lovers began to spread. And while Hallmark is generally toted as inventing Valentines cards,  this custom of exchanging cards and love notes began in the nineteenth century, long before Hallmark began its business in the early twentieth century. Additionally, legend tells us about one Saint Valentine who believed in love so much that he risked his life to marry, in secret, soldiers who had been forbidden from marriage. Many of the symbols we associate with Valentines emerged from it's sorted history and legend.

Regardless of its origins and whether it is a tradition that need be perpetuated, the romantic in me (and in many others I assume) is grateful for this day that is set aside once a year to reflect on Love - whether it be romantic love or just the love of family, friends and life! This emotion, this choice, this concept, which seems to be desired by all and for which many of us get out of bed in the morning to experience, is what gives us life, affirms our humanity and makes life worth the struggles and pain. 

So, since I am such a lover of Love and still riding the creative high from Rosie and Raymond's engagement session yesterday I want to celebrate Valentine's Day with you in two different ways...

Firstly, for the rest of the month I am offering a special on "Anytime Love" Sessions in Saint Andrews and surrounding area!! $250, for a one hour photo session, one location/two outfits, a DVD of High Resolution images and a print release and an 8x10 print of your favourite image. Book before February 28th for a session date in February, March and April. Whether you are dating, engaged, newly married or about to celebrate 50 years of marriage, I would love to document your love!

The other way I wish to celebrate Love this month is to give away an "Anytime Love" session to one lucky couple. 

All you have to do is "Like" my Facebook Page, leave a comment on my page and then email your love story to shannon@shannonmayphotography.com (it can be in essay or video format; please write "love story contest" in the subject line of your email).  The winner will be chosen at random* (I'll have a friend of mine pull the name of the luck couple from a hat!!!).  I will announce the winning couple by posting their story to my blog and Facebook page on Valentines Day.** Be sure to share this with your friends!!!

*Participants must be over the age of 19 to enter.

**Winning session must take place in Saint Andrews or surrounding area.

If you have any questions please email me at shannon@shannonmayphotography.com

Love & Sunshine,

Shannon-May