Meet Shannel Resto | SJR Photography CEO/Founder/ Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannel Resto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannel, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I come from a huge dance background, so taking risks was a critique I always received in my training. “Just go for the movement, don’t be afraid to fall, make mistakes, it’s okay”, my dance instructors would say. The idea of taking risks was something I struggled with, because I had this idea of perfection and being in control. But, when I started to photograph professionally, taking risks became easy for me. I stopped worrying about perfection and focused more on the freedom I had through my perspective.

I realized recently that actually, I had been taking risks my whole life, in ways I didn’t expect. I took risks in the places I lived and worked. I took risks in the people I said yes to and the truth is I took a huge risk in changing my dream of being a choreographer to being a photographer. I’ve recently relocated from New York City to Atlanta. My time in NYC consisted of dancing with Nyane Khosi Dance Theatre (a modern afro-fusion dance company), but it is where I also solidified my business: SJR Photography. Not to toot my own horn, but I was finally reaping the benefits of the risks I took moving to NYC as a photographer. I was able to have my work featured in articles/magazines like: Dance Magazine, Time Out NY, The New York Times, Forbes, Playbill, Broadway World etc. and collaborate on projects I could have never imagined myself doing. But then something changed, and the environment I started to build my life and career around was becoming stagnant for me. Mentally, I wanted to come back to nature, but as a city girl at heart, I needed somewhere I could start over. That’s where Atlanta comes into play and moving down south hundreds of miles away, with barely any family, friends, and all of my connections for my business all up north, was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever had to make. So how do I think about risk? I think it can lead you to amazing opportunities, decisions, and scary, but beautiful changes. I think it is necessary to be (whatever you measure) successful and happy in life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
So I wear a lot of hats as an artist through dance and photography. I was born in the Bronx and I grew up in Boston, where I attended Boston Arts Academy as a dance major and then graduated with a BFA in Dance at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. While I was dancing, I got the opportunity to move to London for the year to dance at a Conservatorie. This is where my eyes opened to wanting to become a professional photographer. Interning for a photography studio in London changed my whole career path. I always photographed growing up, teaching myself through books and creating photos whenever I had the chance. But the challenge of changing courses of training my whole life in dance into becoming a photographer was complicated. My business SJR Photography was created when I decided to collide my professions as a performing artist with my passion for photography whilst living in NYC.

Graduating college with a degree in dance, and barely a photography portfolio, finding work in the city was hard. But my story isn’t too different from most artists trying to make it in NYC. I sacrificed my time, I was a bartender, I interned at three different places and had about two side jobs. I made connections and said ‘yes’ in reasoning to every photo gig I could do, some that barely even paid me. I struggled to make rent and took the risk of quitting my bartending job to do photography full-time. And with the help of my talent and willingness to just learn from everyone, it worked. I started to get recognized for my work in articles, started getting referrals, and creating a business.

But what I feel sets me aside from other photographers are the lessons I’ve learned, and my willingness to never stop learning. It is the risk I take in saying ‘yes’, but also ‘no’. I learned in my career not every job or opportunity is meant for you, even if it sounds great. I learned that I truly don’t know everything and so the only way for me to grow is to keep learning. I learned to truly listen to my clients and create their vision. I learned to relate to others and use my skills to help them learn about themselves through photos. These lessons are partly why I’m in Atlanta now, starting over, but this time with the confidence and my experience on what I have to offer this city. I’m excited to learn from Atlanta and develop my artistry. I plan to create a space in which other artists can commingle and create/learn together. What I want people to take from my story is that no matter where you come from and what you are doing, if you want to learn something new take that risk because you never know what the outcome can be.

In short my art has been described as eclectic, storytelling, and detailed. Every photo I take recreates the love in which I see in people, places, and objects through my camera. I take pride in helping guide my clients through their vision and create lasting memories, archives through life, and different perspectives through my camera lens. My focus offers a wide range of styles in photography from events, fashion, studio photoshoots, performances, travel, and more. I go the extra mile to ensure that every element in capturing those special moments is present through the experience my clients have with me. I want to communicate through my art the freedom to explore the impossible possibilities through my lens and help others learn.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Funny enough my best friend is visiting Atlanta soon and I’m a huge foodie, so I already have a list of places to eat! To list a few: Atlanta Breakfast Club, Bar Taco, Por Calvins. We love a good bottomless brunch so Kaleidoscope. As for some fun, I would say keep a look out for art events, dance shows and galleries around the city. I love the Goat Farm, and no there aren’t actual goats, but it’s a hub for artists to get together and share different forms of art.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Anyone who knows me, knows I always say a village truly raised me and has helped me grow. I am beyond thankful and want to give a huge shout out to all my mentors that have entered my life. They know who they are, and I wouldn’t be where I am without their confidence in me. I also want to shout out my beautiful parents, family, friends, and my partner for their undying support! Honestly, there are way too many names to list of all the people who deserve credit for who I am and I don’t want anyone to feel left out. Although, here are a few great artists in no order at all I think you should check out who has also inspired my career: Tumi Vil-Nkomo, Christopher Duggan, Whitney Browne, Earl Mosley, Eryc Taylor, Yesika Salgado, Sydney Claire.

Website: https://sjrestophotography.wixsite.com/sjrphotographs

Instagram: @s.j.rphotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannel-resto-63aa6132/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCop6a9JRNvsZ3SENhIzRrTA/featured

Image Credits
All Photos were taken by Shannel Resto (SJR Photography) except the photo of myself was photographed by Whitney Browne