Life and Work with Shanna Fisher

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanna Fisher.

Shanna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before I became a wedding photographer, I was involved in is music and worked at a music college library for ten years in Minnesota. As my husband and I were planning our wedding, we met our wedding photographer and absolutely loved her and how incredible her job was. Slowly, I realized that, wow, I think I want to be a photographer. I had always had interest in photography since my dad had always had a dark room, incredible camera equipment and vast knowledge of photography, but I really didn’t think it was something I could make a career.

I began to research and really dive into all things photography. Soon after, our wedding, I purchased my first camera from my wedding photographer. She gave me guidance and priceless advice on how to learn my camera from the inside out. I carried my camera everywhere, took online classes to learn photoshop. It was feeling beyond what I can explain to find something I didn’t know I could be so passionate about.

About a year after we were married, my husband and I moved to Denver. A place I’ve dreamed of living for so many years. Denver is where my business lives and so does my heart. In five years, I worked up from just photographing families to photographing over 30 weddings, elopements, and portrait sessions a year in. Never had I imagined to actually have a job that I love so much and love those I photograph.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting your own business brings out so many insecurities, but the passion outweighs your doubts. It helps to surround yourself with people who believe in you, as well as peers in the business. Having those people in your life, you can ask questions that always have an answer, or help you find one. We boost each other up, help keep each other’s heads up and have so much fun working together. If you’re just starting out, write down goals, big and small. You can reach them, with each small step you take. All those small successes build to make one big one.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a wedding photographer based in Denver, documenting weddings filled with laughter, natural emotion, and organic memories. I love my job and the people I get to work with, that I put my heart and soul into each photo I get to take.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
One of the biggest things for me is guests asking where the main photographer is at weddings when it’s actually me 99% of the time. Being short, a little goofy, and sometimes quiet when I’m focusing on getting the perfect photo, I can become a little invisible and look at as not being strong and empowering. Proving myself through those photographs when I deliver the photos to clients is a pretty good feeling when I get great feedback.

One other thing is people often ask if I have a full-time job outside of photography. My answer is always, photography IS my full-time job and it baffles people that you can make a good living being a photographer. It’s not easy getting to where I am now, but man it has all been worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shannamphotography.com/
• Email: shannam.photography@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannamphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannamphotography

Image Credit:
Shanna fisher; Shanna m. photography

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