5 minutes with… Michigan wedding photographer Shanell Photography

Michigan wedding photographer SHANELL PHOTOGRAPHY prefers an authentic, timeless style of imagery. "I like to think of my style as romantic, yet fun and real. I love emotion and connections, and that is what I strive to capture through my lens. Everyone has a love story, whether it be your wedding day or welcoming a new bundle of joy to your family. I view each wedding and portrait session as a chance to capture the love story at hand and it makes my heart so happy to be able to do so." We're chatting with this lovely lady today and getting to know a little more about her.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER? I truly feel photography picked me. However, wanting to document life for all to remember years after the memory fades was the biggest push to pick up my camera. 

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PATH TO GET THERE. I always liked having photos to remember and document life, but never thought of it as an actual career path. My grandmother growing up always took photos and even had shelves of photo albums from each year organised for all to look through. I truly think she was amazing and she showed me that photography was a way to document and remember our lives. How she managed to keep them so organised and put together year by year though, is beyond me. See my grandmother's, grandma had Alzheimer's and she was afraid that one day she would also develop this terrible disease. For her photos were the only ways she could look back through her life. So taking her love for documenting life and my appreciation for her instilling that love in me, I  bought my first "Real Camera".  Fast forward a few years, I was becoming a "Real" Photographer. It's been a quite a journey and I am blessed to call it my career. 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I would say I am happy fine art. My goal is to have images that are timeless, romantic and joyful.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WEDDINGS? I love capturing each and every couple as they truly are. Capturing their relationship through my lens. Documenting those little things he or she might do still 20 plus years later. How he holds her hand or brushes her hair out of her face. How she looks at him with confidence and trust. Capturing them with the ones they love most, all the laughter, tears, and joy. Capturing the family that may not be there in 20 plus years but were there with them that day. Telling their story.

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE WITH US AND TELL US WHY: i think its very hard to pick a favourite. The below image has more personal meaning to why it's one of my favourites. She is confident and fierce in her look but beautiful and elegant. This image speaks to me and for that reason alone it's one of my favourites. 

CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING EXPERIENCE: Each and every wedding is filled with amazing memories. One of my favourite moments however was at a wedding last year when both the bride and her father looked to Mum one last glance together before she became a married woman. Walking down the aisle with his baby girl, looking at the love of his life and the bride looking to her mummy one last time, filled me with such joy! I was able to capture that moment for them all to cherish forever.

ASIDE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS, WHAT THREE THINGS CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT: My Contax 645, and enough film to carry on my grandmothers tradition of documenting life.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU ON A SUNDAY MORNING: Curled up with a warm cup of coffee, in comfy clothes, snuggling with my loves, and watching a good movie.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF? Anything that's fun and memory filled with my loves.

Michigan wedding photographer SHANELL PHOTOGRAPHY is a valued member of our vendor guide. Shanell prefers an authentic, timeless style of imagery. "I like to think of my style as romantic, yet fun and real. I love emotion and connections, and that is what I strive to capture through my lens. Everyone has a love story, whether it be your wedding day or welcoming a new bundle of joy to your family. I view each wedding and portrait session as a chance to capture the love story at hand and it makes my heart so happy to be able to do so." You can see more of her portfolio here, and you should also check out this Sweet woodland elopement inspired by LIly of the Valley.