Meet Shanle Bowen | Georgia Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Shanle, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The impact of being in the room, face-to-face with someone is so much greater than you realize! With so many of us interacting with each other primarily through digital means – social media, text, video calls – it can be easy to go the convenient route and forego meeting in person.

But if you want to create a stronger connection with someone, whether that be in your personal or professional life, get in the room with them. Talk to them, go out for coffee, take them to dinner or brunch. You’ll be amazed at how much stronger that person stands out in your own mind!

I started doing this with my couples in particular, and it completely changed the way they experience their wedding day. Instead of meeting in-person for the first time on the day of the wedding (and having a virtual stranger poke a camera in their face!), we make time to have a session together before the wedding. It allows us to get to know each other in a low-pressure environment and allows me to observe how my couple naturally interacts with each other – the pretty engagement photos are just a bonus!

I’m so grateful to the people in my life that have encouraged me to go outside of my comfort zone to build and strengthen those in-person connections!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love mixing joyful portraits with candid moments and little details to tell the story of where my couples or families are in this chapter of their lives. Gently, beautifully posed portraits have their value, but so do those less-than perfect moments – like the way her eyes crinkle when she laughs with you or the silly face your 6 year old makes every day – and I love intertwining them together to create something beautiful, meaningful, and genuine.

One of the biggest challenges that I have faced – now and in the past – is being rather introverted while having a business and profession that requires me to be people-facing a lot. I don’t think the nerves I feel before a session or wedding will ever go away! Something my mom said to me once really stuck with me and I try to keep it in mind every time I feel my natural introversion pulling me back: the person on the other side is probably just as as nervous as you are. Focus on how you can make them feel comfortable and welcomed, instead of how uncomfortable you feel in that moment. It works great!

An important lesson that I wish I had learned much MUCH earlier is how important it is to learn the art of business. I’ve seen so many talented creatives really struggle in business because they are sold the lie that good art is all you need to succeed. Go and take some business courses. Learn how marketing works. And – while this might be controversial to some – pray a lot. Yes, the business side can totally be boring sometimes, but you NEED to know at least a little something about the art of running a business if your goal is to make this your sole income.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooooh, this is hard – there are so many places! We would definitely have to hit up Beignets and Brew, Doughnut Dollies, Cool Beans Cafe, or Bonnin’s Bakery for breakfast, Vintage Pizzeria for lunch, then head over to TENKU or 101 Steak for dinner.

The Georgia Aquarium is a must-see, but I also love taking people to the Highland Games at Stone Mountain in October!

I’m definitely not a huge party person – browsing local bookstores and long talks/walks with a good cup of coffee is more my vibe! The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a favorite during spring and Christmas – I love taking people to see the hanging lights for the first time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so grateful to God for the amazing ways He has blessed my business! I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without Him and I am constantly amazed when He provides again and again, in ways I never expected.

I’m also grateful for the support of my amazing village, among whom are my sweet husband, who patiently provides moral and tech support; my parents, who cheerfully babysit at the last minute when I forget to schedule in advance; my siblings and besties who cheer me on and listen to my endless gushy ramblings about my couples; and my photography girlies, who are always down for a cup of coffee, some problem solving, and a whole lot of encouragement!

Website: https://www.shanlebowen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanlebowenphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shanlebowenphotography

Image Credits
Shanle Bowen Photography