We were lucky to catch up with Shelby Bierwalter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shelby, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Since I first started taking pictures, I consider myself to be self taught in photography. Over the years I have learned technique through both research and trial and error. The style I’m going for feels automatic for me at this point. Since I am lucky enough to have a lifetime of experience in photography, the hardest part for me has been the business side of things. It’s a challenge for me to think of my art from a business mindset. Transitioning from picking up photography gigs here and there to it being my primary source of income was also a big challenge. Thankfully my parents are also small business owners and have been an endlessly valuable resource to me in figuring out how to run a business and actually make money while still having fun doing it.

Shelby, 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’m a photographer that specializes in weddings, couples, and portrait photography. I’ve always been fascinated by the magic of photography and its potential to capture the raw beauty of the world. When I was just 5 years old, I got my very first camera as Christmas gift and I never looked back.

My work is inspired by the little everyday things I experience in life that make me smile. Old romance movies, thrift store finds of dusty old photos of unnamed people from an unknown time, love, and even the simple ways that people candidly move around and position themselves. I love film photography and even practice it in my professional work frequently. In my work I strive to recreate the timeless charm that film photography has to offer in its dreamy, grainy style. I want to provide my clients with photos that makes their love feel natural and real. To me, a very important part of this is location. I want the scene to match the story and I’m grateful to be based out of Duluth where there are plenty of beautiful sites to choose from. Although, I love destination weddings and will never hesitate to travel for my work.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

When I first started, it was really just sessions for friends and family who wanted to be supportive of my hobby. I shot my first wedding when I was 16. It was for my cousin; I was still pretty unexperienced but I somehow still managed to pull it off. When I was a senior in high school I would take my friends’ senior photos but it still never occurred to me that doing photography professionally was an option from me. It took a ton of encouragement from my friends and family for me to finally get the courage to pursue my own business. Before I knew it, I was gaining a social media following, starting a business, launching my own website, and booking weddings for complete strangers. It’s always been a goal of mine to become a photographer for destination weddings and this year I booked my biggest one yet. I can barely contain my excitement for it and I can’t wait to see what opportunities come next!

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

One of my favorite things about my job is the connections I get to make with my clients. I absolutely love hearing others love stories: how they met, what their first date was, and seeing their chemistry. In the end, nothing warms my heart more than delivering the final photos to my clients and hearing their reaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shelbyvictoriaphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyvictoriaphoto
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/shelbyvictoriaphotography
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shelby-victoria-photography-duluth

Image Credits
Shelby Victoria Photography