Photographer and solo mama to 6 [not-so-little anymore] littles, and grandma to the sweetest baby girl. Raising my kiddos in an off-grid float home on the Pacific Ocean in Tofino, BC.
To me, the West Coast is home, both externally, and in my bones. Any free time I have is spent camping, exploring forest trails, foraging with the kids, beach bumming and feeling the sand between my toes, and the ocean breeze on my face.
I believe every single love story and life story is unique, & since we’re going to be friends in no time, here’s a little piece of mine:
My daily commute into town is by boat. I never imagined I'd drive a boat more than a car but it's just become our way of life now... Me with a whole crew of kids trekking to town in whatever weather mother nature throws at us.
I love a good cup of coffee and, I love deep soul chats over small talk any day!
I LOVE to read and often do so into the late hours of the night, because that’s the only uninterrupted quiet time I have to myself in my busy household. Hence the love of coffee.
I equally love the feeling of the sun on my face, and watching rain fall down the windowpanes as I cozy up with a tea and a good book.
We’re a house full of animal lovers, and the number of pets rivals the number of humans in our home, because I can't seem to say no to their cute faces..both the kids and the critters.
I’m inspired by connection both with humans and with Mama Earth. The people, and the places, that feel like home to us.
get to know me
Hi friends, I’m Shelby.
Let's do this!
my approach
Like any life, mine hasn’t been without its challenges, and I believe those challenges are what bring us to where we are, and WHO we are - and in my case, mine have taught me to always keep looking for the light, even in the dark moments. To notice the joy, amidst the chaos. The tiny interactions of love, woven through every moment.
Because of this, I notice the little things.
And aren’t the little things really the big things?
The way you look at each other when you think no one else is watching.
The little inside jokes no one else gets, but you two.
The way your bodies fit together like a puzzle piece, and how you soften into that place in each others arms.
No love story is like yours.
Your story is as unique as your love,
And I believe your photos should be too.
I want to come alongside you as your friend, get to know you, your story, and everything that makes you, YOU, so I can tell your story authentically and capture what’s most meaningful to you.
I’m an empath, through and through. A deep feeler, and an intuitive heart.
My photography is my art, and often feels like my heart outside of my body.
It’s an externalization of everything I’m seeing, feeling, and witnessing unfolding in front of me, as I witness your love.
No stiff poses, or overly directing.
I prefer to get to know you before the session, so when we show up we feel like old friends, and you get to soak in the evening with your humans, while I document the magic that unfolds.
Here's the thing: I'm not the photographer for everybody. There are SO many incredible photographers out there to choose from (many of them are my good friends!) and I believe in choosing the photographer whose photos, shooting style, AND personality you feel a connection to.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, a night of true connection (or re-connection) with your partner or your family, then my sessions are for you. If you’re looking for honest photos that tell the emotive story of how it FELT to be here, in your body, with your person - I’m the photographer for you. If you love photos that feel like a movie: movement, emotion, messy hair, and sandy feet: I’m your gal. If you’re looking for a photographer who WANTS to get to know you, to become friends, who cares deeply about your unique story, and who will intuitively turn that story into art you’ll want to hang on your walls: I think we just became best friends.
Book now
how it started
I have always loved photography. I got my first camera as a teenager and was always the girl who would bring her camera to every family gathering, party, and trip. Like a fly on the wall, I would capture the candid emotions and forever freeze those moments of togetherness in time. This was before the digital photography days, and my albums are some of my most cherished possessions. They are my portal to moments that have passed.
My own childhood wasn't well documented... hello to all my fellow second children of the 80s/90s. When I became a mother, I wished for photos of myself when I was younger to share with my kids. I became committed to documenting all the messy, beautiful, wonder that is childhood for my children and my own journey as a mother.
I want to give you the gift of time-traveling back to your own memories. The sandy little hands tugging at your jeans, the smile lines that crease as you laugh, and the way your partner's eyes linger on you when they think no one else is watching. The little quirks and details that make your story unique.
Let's create the art that your grandchildren will pass around the table 40 years from now. Your own portals to the past.