Conversations with Abby Shepard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Shepard.

Hi Abby, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My photography journey started in college, but I didn’t really know it at the time. I studied graphic design and environmental science but didn’t touch a camera until after I graduated. However, those graphic design skills and interest in the environment would come together later in my life in the form of photography.

After college, I took an internship at a state park in Delaware as a naturalist. Before my internship started, I decided to buy my first DSLR camera because I thought it would be fun to take photos of the park and the landscapes. I quickly fell in love with both the park and photography. Pretty soon, I started taking photos of the programs and events that I was leading as part of my internship.

Then I asked my supervisor if I could start an Instagram for the park. He said no, but he said I could help with the Facebook page. A few weeks later, I fully took over management of the park’s Facebook page and started posting the photos that I took. When my internship ended, I was offered a job in the central office marketing department for the entire state park system in Delaware. Soon, I was managing all social media for all of Delaware State Parks. I also started doing a lot of photography for the state park system, and photographed landscapes, programs, events, people, staff, and staged marketing shoots.

As part of my job, I was in charge of marketing the wedding venues within the state parks. I started planning and photographing staged wedding shoots all over the state.

Then, people started asking me to take their photos outside of work, and it was around this time that I started my own photography business. I photographed my first real wedding in 2017 and because I love the outdoors so much, I decided to focus on outdoor weddings. I stayed with the state park system for 5.5 years total, and while I started as an intern, I left as Chief of Marketing and Creative.

I moved to Boulder, Colorado in November of 2021 and decided to pursue my photography business full-time. It’s been one year of being a full-time photographer, and I love it. I’ve photographed weddings and elopements all over Colorado, the country, and even internationally. Outside of weddings, I’ve worked with clients including Stio, Girlfriend Collective, The North Face, AllTrails, Kent County Tourism, Dakine, and more.

Photography has truly changed my life. It’s led me to so many incredible experiences, challenged me as an artist and businesswoman, taken me all over the world, given me a deeper appreciation for nature, and allowed me to meet so many amazing people.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes and no. At first, running my photography business felt pretty easy. I had a full-time job that I loved and could do photography on the side. That changed when I moved to Colorado. I didn’t intend to be doing photography full-time when I moved. I accepted another full-time job with a marketing agency when I moved. However, the company turned out to be not a good fit for me.

After just 3 months with that company, I decided to leave and go full-time with photography instead. It was the best decision I could have made, but at the time, it felt pretty scary. I had just moved and only had a few weddings booked in Colorado for that year. Throw in a really bad breakup a few months later and believe me when I tell you the struggle was REAL. Now a year later, I am still a full-time photographer and loving life in Colorado.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m primarily a wedding and elopement photographer, but I also do commercial work and landscape photography.

As far as wedding photography goes, I think what sets me apart is my focus on bright, natural colors and genuine emotion. Many of my couples say they booked me because the people in my photos look so genuinely happy, and the colors are rich and natural. I think I’m also really good at composing images that highlight both the couple and the landscape and leveraging natural light in interesting and dynamic ways.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way to connect with me or support me is to follow me on social media.

I’m most active on Instagram, but I’m also on Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. If you’re interested in collaborating or working together, check out my website and then reach out through my contact page!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://abbyshepardphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abby.shepard.photography/
• Facebook: facebook.com/abbyshepardphoto
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/5675cc052eb7d702f524316abc11c5/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@abbyshepardphotography