Meet Shelby Paige Rowe: Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelby Paige Rowe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelby, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
I would like to be able to travel internationally, full-time photographing the hidden treasures this world has to offer. With my photography, I want to make people feel like they are on top of the world when I photograph them and I want to make places look as beautiful as they are to the eye. Essentially, to travel the world and take photos full-time is a dream of mine I am currently working towards.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is very diverse, I shoot anything from landscapes to portraits. Every person that creates a form of art has a different imagination, different perspectives, and different aesthetics. What sets me apart from others is being able to use many new techniques and tricks I’ve learned along the way to make a photo my own. To make a photo feel unique in a sense. When it comes to shooting and editing, I like to tell myself often to not be afraid to put my own spin on things. I create an idea in my mind and I do my best to make it come to life.

It was not easy getting to where I am today professionally. Without my dad, I don’t know if I would have ever picked up a camera and fell in love with photography the way that I did. My father was always known as the “camera man” of the household. Seeing him constantly with a camera for most of my childhood, really made me interested in wanting to take photos for myself. One day when I was old enough, he let me take his camera outside to test shoot. Since that day, nobody has been able to get me to put down a camera. I very quickly became passionate for photography and that passion has never died out.

The challenges I’ve been through have been nothing but learning experiences for me. Since the beginning, I’ve learned that not every client is going to like what you do or some clients want to get more than what they paid for. I’ve learned to stand up for myself and my pricing. I know my worth, the worth of my time and the worth of my art. If someone doesn’t see my worth, then I’ll keep moving forward. Due to this, I stick to my guns and am able to overcome many challenges the photography business has to offer.

I am very passionate about photography and I know I’ll never stop. I love being able to freeze a moment forever in time. I love being able to help people with their confidence. I love being the one to capture someone’s special moment. Photography is a beautiful thing and is very special to me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has a lot of exciting things to offer. If it’s my friend’s first time visiting ATL, I would take them to all of the “basic” Atlanta treasures. Such as The World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and of course Ponce City Market. For dinner/drinks, I would take them to my favorite low-key place in the city, The Red Phone Booth. It’s a cigar/cocktail lounge that has a pleasant atmosphere and some of the best Italian food you can get in Atlanta. What’s the best part about this place, you may ask? Besides the yummy food and smooth smoking cigars, you can only enter the lounge through a red phone booth that has a secret back door. But the only way to get through that door is if you have the password to dial in. If you don’t personally know a member of the lounge that has the current password, you have to bar-hop around the local pubs and see if you can finesse the password from the bartenders. (Hint: tipping greatly increases your chances of getting the password)

If we were outside of the city, I would take them to my favorite place for some delicious filet mignon tacos at Nacho Daddy in Downtown Duluth. You can’t beat a place that serves massive margaritas and lights a candle under your queso to keep it gooey!

One last place I would take them to outside of Atlanta would be Downtown Woodstock. You can stroll around the adorable town and people watch to your heart’s desire. Woodstock also has one of my all-time favorite breweries called Reformation. Anytime I’m in the area, it’s a must that I stop at Reformation for a beer and the fun ambiance the place has to offer. So of course, if a friend is coming to visit, I have to take them to Reformation Brewery to grab a beer.

I’m sure I only scratched the surface of places to hang out and eat/drink around Atlanta. This city has so much to see and do!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to my family. Without my mother (Susan), my father (Keith) my sister (Megan) and my grandma (Marilyn), I wouldn’t be where/who I am today. They are constantly encouraging me to strive to do better, to further my business and to enhance my skills. They have played a huge part in my life and in my success. Without them, I don’t know if I would’ve had the confidence to pick up a camera and truly dedicate myself to my dream.

Also, I would love to dedicate my shoutout to the Twitter Photography Community. Everyone in that community has been so supportive, encouraging, and helpful with my growth. I’ve met so many incredibly talented friends along the way, who are always there to mentor me and lift me up whenever I am in need.

Honestly, there are so many people I would like to thank. Family, friends, and all my clients. Whether it’s from our paths crossing once or a friendship for years, everyone has always been so supportive of my photography and my business. I can’t thank them enough.

Instagram: @sprphotography

Twitter: @RoweYourBoat__

Other: Print Shop: sprphotography.darkroom.tech

Image Credits
Image 1: Nicholas Leach Image 2: Lanisha Bonhomme Image 4: Paige & Conner Welsh Image 5: Family would like to keep name private Image 6: Kaitlyn Hayes Image 7: Brooks Sullivan