Just a 20 - year - old girl with a camera with a love for freezing time. Hi, my name is Shelby. Based in the city of Cleveland, OH. What inspires me the most is the stories of those who'd love to tell and express them. I carry my camera with me mostly everywhere. Catching the spontaneous, not expected photos is what brings me joy. Because when you don't know that the camera's there, that's when you're authentically yourself. Being authentically yourself is what I strive for. Just have to be yourself when you're being photographed by me!

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My Story

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So you might be wondering what my story could be? Well let me tell you. I feel like I have always had a camera in my hand. Like I took selfies with my mom's phone all the time. But I have always been in love with photography but just was never really fully aware of what I could do with it. Nor did I really have the supplies at my fingertips. So I kind of just stuck with taking pictures on phones/tablets.

 

In my junior - senior year of high school I entered an Excel TECC 2-year program named "Interactive Media" which gave me an insight to all sorts of creative outlets. My teacher was teaching us all sorts of stuff, such as: how to work a camera, how to reach a target audience in graphic design, how to animate, how to do sound, etc. At the time, I was still not really fully aware of my passion for photography. I was more focused on the graphic design portion, which then led me to getting my Adobe Photoshop Certification in my senior year.

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When I graduated from school, I enrolled into Lakeland Community College for graphic design at first. I slowly realized that graphic design.. wasn't really for me. I didn't enjoy the classes or doing the work. But while I was doing those classes, I started doing pictures for my account on instagram - @visualsbyshelby. I then took a break from it a bit in 2023. But then in 2024, I started back up again. I got asked by a co-worker of mine to take pictures of my high schools marching band, and it awoken my passion for photography. I enjoyed doing it so much. Which made me change my major from graphic design to getting an associate for arts instead.

 

Cameras

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Believe it or not, I didn't start off with my own camera. I didn't even own one. However, my boyfriend was kind enough to lend over his camera for me to borrow during football games for the West Geauga Marching Band. So the camera I started off on was a Canon Rebel EOS XS.

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As weeks pass by of using that camera for the band, I finally had enough to get my OWN camera. My boyfriend and I took a trip to Best Buy to begin searching for my next camera. I looked through the Canon cameras, didn't find the one I wanted. I looked through the Sony cameras and none of them was catching my eye - until - one of them stood out to me. I picked it up and tested it out. I fell in love with it. That was when I purchased my Sony Alpha 6400 camera. She is a beauty!

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My Work​

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I see stories in everything. Love, friendship, everything! Photography isn't just a hobby to me; it's a way of how I translate the world into something timeless. There could be so much told through photos and I enjoy capturing it and being able to share it with others. I love watching them all unfold before me.​​

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Believe it or not, I didn't own a camera initially when I started this process. ​

I am still in the progress of learning, still experimenting, and still chasing that PERFECT shot that satisfies you. Whether it's a portrait that captures a raw, sentimental moment or landscapes that make you feel like you're there. I am all about creating those images that make people do double takes. But I'd like for you to put your trust in me as your photographer to capture those moments for you. So you can keep that moment forever.

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​I can't wait to work together with you. Let's turn those moments into memories.

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- Shelby