HI, I'M SHIANNE

THE LEARNING JOURNEY

Photography is such a hard subject to crack! I was torn between a Photography Diploma in College or taking Spanish at A Level and becoming a translator. I was put off my A levels because of the hours, with my Diploma I was able to get a more flexible job and also have time to explore and create my own adventures so it was a no brainer! I started my Photography Diploma back in 2012 a year after leaving school and them two years taught me basics on how to work a camera. Frustration after every module that passed as to when I will find ‘my style’ and my various tutors always telling me ‘it will come’. I started my degree two years later and was still unknown. I have Artists I love such as Sally Mann, for her purity and sticking to what she believed in. However, could still never distinguish my authentic style. Until one day i got asked “Why did you choose to do photography” so I said… “Because I love looking back at my childhood family album and how real and true the photographs are. I now have memories of my childhood I didn’t actually remember just by looking at them pictures and reading them” I do photography for this reason. I understand the importance of a photograph and the importance of its value. Whether it be of a place or a person, a good moment or a bad, it is a memory that if gone you can never get back. One that although you cannot go back to you physically, you can relive through the power of photography mentally. I know first hand the power of a photograph. Think about it, I bet you do too!

THE BUSINESS JOURNEY 

My very first wedding booking was a reception which I was confident with giving that I had been doing events photographing during my years at College and University. I began to share photographs from the first two weddings which let me to receive enquiries via Facebook from local community groups. I ended 2018 with two wedding bookings for the following summer which I was super excited about. I decided that in April 2019 I would register my business and go self employed. It was kind of bitter sweet. I never imagine to photograph 8 weddings in my first year but my summer was full of weddings and photographing families. I began to give myself goals and targets for my business and with each wedding I shared, more weddings I booked! In the middle of the summer of 2019 I decided to give my business a revamp – make it me. I hadn’t at this point put much thought into the branding of a business but as my year got busier and busier it made sense to focus on the next steps. 2019 ended with me winning my first ever award as the best new business of 2020 and a full diary which I was so excited for. Little did the whole know we would be faced with a global pandemic. I entered 2020 full of beans, lots of goals to achieve and so much content to create. Whilst the year didn’t go as planned, I grew some of the most amazing relationships within the industry, friendships within the wedding community and reflected on what I really want from my business. I continue to work hard, set goals, believe in myself and push to always be the best version of myself.  My diary remains full for wedding, I continue to work with the most wonderful families and also amazing small businesses.