Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawna Parks.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I will never forget the first time I took photos of a high school senior. A friend of mine didn’t like any of the photos from the high school, so she asked me to take some shots of her daughter. We went out into a field with a borrowed orange crush velvet love seat and the girl’s Australian shepherd puppy. I walked away from that photoshoot with a huge grin on my face. It was amazing. She smiled when I asked her to. She knew how to pose. She WANTED to pose. Unlike a toddler on a family shoot, she didn’t cry, make me chase her or get snot on me. I was in love. I went home. Did some research and… Guess what?! Senior portraits are really a “thing”! It’s still an emerging market here in Southern California, but it’s growing.
Please tell us about your art.
What do I do? I make teenagers smile. High school seniors and teens are what make me smile. HS Seniors come to me because they WANT to be photographed. They want to feel special and show you who they really are. Teens have a sharp wit and sarcasm that I love. A sass about them that makes them so fun to work with. Teens are easy to pose and direct. They know what they want. And they want kick ass photos to show off on social.
I begin by meeting with my clients and a parent. We talk about what they (the teen) likes. Where they want to go for their photos. What they should wear. We schedule them for make up with my studio’s MUA Tami Mayhew of Classy Gal Glo. Between Tami and I we create a unique look for each client drawing from their own personal style. When you get a teen dress up and feeling pretty, you get some really great photos. By the time they are standing in front of my lens, they feel comfortable with me. They’re confident and that shows. I capture WHO they are, right now, not just what they look like.
There is a lot of movement to my photos. I keep my clients walking and talking. We spin around and put our hands in our hair. I’ll even show them how it’s done. You can see me in my full-on runway strut, running my hands through my hair on a sidewalk in North Park. This usually gets a pretty good laugh from them, and anyone passing by.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Not just being an artist, but being self-employed and/or working from home can be lonely. I have gone to a co-working space for the last 4 years. I actually get stuff done and I get to see other people. Let’s face it, sitting in my home office listening to my pug snore while I’m debating whether or not I should go get the laundry from the dryer or keep (attempting) to work, is no way to work. Head to the co-working space. Get shit done.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can see my artwork in the homes of my clients. I’m not a photographer who takes some pictures and hands over a thumb drive or a download code. It breaks my heart to think of all the photos living on hard drives where no one sees them or enjoys them. Most people who receive only digital files never print them or display them. That’s just sad to me. When my clients come to my home office, they pass through our living room on the way in. They see that I display our family’s photos in big beautiful prints on our walls. I practice what I preach.
My clients come back to me about 2 weeks after their photo session for their Premiere. I serve popcorn, candy and soda. Then we sit back to watch a slideshow of the images from their session. Fully retouched with love. I’m the rare photographer who really enjoys editing. It brings it all full circle for me.
After the slideshow we look at the photos again. I help my clients choose which photos get that prized piece of real estate on the living room wall. I use software to show clients exactly how those photos will look hanging on their walls. I show them how to group them for display. What about all the rest of those photos I took? What happens to them? Remaining images are printed in an album or some other keepsake. I also design custom graduation announcements with their favorite photos.
Don’t forget, seniors and teens are all about sharing those photos on social. Every client gets a personal app, created by me, with all of their photos. I also include web sharing sizes.
Contact Info:
- Address: Two locations
8885 Rio San Diego Dr, San Diego 92108 -Mission Valley
5965 Village Way, San Diego 92130 -Carmel Valley - Website: https://www.shawnaparks.com
- Phone: 619-517-1252
- Email: shawnaparks@cox.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnaparksphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnaparksphoto
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/shawnaparkphoto
Image Credit:
Shawna Parks Photography
headshot Pixel Creek Photography
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
