Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelley Montgomery.
Hi Shelley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I always loved art, but remember being frustrated in middle and high school when I couldn’t make the beauty I saw in the world match what I created- until I picked up a camera. Capturing light and color and emotion made sense in a whole new way through photography. I photographed my first wedding in 2008 for a friend who paid me $250 and I never looked back. Throughout college I practiced constantly, chasing storms down country roads, photographing anyone who would let me, and engaging with every photography opportunity that Southwestern University had to offer.
After graduating in 2011, I went full time with my business and have documented almost 300 weddings since then. But when people ask how I started, it feels like it would be irresponsible not to point out that starting a business is hard and I had a lot of luck making it possible to support myself quickly. I hustled a lot in those early days (as I do now, just for different reasons), but I was also lucky enough not to have student loans weighing me down, I lived with a family in Georgetown and diy-ed everything to keep my expenses low, and I had the safety net of my own family in case it it didn’t work out.
For the past 14 years I’ve aimed to fulfill my desire for using a camera to communicate the beauty I see in the people and natural world, but it’s been a journey figuring out what that looks like. There have been seasons of only shooting weddings and seasons of enjoying variety, times when I almost burnt out and times when I felt most alive while doing my job. Now I’ve settled into what I’m best at- honestly and earnestly celebrating love in all its forms, for whatever wholehearted humans end up in front of my camera.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Even though it hasn’t been as much of an issue in recent years, my struggle against comparison in the wedding industry rat race stands out as one of the main hurdles I had to overcome. Not to date myself, but back when blogs reigned supreme as the primary method of sharing wedding content and your ability to get published marked your success or irrelevance, I strived to fit the mold of beautiful tablescapes and editorial level details. It took getting to the brink of burnout and a well timed documentary photography retreat to remind me that wedding blogs aren’t my audience and the wedding industry isn’t my client. I found so much freedom in faithfully documenting my couples’ wedding without any goal but to capture their celebration and loved ones to the best of my ability.
Now my struggles have much less to do with popularity or the appearance of success, and more to do with how I spend my time as a business owner, mother to a 5 and 7 year old, and human in a complicated world. Most days I prioritize meeting my editing deadlines and being present with my kids, but ignore my Instagram feed and piles of laundry. I know I’m not alone in that battle either!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in documenting weddings with an eye for moments and a love of color. By prioritizing my clients’ experience over the photos, I get the most genuine expressions of emotion throughout the day, even if it means sacrificing perfection in the details. I tell people that even if your photos are beautiful, you’ll remember how the day felt, and it’s just not fun to be fussed over all day or expected to be someone you’re not. On your wedding day, you should be able to laugh without worrying about a double chin or hug your mom without making sure nothing is in the background first. I love when people tell me that they didn’t even notice me taking a photo because they were present in the moment!
While I do specialize in weddings, I also enjoy photographing families and events, with the occasional branding session here and there. It’s an honor to be hired in different stages of life, and I have plenty of couples whose weddings I photographed, then maternity photos, then newborn photos, and now the chaos of multiple kids running around! Ultimately, the variety challenges me and helps me approach each job with fresh eyes.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned as a photographer is that by treating every person you encounter as someone with inherent beauty and worth (including yourself), your work will be rewarding. That foundational understanding can help you make decisions to lead you on the right path, sustain you through difficult times, and inspire you for whatever comes next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shelleyelenaphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelleyelena/
