Hey everyone! So if you don't know who I am, let me introduce myself. My name is Shawna Marie Jensen and I am a 22 year old
little girl with a
BIG dream. I grew up in, what used to be a small town but it's grown quite a bit since I was young. A little town called Victorville. It's in the middle of the desert and, I guess you could say, "in the boondocks" haha. If you live in California and you've ever driven to Las Vegas then you drive right through it. Anyways, this is where I was born and raised!
When I was very young, I guess about five or so, I discovered a talent of mine. . . Painting. Yup! My mom bought me a watercolor set and I painted picture after picture of everything around me including all my stuffed animals, toys, and furniture! I was pretty good at painting what I saw and it was such a blast for me. As time went on I explored other mediums such as grafite, acrylic paints, and even colored pencils. By the time I was in my freshman year in high school I was sure I wanted to go to school for art and learn all there was to know about it.
By my Sophmore year I wanted to venture out and try photography as an art medium, but for some reason I was terrified to try. I guess I just felt like I wouldn't be good enough at it or I would get in the class and know nothing about it (Which I didn't know ANYTHING about photography). But somehow I got the guts to do it and I took my first photography class that year. Photography, just like painting, ignited something in me and I fell head-over-heals for it. Just like when I was young, painting everything in sight, I was snapping photos of everyone and everything around me.
Then came college and I decided to go to the Community College here in my hometown Victorville. At this point I was focusing on my AA degree and decided to get it in Fine Arts. So I started out taking all my general ed classes and then came all the fun stuff! I took all kinds of art classes like sculpting, life drawing, art history, and a painting class. But no photo classes. I was STILL scared! I don't know why but I had the same feelings like I had in high school. I wanted to take a photography class so badly, but something was holding me back. I didn't feel like I would be good enough. So I finished my AA without taking any photography courses.
I think it was almost a year that had passed since I had graduated and I had been practicing photography on my own. I had been through my first digital camera and had just bought a semi-professional model. Now that I had more experience on my own I decided to go back to school and take a photography class. So I enrolled for a portraiture class. I remember going on my first day bringing all my equipment with me because I didn't know what to expect. Haha. I laugh now because why would we take pictures on the first day?! But I got through it and ended up LOVING my class. I also remember the first assignment, we had to bring a model in and take pictures of him/her in the studio. Well he gave me an A and I was not happy about that. I went home and told my mom he had given me an A. An A! She was like 'well isn't that a good thing?' I said "NO! I want him to be honest, real, and brutal!" So the next class I went up to him with my pictures in my hand and said "So what do you REALLY think of these?" And he sat down and critiqued them for me. It was a pretty good first critique and I was much more satified. So I did pretty well in that class and I learned a lot!
After that one course in photography my dreams had changed and I knew I wanted to become and portrait photographer. So I decided to start my own business called Shawna Marie Photography. I didn't choose to use my last name because I knew that one day I would be marrying my boyfriend at the time (he's my husband now :)) so I used my middle name instead. But since then I have built my business in portraits such as newborn, maternity, familes, pets, graduations, model portfolios, headshots, etc. And then came a photographer from Los Angeles. . .
Chanel found me on Model Mayhem and asked me if I knew of any photographers in the high desert that would be willing to let her and her team use there studio to get the models ready before a shoot. So right away I said "um, yeah! ME!! I have a studio you can use" And next thing I know I have 20 people at my house getting ready for a magazine shoot. I was fortunate enough to be able to shoot along side Chanel that day and get some really great images for my book. And then just when I thought I knew "EXACTLY" what I wanted to do in life, I changed my mind once more. Fashion Photography. That was my calling. I was like "this is it. This is what I am going to strive to become."
So now that I gave you a little bit of my history I will now explain why I decided to start a blog. Well for a couple reasons actually. First and foremost to document my journey to becoming a fashion photographer and to maybe share with others that have the same interests as I. As well as helping people who want to do this too by giving insight, tips, and personal experiences. So please come with me on my journey and see what fun and exciting things will occur. Like I said earlier I have some big dreams and I hope to accomplish some this year! Come along for the ride, you just might find YOURSELF!
This was a last minute shoot that I had set up with a model from Model Mayhem that I have worked with once before. But I mean, we had like one day to prepare if that. She called me the night before and said 'I need some new shots and I have an outfit that I want to wear.' Then she came the next morning already dressed and made up and we shot for not even 30 minuets! It was awesome :). I am a very fast shooter and I like to just get it done. I don't mess around.
