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

Shay, appreciate you joining us today. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are often hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

I think the craziest story that has ever happened to me in photography is actually the reason I even started photography. Back in 2019 and at the time I had just moved back to Oklahoma from California and I was just kind of in that summer slump. I didn’t really know what I was wanting to do with my life or even that year and so I started to try and find happiness in the small moments of my life. So when I would go on walks or when I was at the plant nursery I worked at I would just use my phone and take photos of small things I saw that made me happy. At the time pretty much the main thing that was bringing me joy was plants so I surrounded myself with them at every turn.

I did this for a few months and would share them on my social media and kind of used that as my way of processing that portion of my life. My best friend noticed that I was picking up the art of photography pretty quickly just on my phone and asked me if that is something I would be interested in.

I was very clear to anyone that asked this question that I would never be a photographer because I didn’t think I was creative enough for something like that. A lot of my friends were photographers and I really respected their art and talent and didn’t think that was something I was capable of learning.

Well my best friend did not believe me in the slightest and she told me she would buy me my first camera and lens if I would shoot her wedding for free. Which looking back now is totally crazy to trust someone who has never even owned a camera to shoot your wedding which wasn’t even 8 months away. But luckily she saw something I didn’t see and she bought me my first camera. I absolutely fell in love with it and 6 months later I went full time with photography. So she was absolutely right and I will forever be grateful she believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself

Shay, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I believe that everyone is photogenic they just haven’t had the right photos taken by the right person. I remember thinking I couldn’t take a good photo because I always felt so awkward in front of the camera and every time that screen turned around what I saw usually had me in tears. That can really ruin a persons self worth and make them dread even just everyday pictures let alone a photoshoot.

So I made it my biggest priority to make sure when someone is in front of my lens they know they are photogenic and they trust me to show that to them. I worked really hard to learn angles and learn how to combat peoples insecurities and body image issues. I never lie to anyone and tell them that I can fix a lifetimes worth of body image issues in an hour but I know that I can be a huge part of that healing journey and I can always make sure you at least love one photo of yourself at the minimum.

When I came into this industry there was not a lot of diversity being shown in more than one area. The pictures and brands that were being praised or showcased were all the same bright and airy, very tame brands that focused on photos of people that looked like they were on the cover of a magazine. There was no range in weight or skin color there was no one that had crooked teeth or had scars. It was all very cookie cutter. I am always very understanding for some people that may be where you feel comfortable and what fits best for your life but I didn’t see an option for those of us that didn’t fit that mold. Where were we supposed to feel comfortable and confident?

Mind you, Oklahoma is not exactly known for its diversity either. I do love this state and I focus on doing my part to make this state a place where not only the people around me but future generations in Oklahoma feel like this is a wonderful place to live and grow and be yourself. I feel like its my responsibility as a resident here to create a new environment despite what I have been taught growing up.

So thats exactly what I did, I created a brand that I thought was missing from Oklahoma. A photographer who isn’t afraid to post about political issues, stand up for people who cant stand up for themselves and fight for human rights . A brand that showed off the edgy halloween girls, the people who didn’t confirm to what society expected of the, the people who didn’t look like “everyone else” but deserved to feel just as good in front of the camera. That was my mission which is why I came up with the tag line ” photography for the bold, the baddies and the outcasts”

I don’t think anything has ever described my clients and me quite like that one sentence. We’ve all really fought for each other and to create a safe space and I think thats why I have a relationship with them unlike anyone I’ve seen because I am not just their photographer. I am their friend, their family, their advocate, their safe space, their confidence boost. And they always give that energy right back to me.

There’s nothing in this world that will ever compare to that for me. Nothing I could ever be more proud of than creating so much more than a brand or being just a photographer. I created a home for me and anyone else who just wanted to feel like they had a place to exist.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Specifically for Photogrpahy I wish I would’ve known about connection Facebook groups way earlier on. I am always posting and commenting in those and I’d say thats one of the biggest things that feeds my creativity is getting the opportunity to bounce ideas off of people who understand this art like I do. Community doesn’t get talked about enough, it is not possible to make it as a small business owner or artist without a strong community.

I cannot tell you how many times I have just had a terrible issue with a mini setup or studio that I couldn’t figure out how to fix and I could message a group chat and they would have breakdowns and amazon links sent to me within minutes of how to fix it.

Grow your community, get involved in groups.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My babies. Nothing has ever been as fulfilling as getting to be ‘SHAY SHAY’ to 4 amazing kids. I used to work myself to the bone, something I’m still trying to find balance in, but these kids force me to slow down. They remind me what’s important and to be present. You cant be jumping on a trampoline and answering emails at the same, so you might as put the phone down and be in the moment. I never want to miss a single moment with them so I focus on prioritizing my work time to make the most of it but then when I’m not shooting Monday-thursday those kids are my biggest priority.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shayshipmanphotography.com/?fbclid=IwAR0DXRDy7zaHk27AwLBF2jTSgUqRnuLykc5PAgJhqTbSlyW7-Z44MLw4MnQ
• Instagram: @shayshipman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shayshipmanphotography