Rising Stars: Meet Shannon Payne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Payne.

Hi Shannon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a love for working with children. I majored in Human Development in college and taught 2nd and 3rd grades for seven years. It wasn’t until my boys were born that I fell in love with photography. I was head over heels in love with these boys, and I wanted to capture their growth on camera. With a new camera in hand and my husband cheering me along, I immersed myself in the photography world. I spent hours learning and practicing, and before I knew it Shannon Payne Photography was born. Since those days 12 years ago, I have photographed hundreds of babies and families and trained with some of the best photographers in the world.

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?
As a teacher, I started taking photos on the side during my maternity leave with my second son. As my business grew, I started questioning if I could quit my teaching career to run my business full time. About one year in, I made the leap, and it was scary. I started my business in Memphis, and then my husband was transferred to Nashville. So I had to rebuild my business when we moved.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialized in newborn photography. Many of my clients call me the baby whisperer and ask if they can take me home with them! I love babies, and soothing and calming them just comes naturally to me. My goal is to create beautiful, timeless pieces of art. I like to keep my photos simple to keep the focus on the baby, but I use texture and shadows to create interest. Many new photographers burn out after a few years, and I am proud to be in business for over a decade. My boutique studio is located in an 80 years old Craftsman home on a quiet street outside of Hendersonville.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
During the shutdown last spring, I learned how much I truly love and value my job. It was heartbreaking telling my clients that we had to postpone their photos. Newborns are only tiny for so long, and my clients did not want to miss out on this exciting milestone. Many of my clients dream of their baby’s newborn photos as soon as they find out they are expecting. Newborn photos are such a fun experience for new parents. I typically photograph newborns before they turn two weeks old. But once I was allowed to reopen, I was photographing newborns as old as eight weeks. I was so excited to still be able to provide beautiful newborn photos to these parents.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: shannonpaynephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonpaynephotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonpaynephotography/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/aV7tWrdEN6c

Image Credits
Headshot credit: Karen Halbert Photography