Photographer Feature: Q&A with Shelley Schaffer

Photographer Feature: Shelley Schaffer

I’m Shelley, a family, motherhood and headshot photographer based in Fort Collins, CO. I’m a mother to a grown son, an ex-bartender, an animal lover and avid gardener. My husband and I enjoy fly fishing, off-roading and riding bikes. I have deep love for portraiture and am lit up by creating art of moms and their children.

Why did you become a photographer?

Honestly I’m a big art lover and I can’t print or draw (yet), so photography was something artistic I could actually do.

What’s your favorite thing to photograph?

Hands down my favorite thing to photograph is portraits. I’m passionate about creating portraits and I love that there’s always something I can improve or experiment with. I never tire of it. It’s exhilarating to review the photos and find the one, the one that you nailed it with. Second to that I love macro photography – it’s a form of photography that I find meditative. I can just go out into my garden, slow down, be quiet and notice the tiniest things.

Photographer Feature: Shelley Schaffer

What keeps you inspired?

I’m inspired by a lot by films and my old master artwork. With films I’m inspired by the acting, the story, how the film was crafted, the wardrobe and costumes. With my years of experience with photography and lighting I love to break down a scene and can recognize where the light is coming from, what color the light is, the angle of the lens to the subject, what type of lens is being used and the aperture. I like to analyze purposeful choices. With art I love to try to read the piece and again attempt to understand where the light is coming from, what is the artist trying to say, the tones and undertones. I take all of these observations with me into every shoot I do.

Photographer Feature: Shelley Schaffer

What’s your favorite time of day to shoot, and why?

I have moved into a studio for 80% of my work and that allows me to work in the mornings, when I have the most energy, and control the look of my light. I love those sunset vibes, but also your girl be middle-aged and tired by 8pm these days!

What is a mistake you’ve learned from?

I would say one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is initially putting the cart before the horse in terms of the art of business and the art of photography.

I went into photography initially with a passion that I’d always had since very young. However while still learning photography I saw people were able to have businesses and make money with their photography so I was inspired to try to make money from it as well. My mistake was not knowing anything about business when I started about 15 years ago.

I made all the rookie mistakes – charging too low, not having a clear vision or voice, not being able to communicate to clients what types of sessions I wanted to photograph and how I wanted to photograph them. This led me to say yes to a bunch of BS I wasn’t really interested in, getting burnt out and bitter, then eventually closing it all down and putting my camera away for a few years.

With the second iteration of my business I took the time to find a direction of what I wanted to photograph first, and honed in on that with classes. Next I focused on learning how to run a photography business, from CRMs, running my expenses, products and delivery, client experience and profitable offerings. If I could go back and talk to myself prior to opening up a photography business the first time would tell myself to slow down, get clear on what I want to photograph and offer, and learn as much as I can about running a small business at a profit.

Photographer Feature: Shelley Schaffer

What’s your proudest photography moment?

I think one of my proudest photography moments has been becoming a Click Pro. When I first started photography, YouTube was pretty new, forums were new, and I had just gotten my first computer. It was a lonely way to learn photography by searching and searching for information. There definitely wasn’t the plethora of online classes there are now.

Clickn’ Moms (now Click Community) came out and it was like a new world – some place I could go where other women like me were also learning and teaching each other. At some point “Click Pro” became a thing you could apply for. I never applied back in the day because I didn’t feel I was good enough. This second time around I knew I was going to want to apply so I had that in the back of my mind as I built a new portfolio. I applied and gained Click Pro status at the beginning of this year. It felt really good to accomplish creating a portfolio that had merit and be recognized for it.

What would your dream session be?

My dream session would be photographing a family at their little farm. I’m a big animal lover, so combine some cute animals and some cute kids and forget about it, I’m over the moon.

What is the hardest thing about being a photographer, and what is the best thing?

I think the hardest thing about being a photographer is getting people to understand the value of what you provide and why it costs what it does. I think the best thing, the thing that keeps me jazzed, is providing those special photos, seeing people react to them, knowing that even if that young mother doesn’t quite grasp how important these photos are for her to have, I know how important it is, through the lens of time and my own experience having a grown child. It’s astounding that I can provide something that meaningful and it’s great honor to do so.

What photography task do you hate the most?

I honestly can’t think of anything I hate about it. I eat, sleep and breathe photography. I got a chiropractic adjustment today and the doctor asked me if had noticed this or that during the adjustment and I said “no, I was thinking about photography!”

What behind the scenes task do you love the most?

I love editing. I love moving an image from this point to that point, then looking back at where I started and back to my finished edit – and look at all that magic! It’s my form of painting. 

What is a discouragement or challenge you have overcome, and how did you overcome it?

Oh, I doubt myself constantly. Not in terms of can I produce a beautiful photograph, but does anybody want to buy these photographs from me for their family? I just keep pressing on because I feel like an unstoppable force – I never tire of learning something new about photography, and I’m never bored with it.

What is a choice you’ve made that has had the greatest impact on your business, or your happiness as a business owner?

I really feel like digging into lighting and studio work has brought me a new level of curiosity and happiness around portrait work. In my middle age it’s also a wonderful way to control my schedule by having mid-morning shoots. While I do do some outdoor work, I don’t like to drive far to a location so I just shoot very locally, like within 20 minutes from my house. Both of those aspects, the studio morning sessions and a few very local outdoor sessions makes this something I can manage without getting burnt out, and keeps me excited to keep shooting.

If you could share one piece of advice with a new photographer, what would you say?

Slow down, get clear on what you want to photograph and offer, don’t do something you don’t feel aligned with just because everyone else is doing it. In fact, do the thing nobody else is doing, and learn as much as you can about running a small business at a profit.

What is a hidden talent or surprising fact about you?

A hidden talent I have unrelated to photography is I’m an incredible stray pet catcher. Dogs, cats, I even caught a pet bunny with my bare hands.

A hidden talent I have related to photography is my ability to put people at ease. I hear over and over again, “This is the most relaxed I’ve ever been at a photoshoot.”

Photographer Feature: Shelley Schaffer

What are the top three items on your photography bucket list?

1. I have a large format film camera that I’ve yet to take out, so that’s at the top of my list.
2. I aspire to create a portrait even marginally as good as one of Phil Sharpe’s.
3. I’d love to own some Profoto lights and modifiers.
   
   

What’s a habit or routine that has changed your life for the better?

Hands down, 1000% yoga! I wish I had started to practice so much earlier in life. It has had profound effects on me and my body, emotional & mental health.

Untethered Family Photography Publication | Q&A with Shelley Schaffer | Education and encouragement for family and newborn photographers

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