Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kari Shannon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kari, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I was previously a Store Manager at Bed Bath & Beyond for 19 years and as Im sure some of you know working in retail takes up a lot of your time and energy, they suck you in so to speak. I was working 50 hours a week, tending to my 8 year old daughter and my husband and doing photography on the side. I was comfortable, I liked my job, I liked the people I worked with and even some of the customers who became regulars, it was the only thing I knew. Meanwhile a lot of troubling things happened within the last 3 years at Bed Bath which made me realize I needed a real plan B.

July 31, 2023 BB&B closed it’s doors and I walked away, for the last time, from the only job I’ve ever known with tears rolling down my face. My only work family that I truly loved and they loved me, so many friendships made, so many amazing, kind people, with whom I would not have been so successful without. They were my home away from home. So now what?

I knew what I had to do. I had been in retail management for nearly 20 years and I’m only 40 years old. Half of my life I’ve worked for someone else, half of my life I’ve followed the rules, half of my life I’ve punched a clock. Not anymore. Life is too short to now love what you do.

I have invested a lot of money and time into myself and my education to get where I am today. I am not where I would like to be just yet, but in this short time I am so proud of where I’ve come. I have been a full time photographer for a short 3 months now and it’s still so surreal. I feel guilty for being home, it’s weird to not get in the car and drive to a job site everyday. Now my jobs are at the beach, the park, downtown, in a field in a garden or at a beautiful venue. So much prettier than on the sales floor selling pillows.

I never thought in a million years that my passion for photography could possibly support my family. But I’m here to tell you that it can, it has and it will. Now that I have the time to devote to this new life, I am blown away and I’m kicking myself for not following my dream 20 years ago. They key to success in this industry is being yourself. People want to see you, they want to get to know you, they want to be able to connect to YOU. Not everybody is your ideal client and that is OK but putting yourself out there and staying consistent is key and with that your perfect clients will come find you. The clients that I get to work with are absolutely incredible and I am beyond grateful for each and every one of them.

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

I’m Kari, born and raised at the tippy top of Northern Wisconsin, tiny town called Washburn, population 2,285. I moved to Florida twice and I’ve never looked back since the second time in 2004. Not a lot of opportunity in my home town and I knew that wasn’t the place for me. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life, even thought I loved photography since high school yearbook class, I never dreamed that it would someday be my full time job. Being able to throw my daughter the most epic birthday party as an 8 year old. Being able to spend more time with her and just make more core memories, something I don’t remember much as a child.

As in introvert I never thought I could be a photographer. I actually have to talk to people? Heck no! But this has actually become my favorite part. I love chatting with them and hearing their story too. I almost feel like I’m a different person when I’m working with my clients. I just always remember that they don’t know me personally, so I show up to each session and pretend like we are best friends from the beginning. I will be your hype girl! How fun is that!?

Couples, engagement, seniors, families and maternity are my favorite. Ok, ok, I love it all! I can’t possibly pick. But if I HAD to pick a specialty, I would have to say it is children. I LOVE your kids. I make them feel so so welcome and involved. Everything revolves around them. Your session will be perfect but just in a different way, let you kids be kids. I love on the parents too, make them feel welcome and comfortable but then it’s all about the kiddos. I get down to their level and stay there the whole time. I make a BIG deal out of the things they get excited about and it is so so fun! Most of the time they don’t want to leave bc of the fun experience they had. THIS is why I do what I do.

I have also been blessed with the option to build a studio in my own home, which I absolutely love! That is where I host all my mini sessions such as mommy & me, Easter/spring, fall, and Christmas minis. It is beyond perfect. I get everything perfectly set up the night before, get up in the morning, crank up the AC, brush my teeth and BAM! I’m at work already, ready to go making beautiful memories for my families to remember.

My only regret up until now is I should have done it sooner. Everyone told me and everyone was right but I was so comfortable at BB&B I didn’t listen. Leaving a solid, money hungry job for the unknown was definitely scary.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life is all rainbows and butterflies until it’s not and that can happen at any second. Sometimes you learn things the hard way, or not soon enough. The past 3 years have been…how do I say this…. stressful! But I always say it’s all good. Because it is always good and life goes on and we make the best of it, learn from it and move on. Just always remember, somebody has it worse than you do.

Covid happened during the bulk of the stress. I was furloughed for 3 months from my job because I had no childcare and my husband was a nurse in the ER at the hospital, so obviously he had to go to work, I was just selling sheets and cookware to customers. Honestly those were the best 3 months of my life, my daughter was only 5 and I got to spend all the time with her. Being a hard core working mom her whole life, this meant so much to me and hopefully to her as well.

HR called me 2 days before they expected me to return to work. I was blown away by the time frame in which they expected me to all of the sudden figure my life out again. The child care I had before covid no longer felt safe keeping her because of the exposure my husband was getting while working in the hospital. I thought I was going to have to take an LOA and risk losing my position. I begged for help on social media. A little over a week went by and by the grace of God a friend of a friend agreed to watch her and let me drop her off at 6am in the morning, 20 minutes in the opposite direction, but I didn’t care, I knew these people and I felt safe leaving her there. Now, 3 years later, even though we don’t need them much anymore, I know they love her and will always be there for her and us whenever we need them.

Just like in any job, everything works out for a reason. I truly believe that. We might not know why at the moment, but someday we will….trust the process.

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

I have 3 goals in life now.
Be my own boss.
Spend more time with my family.
Make a lot of money,

I have so many photography idols who’s work is just incredible and I know this is possible for me too.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kariraephotography.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kariraephotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kariraephotography