Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Godfrey.
Shane, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In the 6th grade I had a science teacher who taught a photography elective where we used an early digital camera that shot to floppy disks. Using the first version of Photoshop, we made lightening come out of our hands among other silly things that were exciting in the early years of computer imaging. My family got a real digital camera around the time I entered high school. I then became interested in shooting composite images of skateboarding. The walls of my room were lined with photographs from Thrasher and Transworld magazine. My sophomore year of high school I took my first “real” photography class. I had a young teacher fresh out of college who was also into skateboarding. My teacher saw something in me and helped me get an internship at a local portrait studio where I learned how to use studio lighting and Photoshop in a professional setting. Around the time I was planning on applying for college I found out about an art school that didn’t require drawing (which is not a skill I have) and I applied, interviewed, and got in. While in school I took to documentary photography and during my college summers I worked with my high school photography teacher shooting weddings. My senior year I got in touch with as many local photographers as I could, second shot for a year with about a dozen photographers, and then started my business the following year with the images from those weddings.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business in 2009 during the recession was not exactly the best time to start out, but it was when I graduated college and I made it work. I reached out to as many photographers as possible in Boston. After a few months of reaching out I was assisting several photographers, retouching and editing, and photographing weddings and events myself. I found that being easy going and professional on jobs went a long way. I bought a camera on a credit card that had no interest for a year and borrowed a lens from a friend to be able to shoot digitally instead of film which was what I was working with primarily in art school. Over time I bought more gear on the same card to pay off over time instead of trying to get a small business loan. Running a business will always have ups and downs, 8 years later I’m still learning that from time to time.
Shane Godfrey Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I primarily run a wedding and event photography business, but I do several other types of photography including portraiture, editorial, corporate, lifestyle, really anything that involves a camera. I specialize in working with people and collaborating with them on making the best possible photograph in any situation. I bring a casualness to photographing people that helps them feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Most people don’t enjoy having their picture made and I am trying to break that mold for people so being photographed doesn’t have to be such a terrifying experience. I also photograph each of my wedding clients with a large format wooden camera and send them a darkroom made contact print after the wedding.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
What I find people respond to the most when working with me is how I am able to make people feel calm on what can be one of the most stressful days of your life. Weddings have so many different emotions and expectations that can easily create stress. Being around all of you family and friends at once is not easy for everyone, add a camera and your wedding day into the equation and you can start to feel overwhelmed quickly. I have been shooting weddings for 11 years now and I use that experience to help my clients in making their day run smoothly while still being able to enjoy the wedding they put so much work and time into planning.
Contact Info:
- Address: Somerville, MA
- Website: www.shanegodfreyphotography.com
- Phone: 6179037074
- Email: shane@shanegodfreyphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanegodfreyphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shanegodfreyphotography/
- Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/shane-godfrey-photography-somerville-ma-264269
Image Credit:
Shane Godfrey Photography
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