Shannon from Shannon Cronin Photography and I met at a Tuesdays Together meeting over three years ago in Monterey, California. We both moved from the East Coast and became friends as soon as we met! Since then, we’ve grown our businesses together and love meeting over happy hour. Here’s a little bit about Shannon…

Tell me about your business!

I started my business 8 and a half years ago just after graduating college. I had taken a photography class my senior year because I liked taking pictures and wanted to know a little bit more about photography. I never thought of photography as a business or even a career, but I fell in love immediately and here we are. 

Soon after starting up, a friend of my mom’s was getting married and asked if I could shoot his wedding. I had never really taken pictures of people before and definitely hadn’t photographed something as important as a wedding. Naively I said, “of course!” and got to work figuring out what I had to do! I literally had to google a contract- I was so new to everything. I don’t recommend repeating that but thankfully for me, everything worked out just fine and this lead to more and more inquiries.

I went full time about 5 years ago. At that point I was still based in Boston, Massachusetts and specializing in destination engagements and weddings. I moved to Monterey in December 2016 because I had always loved California and always told myself I’d live there one day. I figured working for myself, I could work from anywhere… all I had to do was just find new clients. 

Wow! That’s insane. What aspect of photography do you love doing now?

Eight years in, I am reevaluating what my loves are in photography. I used to think photography was all about weddings, but now I’m realizing that although I still adore the weddings I photograph, I also love documenting lifestyle and families. 

Documenting every day life means every photo may not be an “Instagram-worthy photo”  but what is meaningful though is the people that are in it. Lifestyle sessions show what real life looks like in that moment. Let’s capture it so that you remember everything, not just the half hour of gorgeous moments at sunset on the beach. Those are fun, but I also love the everyday.

The more I live life the more I realize that there are many moments that aren’t picture moments- but sometimes those are the ones that mean the most. 

What is something that makes you stand out from other wedding photographers?

I bring the same attitude from my lifestyle sessions into my wedding photography. In my wedding photos, I am to emphasize authenticity throughout the day. Any photographer can take a picture of a couple standing in an epic location with perfect outfits. I want to capture their emotions on the wedding day. I want to capture what makes their wedding day theirs. What are the moments they are going to treasure having prints of, no only on their first anniversary, but on their fiftieth? What are they going to feel when they look at their photographs and are brought back to that moment? My goal is to capture both photographs that people will want to post on Instagram (hi, of course we love IG!) but also meaningful moments that transcend the beauty of weddings.

What is something you want to do more in 2020? 

I want to see more couples be truly content and happy on their wedding day and not be worried about vendors and timelines! Your wedding day is a day when all of your guests have come together to celebrate you as a couple- take the time to enjoy that and soak it all in! When it comes to photos and timelines, I’ve got you.

Any Bridal Tips to share?

Remember that at the end of the day, it’s your wedding. My hope is that you can keep it true to the wedding you want it to be as a couple. Don’t feel like you have to do every tradition just to cross it off. Pizza at your reception? Perfect. Getting ready together? Do it! I’ve seen more and more couples customize their weddings to reflect them and it makes me so happy!

Perfect! What’s a fun fact about you?

I was a baby model for a skincare ad in Singapore!

Thank you so much!

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