Meet Shay Richards | Photographer| Wife| Mommy

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

Hi Shay, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Is balance really existent? Up until about a month ago, I wasn’t balancing but stealing time from different departments of my life. I am an entrepreneur, wife, mom, human. All of these that I am needed more but I had to constantly sacrifice from somewhere to fulfill the department that needed my immediate attention. We only have 100% and my days consisted of reallocating my percentage. I can do 10% here today, 30 can go here, hmm maybe a smooth 42 can go here… Lets just say sleep was always last priority. All of this was very unhealthy but I was making it work with what I had. Thankfully we had a village to help wherever they could.

Now, both of my kids are in “school” part time which makes all the difference. I now have some sort of a normal schedule where I can edit and shoot during the day mostly, be a present mom and wife in the evening, and I don’t have to go to bed at 2am. I even have time to read!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My love for art started really young. My mom is really crafty which of course made an impression on me. My love for photography started in high school when I had a digital Kodak point and shoot. I went everywhere with that thing snapping pictures of any & everything. While in college, I thought I wanted to be a marketing major. I really enjoyed the visual aspect of it. Once those core classes hit, I said “nope”! Went to my counselor, Mr. Claiborne, and he introduced me to the arts department and really opened my eyes to the possibility of me doing this as a job… career.

In the photo program, my focus were women and children. How beautiful women are and how pure, raw, innocent a child is really interested me. So my exit project were portraits of women from different cultures in their traditional garb. Black background and one light to sort of spotlight them. I made those prints about 30×40 with black frames, no glass because I felt that was breaking the experience for the viewer and there were 6 of them. When they were up in the gallery, I think they really made a statement and the viewer wanted to get closer to enjoy them individually and step back to enjoy the diversity as a whole.

I am still evolving as a photographer and business owner. It is one thing to be just the artist but throw the business aspect and it was like “whew! Ok, we are making a little coin. We are running a business” What has been the largest help is mentors and putting systems in place. Contracts, invoices, packages and protocols are all essential in my opinion. Keeping track of funds and expenses is all a part of it. Take the mistakes and lessons and readjust. Just constantly be a student.

What sets us apart are our eyes. We as photographers can all shoot with the same cameras, same lighting and maybe even the same editing style but what we see is different to some sort of degree. Our decisive moments can all be different when we release the shutter. What I believe that sets me apart is my personality and experience that comes with my shoots. I used to work in hospitality after college and it really bleeds into my practice on shoots. Being hospitable, making people feel comfortable in front of the camera, attention to detail in real time. I was shooting an event recently and a gentleman came up to me and told me “you really love what you do”. I said “yes, but what makes you say that?” He told me that he has been watching me (I didn’t take it as creepy) and “every time you look at your camera after taking a picture, you smile” That resonated with me because I was unaware that I did it. I love freezing time and preserving a moment to look back on after that moment passes. Time is fleeting.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
All of my best friends are home bodies and prefer staying in, sipping wine and catching up. BUT if we must go out, we are going to Poco Loco for the BEST breakfast burrito, hitting the HIGH Museum, and heading to Victory Sandwich Bar somewhere in there. Some other things we would go to throughout their stay would be Beetle Cat, belt line, Yala at Krog Street Market, and coffee at Dancing Goats at PCM. Dinner at Colony Square is an option as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are soooo many people that need recognition and a shout out. It truly takes a village for me. There would be no tooShay Photography without them. I have to give it to my best friend & husband, Khiray. From 2 kids in college with cameras to now both operating successful businesses. He has seen me at my most vulnerable and checked me when I needed a snap back into reality. He reminds me of my value and pushes me to be great because he knows I’m capable.

Website: tooShayphotography.com

Instagram: tooShay.photography

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shabreonrichards

Image Credits
Dot Paul- Freckled Goat Studio Bonnie J. Heath Photography