Shelby Payne: Capital High School Alumnus Tells Your Story Through Photographs

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Payne at work, photographing classmate Haley Peters’ wedding this summer.
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By Kelli Samson

putnam lieb logoI want you to humor me here. Measure your life by total weddings attended. There are the weddings of your family members, friends, co-workers, co-worker’s kids. It can all add up for a person, and that’s saying nothing of the mental tally of what you’ve likely spent on gifts. Truthfully, though, what is the sum of your wedding attendance over the years?

What if we stopped counting when you turned 21? How many by then?

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Photographer Shelby Payne wants her photography to make a difference in the world.

Check this out: by the time the 2015 wedding season unofficially comes to a close next month, Olympia-raised Shelby Payne will have attended and photographed nearly 25 weddings during the past year alone. In the few years she’s been a professional photographer, she has booked and shot a total of 47 nuptials.

That’s a lot of kiss-the-brides. That’s a lot of cake.

Interestingly enough, Payne has never attended a wedding simply as a guest. The camera has been her plus-one every time.

I met Payne for this interview – which really turned into a wonderful conversation on the creative process – on a sunny morning at Olympia’s Bread Peddler. All that wedding cake hasn’t ruined her sweet tooth. She showed up boho-chic and looking like actress Liv Tyler, circa 1995.

I first had the pleasure of getting to know Payne when she was a freshman in my English class at Capital High School (CHS) years ago. She was bubbly and curious. As her tenure at CHS went by, I would spot her in the halls with a fancy camera on her hip (a gift from her parents) and see increasingly more of her classmates’ senior portraits produced by her.

During her sophomore year of high school, Payne participated in Project 365. “I took pictures every day and tried to find one that captured best what my day encompassed,” explains Payne.

This project sparked the creation of her blog, and the other students began to know her as “the girl who takes pictures,” says Payne.

She job-shadowed local photographer Dorothy Huynh, whom she now counts as her greatest mentor, and Shelby Payne Photography was born.

olympia wedding photographer
Shelby Payne tagged-along on author Kelli Samson’s family Christmas tree hunt last winter.

Payne has had no formal training, but has a magical eye when it comes to photography. “There’s something rewarding about teaching yourself,” she says.

Her true talent can arguably be found in her ability to tell a story. Whether it’s the story of your family, your baby, your engagement, your wedding day, or who you are when you find yourself on the cusp of adulthood, she artistically captures that essence and returns it to you in photographs.

“My goal is to capture who my clients are, not just to take a photo,” explains Payne. “But I’m making art for myself, too, so I want to be excited about what I’m shooting. I like to put my flair on it.”

Her mega-watt smile and warmth of spirit can put anyone at ease. “It’s crucial for me to get to know my clients before our shoot,” says Payne, “but most of my clients are friends or friends-of-friends, which makes it easier. I’ve worked hard to maintain relationships with people, and that is what I feel gets me business.”

This wedding season, Payne has been grateful to have an assistant, up-and-coming photographer Logan Smith. “It’s hard to find someone who not only sees your vision, but also shares it. He is very refined and gets the details. He’s also great because he challenges me to take pictures for fun.”

Adds Payne, “It’s nice to be creative with someone else because it allows my creative juices to keep flowing and it keeps my work fresh.”

One would think with 47 weddings booked over just a few seasons, she could just do this photography gig full-time, but Payne has other pursuits.

olympia wedding photographer
Payne at work, photographing classmate Haley Peters’ wedding this summer.

While she loves photography, this full-time Western Washington University (WWU) junior also has a passion for social justice. She is studying sociology with an emphasis on social justice and pre-law at WWU, and it is her ultimate hope that her photography in the future will serve as a catalyst for bringing about change.

Payne would like to bring attention to social issues, both at home and abroad. “My hope is that my photography can reach people and show them what I’m passionate about and what I’d like to see change,” she says.

Owning her own photography business has afforded Payne the flexible work schedule she needs to be a successful full-time student, while still providing her with an income that sustains her during the lean college years.

“There are so many things I want to do in the world. I want my degree to be broad and versatile so I can help people,” she adds. “I would love to do the media for a non-profit abroad.”

Payne is available to capture your family from Olympia to Bellingham, as she splits her time in both places. She is gearing up for the holiday photo season. You can view her extensive portfolio and pricing on her webpage, but be warned: it will be next to impossible to resist hiring her.

Facebook Page: shelbypaynephoto

Website: shelbypaynephotography.squarespace.net

 

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