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

Shannon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Long before my encounter with Jesus, I was already trying to open all the doors I have open now.

I worked hard to build a life around creativity—DJing, photography, storytelling. I tried to create spaces where people felt something real. But no matter how much I chased success or how hard I pushed, everything I built eventually fell short. Nothing truly satisfied. Nothing lasted.

Every door I tried to force open on my own eventually led to disappointment and failure.

Then I met Jesus—and everything changed.

When I encountered Him, He didn’t just fix what was broken; He showed me a whole different way to live. He revealed that He had already gone ahead of me, paving a path I could have never created for myself. A path where I could walk in real freedom, no longer striving to prove anything or fill the emptiness on my own.

Now, I’m following Him—and because of that, every part of my life has purpose.

🎛 As a DJ, I’m not just playing music; I’m creating atmospheres where people can lay down their burdens and feel free, even if just for a night.

📷 As a Photographer, I’m capturing the beauty and value God places in every person’s story.

🙏 As a Minister, I get to help others encounter Him and understand that the same freedom He gave me is available to them, too.

This is the story I’m living now:
A story of redemption.
A story of freedom.
A story of letting Jesus lead me into spaces I never thought I’d belong—and watching Him transform them into places where His love meets people right where they are.

I tried to do all of this without Him, and it never worked. Now, I get to walk it out with Him—and it’s become so much more than I ever dreamed.

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 Shannon, and I’m a photographer, DJ, and minister. My journey into this work has been shaped by creativity, curiosity, and ultimately, by my faith.

I’ve been a photographer for most of my life. Even before I really knew what I was doing, I was drawn to capturing honest moments—the small gestures, the hidden beauty, the details that tell a bigger story. Photography has always felt like a way to help people see themselves with more kindness and appreciation. Over the years, I’ve photographed everything from portraits and milestones to events and brand storytelling. No matter what I’m shooting, my goal is the same: to create images that feel true, warm, and lasting.

In the last few years, I also stepped into DJing. What started as curiosity quickly turned into a passion. Music has a way of reaching people beyond words—it can shift an atmosphere, bring a room together, and help people feel free, even if just for a night. I play house, tech house, deep tech, and open-format sets, creating experiences that are energetic, uplifting, and inclusive.

Even while I was pursuing these creative paths, there was always something missing. I was trying to do it all on my own—working hard to build success but often ending up feeling empty or burned out.

Then I encountered Jesus, and everything changed. Meeting Him didn’t just heal old wounds or give me new perspective—it completely pivoted my path. He showed me that He’d already gone ahead of me and prepared a way I could never have made happen on my own.

Now, I’m not striving to prove myself. I’m walking in freedom, letting Him guide every part of my work. My photography, DJing, and ministry aren’t separate—they’re different expressions of the same mission: to help people feel seen, loved, and inspired to hope again.

Today, I offer:
📷 Photography: Portraits, milestones, events, and brand storytelling that honor the real, unpolished beauty of each person’s story.
🎛 DJ Services: House, tech house, deep tech, and open-format sets for clubs, private events, and livestreams, all designed to create moments of connection and joy.
✨ Creative Ministry: Teaching, mentoring, and faith-based gatherings that make space for people to explore what it means to live with purpose and freedom.

The problems I help solve:

For clients and brands, I help them preserve meaningful memories and communicate who they are through powerful imagery.

For event hosts, I bring music that transforms a space into an experience people will remember.

For individuals searching for purpose, I offer a safe place to explore faith without pretense or pressure.

What sets me apart:
I don’t believe in compartmentalizing my work. Whether I’m behind the camera or behind the decks, my purpose is the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected to something bigger.

What I’m most proud of:
I’m proud that I get to do this work with integrity, authenticity, and faith. I’m proud of the moments when someone feels hope or peace just by stepping into the environment I’ve created. And I’m grateful I get to bring all parts of who I am—creative, believer, encourager—into everything I do.

What I want you to know:
If you’re thinking about working with me or following along, you should know that I’m here to serve. My hope is that whether you come for the photos, the music, or the ministry, you’ll walk away feeling lighter, inspired, and reminded that you matter.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met Chris Soloc when my life was falling apart. Even though I was working as a photographer and starting to DJ, nothing felt stable, and I was searching for something real that I couldn’t find on my own.

Looking back, I can see God was the one who led me to Chris. He’s a pastor and someone who genuinely cares about people. Through our conversations, Chris didn’t just tell me about Jesus—he helped me experience the presence of God for myself.

That encounter changed everything. It wasn’t just learning information or following a set of rules. It was meeting Jesus personally and feeling His love in a way that completely transformed me from the inside out.

Today, Chris and I work together on The Follow Project, a discipleship community created to help other people discover the same freedom, purpose, and relationship with God that I did.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Everything we’ve built so far has been completely self-funded. From the start, it’s just been Chris and me investing our own resources, time, and energy to bring this vision to life.

Between my DJ and photography work and Chris’s ministry leadership, we’ve pieced together what we needed—equipment, space, materials—step by step. It hasn’t always been easy. This is the assignment Jesus entrusted to us, and we are committed to seeing it through.

Right now, we’re working to raise funding so we can grow The Follow Project beyond what two people can carry. Our heart is to equip and disciple as many people as possible for the great harvest ahead. This mission is bigger than us, and we’re trusting God to bring the right people alongside to help it expand.

If you’d like to learn more or get involved, you can visit thefollowproject.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thefollowproject.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefollowproject.us
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/103369841
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFollowProject