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

Shawnae, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

One of the things I value most is capturing my client’s authentic selves. This is huge for me so I’ve developed systems to really get to know my clients before we start photographing.
This is been so influential in how I work because I’m able to really work with my couples and nail down exactly who they are and what they are like as a couple.

In my questionnaires there some deep dive questions about the couple, but there’s always things like what’s been their favorite date, or how do they like to spend their time together. Their answers not only help me plan their session but get a feeler who they are.

For example, I’ve done photos inside Taco Bell, I’ve done photos inside of bars. I’ve coordinated all kinds of different sessions just based off of the answers my couples give me in their calls and questionnaires, and from there it’s a team effort to really make their personalities get captured in my art.

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

I am Shawnae Neujahr, owner of Shawnae Neujahr Photography.
Previously Weddings by Shawnae and Here & Now Lifestyle- recently merged.

I picked up a camera at 6 years old and just haven’t put it down since. I went from following my mom around on wedding days and senior pictures to now being a lead photographer known for documentary weddings and my fine art motherhood and newborn sessions.
I’m for the people who value artwork of their life. Heirlooms to pass onto generations. Lovers, mothers, and everyone in-between who wants to capture all the significant moments in life- big or small.
My clients come to me burnt out and stressed from searching for the right fit, and I’m able to take a large portion off their plates from p[anning and coordinating with questionnaires and touching base to mood boards and guides that really help you know exactly what you need to get from a-b.

I never want someone to feel stressed once we get to session day, so I try to relieve as much of those worries as possible with my clients well informed and ready to be present.

I’m proud of my journey and my why, because in growing not only as a person but as a business I’ve found what it means to have a meaningful gallery and to be able to connect with those who trust and value my art. It’s truly been such an honor. I have captured so many first moments, but I’ve also captured some moments with people who are no longer here, and that is something more valuable than anything in this world.

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

My mission is for a lot of couples to let go of perfection when it comes to wedding days, or even families with lifestyle sessions.
To just let the chaos be and to be present with those you love and what matters. Because these are moments that not only race past you, but ones you’ll wish you could relive over and over again.

Allowing yourself to drop perfection makes my job so much easier capturing you laughing, and smiling in the way that people will instantly know it’s you in the photo.
I never want someone to work with me and not recognize themselves in their gallery at the end.

When you let go of perfection you’re also allowing yourself to be fully present, which means I am able to capture moments you won’t even know really happened. This is especially impactful for those fleeting moments with loved ones, especially older loved ones. Because once they are gone, these memories are all we have left.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That there’s always a right way to do something.

This is actually something I’m currently in the process of unlearning. Although it’s technically correct, I think not only do happy mistakes happen and can be integral parts of what you create, but additionally there is no perfection in art.
Even if I did everything correct in the technical sense, I always felt like something was missing.
My soul, my heart, it just wasn’t in it. When I started letting go of how everyone else was telling me to do things, or all the media online telling me to do it this way-I was struggling with imposter syndrome and not feeling adequate. I almost quit a few times because I just couldn’t keep up.

Mixing the perfectionism of how to do it right technically, and the creative outlook on how I want to show up, is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself, my business, and my art.
Because there’s so many “right” ways to do something, you just gotta pick the right way for you and just go for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ShawnaeNeujahrphoto.com
• Instagram: @shawnaeneujahr