We recently connected with Shanoaleigh Marson and have shared our conversation below.

Shanoaleigh, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I didn’t recognize the “season” I was in until my partner captured a candid photo of me in the woods. I saw a different perspective than the one I was seeing everyday in the mirror. This got me thinking about the significance of capturing all the different “seasons” we go through (the ups and downs) as humans.

I offered to do the same for my friends- with the context of “no matter what season you’re in, capture it now so you can see what you were going though, good or bad”. These moments turned into sessions outside of my circle. It is very powerful to be able to look back on where we were and see how far we have come and how much we have grown.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Shanoaleigh Marson— Photographer, Film Maker, & Graphic Designer. All three of these mediums play a large role in how I show up as an artist.

My photography is rooted in a natural, candid and journalistic approach with a bit of free lensing. I document life. I believe in telling stories through conversation and capturing moments exactly as they happen.

I have a strong love for the messy and raw, but also softness of life. My style is hyper attentive to real time detail. I’m striving for art that is less about perfection and more about creating a feeling that reflects reality.

I’m most proud of how I show up in others space. I show up to peoples most vulnerable time in their lives and that involves a lot of TRUST! I’m honored that people choose me to be in their space and I don’t take that lightly. I go in to a session as “auntie happens to have her camera” rather than “taking” photos. I go at their pace and comfortability. All of my sessions are captured in a soft way where I’m flowing with their space and energy. I’m documenting moments that let us see our past and present.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Feeling. A couple of different ways this occurs. Both by making people feel something from my art and witnessing the feeling people get while I am in their space videoing or photographing. This applies to the raw emotions felt during a birth. This happens when someone begins an empowerment session a little timid and nervous but by the end has embraced themselves and truly blossomed in front of my lens.

I was recently selected as an artist for the Abundance: Through the Lens of Black Women exhibit (First all Black Womens Photography exhibit in Milwaukee, WI) at VAR Gallery. I showed a body of work that I created at Willow River with mothers and their children in the river nursing. A person came up to me in tears saying it moved them so much and they could feel the energy there!

That is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist! Someone feeling such strong emotions and connection to a moment I captured-  at a completely different time and place, that they have no personal connection to.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I love empowering people! I love being creative! And I love collaborating! No season you are in is permanent or lasts forever but, I understand the importance of celebrating and documenting it, in order to see our life’s journey and growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildbyhabit.com
• Instagram: @wildbyhabit
• Facebook: Wildbyhabit
• Linkedin: Shanoaleigh Marson

Image Credits
Shanoaleigh Marson