We’ve all done it: “Say CHEESE!” In this selfie-saturated world, most kids are trained to flash that cheesy smile for the camera, or they run in the opposite direction when they see the camera. As a mom, though, I melt when I see a picture of my kids with their real smiles and laughs. The […]

This Newborn Session was extra special because I got to meet my friend Lauren in person for the first time. She and I “met” online in an amazing small group formed from a Clickin Moms photography class. Our group has watched each others’ kids gradually get bigger through out the year, celebrated milestones, comforted through […]

Today marks 1 year for Karen Schanely Photography! It has been such an honor and privilege to be invited into so many wonderful homes and families and capture such special moments! We can’t wait to see what this next year holds and are Giving Away a Photo Session to celebrate! Use the link below to […]

Spring is right around the corner here in Dayton, and I’m SO excited to be partnering with Stevens Bakery & Orchard in Springfield, Ohio to offer you the most gorgeous location for Apple Blossom Mini Sessions, surrounded by rows and rows of pastel blooms! This is perfect for Mother’s Day, Easter, or just because – […]

Winter can be cold and grey in Dayton, Ohio, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun, beautiful family session! And I love how this lifestyle session with the Minor family turned out! Doing an in-home session helps everyone feel that much more at ease and comfortable. Because, really, it’s impossible not to have […]

March is finally here (my birthday month!), and I’m excited to share what we’ve been up to lately. This time of year tends to be a little quieter as freezing temperatures, snow days, and cold/flu season force us to be home more often, which is actually good for my introverted soul. We have had a […]

When my friend, Leigh, asked me to take pictures of their new family of six, I was beyond excited to capture this special time in their lives. It doesn’t matter how many kids you already have, bringing a baby home is such a wonderful, crazy, exhausting, and memorable time. I remember with my babies, there […]

I was crossing my fingers for good weather for Emily and Joshua’s family session, and we were blessed with such warm weather for December! We met at Carl & Dorthy Young’s Christmas Tree Farm and had so much fun playing with jingle bells and chasing each other through the rows of Christmas trees! Having 4 […]

Happy New Year from cold, freezing Ohio! We are having a Snow Day here since school is canceled due to cold temperatures, so I’m typing up my 5 Things I’ve Loving Lately while I watch the kids play in the snow. I’m sure I’ll need to go make some hot chocolate soon. December was a […]

It’s December, and the most wonderful time of the year! I feel like I say it every month, but November flew by. It was full of apples, pumpkins, illness – all four of us got the cold or flu the week of Thanksgiving, time with friends and family, and gratitude for the many blessings in […]