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

Alright, Shania thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I didn’t know I wanted to be a photographer until I started doing it, and then realized I loved it! The summer right after high school I was able to work under Alicia Magner Photography as a second shooter for a few weddings. I used my mom’s Canon camera she bought to take my senior photos and sports photos during high school. I honestly didn’t know much about cameras at all. If I was to take any photos, they were all in auto and I wouldn’t edit. Alicia was the one who really encouraged my photography skills, and honestly encouraged me to keep learning and growing. From there I learned manual mode, Lightroom, and some posing all in that summer under Alicia. I decided to go to a two year Bible college that fall and worked to continue learning my camera between school and nannying. The summer of 2017 was when I decided to take my business up a notch. From creating a name, to a Facebook page, to trying to figure out pricing, it was coming to life! I started off simple with senior and family sessions, and that summer I learned the ropes of presets in Lightroom and figured out my “style” (although I feel like my “style” is always evolving). I continued doing photos while working another job from 2017-2019. Summer of 2019 I took on photography as my “full time” job. My photography journey was not an overnight launch, it has been slow and steady. But honestly I am quite thankful for the slow and steady. It has allowed me to be home with our kiddos, help my husband on our family farm, and raise Golden Retriever puppies. By the grace of God I am able to continue my photography career one year at a time. Always learning, always growing, and always thanking the Lord for what He has done.

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

If there is one thing I want others to know about me and one thing that sets me apart, it would be my love for the Lord. I love Jesus and work to serve Him through my vocations as wife, mom, photographer, and so much more. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do all that I do. All glory, honor, and praise goes to my Lord and Savior for this life!
As far as photography goes, I love the art of photography and capturing true smiles. My favorite sessions tend to be seniors. There is a lot of freedom and creativity that happens during senior sessions as every senior is unique! But as my own family grows, I have grown to love family sessions more and more. Keeping those family and kiddo photos on the wall up to date is so important to me, and I want to help keep your photos on the wall up to date too!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Social media is huge. When you share your work, people see it, share it, like it, and refer others to it. I also believe it’s important to get involved in your community. Donating sessions or gift certificates for silent auctions, or sponsoring events that are important to you shows you care about your community and want to give back. Hosting mini sessions has also been a great way to get my name out there!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I think the biggest thing that built my audience was the work I shared right away. If people liked the photos they saw, they would get in contact. Getting your “style” down and then being consistent is so huge though. It took me a year to understand my style, but I needed to get it down so I could keep my social media and website consistent. And then sharing your website when you post on social media. But get creative with how you share those photos- put it to music or share the process you took to getting the image, whatever you do- keep posting your work!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shaniataylorphotography.mypixieset.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaniataylorphotography

Image Credits

All photos taken by me, Shania Taylor Photography :)