We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shan Shi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

For me, learning photography is a biggest risk, for which I have made a lot of efforts, and it also changed my life. I got my MFA degree in June this year. During the eight years of studying photography, I thought for many times whether I would have a better future if I studied other majors. However, I have a great passion for photography, so I moved to the United States from China to study until I got the highest degree in photography.

Coming to America was a very big adventure, my parents never came to America, and I never thought when I was a kid that at some point in my life or even in the future, I would be in America. I just had an idea suddenly that it would definitely help me if I came to study in the US, it only took less than a month from having this idea to starting to prepare. And now I’m graduating from SCAD Atlanta and moving to New York, and it’s less than a month from having an idea to getting ready. I am a person with strong executive power, and I am also very impulsive, regardless of the consequences, I will do whatever comes to my mind.

Since I came to the US, I have worked for more than 50 brands and designers, and have also had my own solo exhibition. It’s been almost two months since I moved to NYC, and I’m working full time as a curator in the gallery and at the same time as a freelance photographer, making connection. After moving to New York, I look forward to new opportunities every day. I love adventures, adventures make my life more interesting and make me look forward to every day in the future.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Shan Shi, I’m an artist, photographer, I got into this industry by chance, I didn’t know what I was going to study when I chose a major in college, but I’ve always had a great passion for art. It was a very ordinary day, my high school classmate said he was going to study photography, and then I went home and asked my parents how if I studied photography. My dad liked the idea so much that he used to make videos for his family and friends when he was young as a hobby when he was young. After my father heard me say that I wanted to learn photography, he was very supportive and immediately found a photography teacher for me, so I started photography when I was still in high school. I never realized how much I love photography until I went to grad school, photography has been in my life for so long, it has even become my whole life. After further study in grad school, I have a deeper understanding of art and photography, and I am deeply into it.

My fashion photography started when I was 18, when I really into dancing, I had a lot of dancing friends, and I photographed them a lot. Most of my friends became models, and some even got into the modeling industry with my photos. Taking pictures of friends/models is hangout with my friends for me. Gradually, some brands began to ask me to take pictures for them. After coming to the United States, I studied in scad and worked as a photographer in the fashion department, and met many very talented designers. Every job at scad seems to be taking a class in fashion. I love fashion very much and work with many designers and brands.

As for fine art photography, I think my work is the expression of my heart, I don’t like to share about my own thoughts with others, I put all my emotions in my photography works. I need art and I can’t live without it. From the age of 18, my life was all about art.

Fine art is my hobby, fashion is my life’s career.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

A lot of people don’t understand why I spend so much money and energy to learn photography, there are too many people don’t understand my approach, especially I was born in China, most Asians go to study IT, doctors, lawyers, and although I My parents are very supportive, but they don’t really know what I’m doing. Especially when most of my friends found a good salary very quickly after graduation, and I came to New York to start over. Admittedly, non-creatives jobs are easier to find, but everyone is interested in different things, I enjoy art and I will keep doing it.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is that I’m doing what I love and I’m happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shanshiphoto.com
• Instagram: @shanshi13321

Image Credits
@spiciebrand @newyorkjadee @yanniiiii_ @Ruoyan Er @aviana.d @vinoya323 @reb6cca @yanr0ng @danielconnelll