Inspired, A Very Special Project | Shannon Sewell Photography
I can not believe that it has been three months since we began undergoing this project. This project is so near and dear to my heart and I have really been so inspired and found such a renewed love for photography since I got this project underway! The photographers I have had the honor of featuring here are not only so talented and so generous with their time and their answers but are also so different and its a breath of fresh air to see such a variation in style and in creative perspective. I am a firm believer that our upbringing, our values, our family life. It all really so interconnected and so amazing to see the little bits of our different lives oozing into the very fiber of our work. And it goes to show that despite our differences this community really is so all intertwined. I for one feel very honored to be a part of it all.
So far we have had such a unique group of photographers. Some are well known, others just starting out. Some are established and some are just in the hobby stages of their career. It is not only refreshing to get to know how they tick, where they find their own inspiration but to see that we all have truly started somewhere. Our growth, our approaches all different just like theirs it also gives me hope that I will continue to grow. I hope that you are all gaining as much as I truly have from this amazing opportunity to have a bit more insight into this very special group of photographers candid and open approach to their answers.
This Wednesday I am SO excited to be interviewing the AMAZING Shannon Sewell here. Shannon has such a beautiful eye. Aside from the obvious beautiful photography she has such a gift of capturing childhood. Her images are so full of fun, bright vivid colors and imagination. I can not help but feel overwhelming JOY going through her work. Her images just feel so happy and funky and eclectic. What I find even more fascinating about her work however is that she also creates her own props and backdrops!! It seriously feels as if this woman has no end to her talents and abilities! Her personal, commercial and client work is just so fresh and so inspired. She was even featured on the Frame Show. She’s that amazing. And she’s letting me pick her brain so lets begin shall we?
You Can find Shannon’s gorgeous website HERE and her Twitter account HERE.
Hi Shannon!!
You can say a big ol’ hello to Shannon too right here on Facebook.
Number one my kids. I also love the process of creation… whether it be an outfit, a set or a concept. Photography gives me the perfect excuse (& documentation) to do that!
Canon 5d mkii, Canon 5d, 85 1.2, 35 1.4 and some random finger puppets, suckers and extra CF cards.
Canon rebel and 50 1.4 (still a pretty solid set up if you ask me) 😉
85 1.2. The softness and compression just makes for everything I love in a photograph.
Don’t compromise your vision or your worth.
Tara Whitney.
I love dreaming up stories and themes for a photo shoot. I do this in both my personal and hired work. One is all my imagination, the other a fun collaboration.
I forgot to put a CF card in my camera once. Didn’t realize until the end of the session. That was more nausea inducing than embarrassing though!
Time management. It was the most important lesson I learned to keep my passion and excitement for photography alive while still having a full life outside of it.
Before sunset.
Hang out with my kids more. and decorate. a lot… I love interior design. I’ve actually scaled back my photography schedule to do this already!
My college degree is actually in human development (geared toward becoming a grade school teacher). So while it wasn’t photography related, it definitely gave me skills in the psychology of working with children. I have taken many photography classes but nothing in regards to a degree.
I am just me. There are no pretenses. I am silly, I am honest… if they like who I am then it becomes like hanging out with a friend. That is always my goal.
Every year it is the same… keeping myself on track to do what inspires me, giving the best of myself to my clients, keeping true to my vision. I always promise myself i will be more stringent on the business end of things (ie: charging what i’m worth) still working on that one.
The most important thing that I’ve kept forefront is that I can learn from everyone. Whether someone has a month under their belt or 20 years, everyone has something to offer. I think as long as you keep yourself open to it, you will learn something new every day.
People’s expectations of me. I feel like I am learning every day. Each day is a new challenge and I feel like a beginner over and over. It’s intimidating when people expect me to ‘know it all’.
Digital or Prints? Both (I make sure i print everything I love for me though.)
Two years. My first year was ALL about playing and trying everything new. The second year was dialing it in. That was 5 years ago and I still work with pretty much the same basics.
Word of mouth. It is everything.
Wow! She’s amazing! Love the gorgeous clean processing and how every photo just screams fun!
Great post! Enjoyed reading! I <3 Shannon Sewell's work! Such an inspiration to me, I can really connect with her story too. Thanks for a great post! 🙂
-Heather