We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shelby Triglianos. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shelby below.

Alright, Shelby thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I know that it feels like every photographer says “I’ve had a camera in my hands for my entire life” but for me, that statement is incredibly true. I grew up in the coming age of digital photography but was first introduced to shooting with a full manual SLR. camera when I was 12. I distinctly remember taking a trip to Savannah, Georgia with my family and spending the trip shooting with my mom’s Pentax K1000, changing film, and looking forward to seeing the images I created. I printed them all and put them in an album I still have to this day. From a young age, documenting life through photographs was my favorite thing. There was something about knowing that I could be capturing an moment that would last a lifetime that fueled me.
In high school, I joined my school newspaper halfway through my freshman to be a photographer. By my sophomore year, I was the photography editor, and when I graduated my name sat next to Art Editor. I loved every minute of it. Growing up just outside of NYC afforded me many opportunities most people may only dream of. I was able to attend Journalism conferences at Columbia University and even met the photographer behind the famouse 9/11 photograph of first responders raising the flag. It was in these years that I knew photography was more than just a hobby for me, it was a passion that fueled me. I would never leave home without a camera and used many paychecks and Christmas presents to upgrade my equipment as often as possible (digital photography was changing rapidly during these years). I began pursuing the idea of a photojournalism major but ultimately went a different Bachelor’s of Science route, focusing on youth and family studies. And yet the camera still remained in hand.
I always thought photography was one of those phases most people go through and I would eventually outgrow it. But as I look back on my youth and high school years, the presence of a camera in my life was so clearly there that of course this would be my future path, no matter how often I tried to convince myself otherwise.

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?

Beanie Baby and Breyer Horse photoshoots in my bedroom quickly turned to photographing every major school event by the time I graduated high school. After being exposed to photojournalism for four years, I began to expand my photography realm to working with couples and families. Once I invested in my first Digital SLR and Photography course in college, I booked 2 weddings before graduating from college all while graduating with a BS in Youth and Family Studies. I quickly came to realize that my passion for people and my passion photography placed me in a unqiue position- I understand family dynamics, adolescent development, and how to learn about my clients to serve them best. I am a family, wedding, and branding photographer located in Western New York. I provide my clients with the opportunity to keep the memories of milestone moments. Whether we are capturing your family growth over the years, a major life event like a graduation, engagement, or wedding, or simply creating a memory of your family exactly where you are in this moment, i love to be there for you and with you. I am most proud of delivering images that belong on your walls as much as your social media. I create photographs that you can send to grandma and photographs that make you laugh at yourselves when you look at them. I want to feel like someone you’ve known for years instead of a stranger intruding on your day. We’ll make jokes, I’ll make you laugh with me or at me (either is fine), and I’ll be asking you tons of questions along the way. I want to walk away smiling, feeling like I just spent an hour with some of my best friends and I want you feel that way too.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

If you speak with someone who has been in the wedding photography industry for awhile, they’ll often reference to how different things used to be (I’m sure all industries do this). When I first entered the realm of wedding photography (and photography as a source on income in general) I was met with resistance from other creatives. Rather than support one another as we tried to build our businesses, other photographers in my life often made remarks to tear me down and/or build themselves up. It felt like a cha-cha, everytime I took a step forward, their comments pushed me one or two steps back. It was hard on my soul and the main reason I took a long break from the industry when we relocated to Western New York. When I began connecting with photographers (about 8 years after these early year experiences), I expected the same attitude, but I was met with grace and compassion. I met photographers who genuinely wanted me to learn and grow my business. They answered techinical questions and offered whatever they could to see me succeed.
I spent so many years expecing the industry to look the way it did in 2012 that it took me over a year to truly understand that this was the way things were now. Not every photographer embraces the mantra of Community over Competition but I would say it would only take a few minutes of looking around to see that most do and it’s an amazing community to be a part of.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A few years ago I read the book “You are the girl for the job” by Jess Connolly. While this book doesn’t directly correlate to business, it truly inspired me to go ahead with my passion. Connolly’s book focuses on embracing your gifts and passions when things like insecurity, doubt, and self-sabotage are stopping you. This book allowed me to see that who I am right now is enough to do the things I’m passionate about. I stopped waiting for permission to be successful and saw that when I shook off the dust of self-doubt, I was ready to embrace my creative passions full-force, photography did not need to be a side hobby I did occasionally, it could be my career, and I’m so proud to say that 2 years later, it is.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shelbytriglianosphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbytriglianosphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyTrigsPhotography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shelbytrigs3119

Image Credits
Black & White Camera Photo (Photographer Lauren Victoria Photography edited by Shelby Triglianos Photography