A MINI ADVENTURE
Mini adventure of a young man
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
My little man and I set out on a mini adventure the other day … across the street 😉
There is this wide open field with a few piles of rubble and is loaded with tall weeds. We tend to avoid this area in the late spring, summer, and fall because of wood ticks… so winter time is our time 🙂 He and I set out of the house to venture on over there to check it out and take some photographs.
I love following his lead with very little instruction from me as I capture images along the way, as a result, doing so allows me to photograph these real and raw moments of him living his life, tasting the experience to the utmost, and reaching out eagerly without fear … all for a richer experience 🙂
For a majority of these images I used a creative technique called freelensing. Freelensing is where I take my lens off of my camera and hold it up to my camera body with a slight tilt up/down/or side to side. This freelensing techniques causes part of the image or most of the image to be soft and out of focus. I love the appearance and feel this gives my images. I feel it can really draw in the five senses by allowing the viewer to see, feel, hear, smell the crisp air, and almost taste the experience for themselves.
All images edited using SMAL ROSE presets for ACR 🙂
“Here’s to freedom, cheers to art.
Here’s to having an excellent adventure and may the stopping never start.”
— Jason Mraz
Oh hey there, nice to meet you!
I’m Shannon O’Malley— a Minneapolis-based (soon-to-be Dallas, TX!) photographer who specializes in online dating profile photography, personal branding portraits, business headshots, and senior sessions. Whether you’re showing up on dating apps, LinkedIn, or your website, I create natural light photos that help you feel confident, magnetic, and true to yourself.
With over 15 years of experience — and a journey that’s taken me from single mom to entrepreneur (with a CBS feature along the way) — I’ve seen firsthand how the right photos can open doors. From attracting more aligned matches to landing dream clients, your image is often the first impression. Let’s make it count.
I also help service providers and creatives get discovered through AI search tools like ChatGPT. I’m the creator of the AI Discovery Checklist and the upcoming course Booked by ChatGPT, designed to help people like you show up where your dream clients are already asking, “Who should I hire?”
Oh, and I’m also the founder of the Empowered Evolution Mentorship Program — where I teach photographers how to build profitable, sustainable businesses with intentional marketing, smart SEO, and systems that don’t burn you out.
When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll find me with my husband, my son, and our beautifully blended family — soaking up everyday joy here in the Twin Cities (for now!). We’re relocating to Dallas, Texas in 2026, where I’ll continue offering my signature photography experience for daters, creatives, and business owners in the DFW area.
Ready for photos that actually feel like you? Whether you’re leveling up your dating profile, your personal brand, or your online visibility, I’ll guide you every step of the way.Let’s book your session — or start with the free AI Discovery Checklist.
Photographed by Shannon O’Malley of Shannon Kathleen Photography — Twin Cities photographer specializing in dating and branding portraits.
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