Hi! I’m Shawna…
Talking about myself has always been difficult, but if i'm going to be getting to know you before & during our session, you should get to know me a bit better too!
I've always known I was meant to be a photographer. My favourite childhood toy? A cheap film camera I found in my moms drawer. In high school, I took Co-Operative education and did my placement at Sears Portrait Studio, and actually continued to work there for a bit after graduation! I wanted to go to NBCCD for photography, but lacked confidence and ambition at the time, and convinced myself it'd be a waste of time, I'd never succeed, the market was saturated, and I'd never be good enough.
I told myself these things for years while I worked away at a variety of retail stores, looking for direction in life, and never finding it.
Fast forward to 2017, when my Husband and I welcomed our daughter into the world, my point of view started to change. I now had to be a good example for my child. How am I supposed to raise her to be confident and follow her dreams, if I can't practice what I preach? I started on a journey of self discovery, of finding myself outside of being a Partner and Mother. The Pandemic gave me further opportunity to meditate on my life's path and do a lot more soul searching.
By the summer of 2021, by letting my intuition and the universe guide me, I had left my long time retail job and started taking steps towards following my dreams. After completing an entrepreneurship course (Enterprising Women, highly recommend!), and seeking out benefits & financial assistance, I started Shawna Dawn Photography from scratch in January of 2022.
I now have a studio in the very same building that housed the food bank my mother and I visited frequently when I was growing up. Like, what a full circle moment. I'm so grateful for the support I've been given along the way from friends, family, and clients. I look forward to working with clients from all walks of life, hearing their stories, and capturing the momemts that will last a life time.
I want to provide a safe, inclusive space for my clients. Being photographed can be anxiety inducing for some (myself included!), so I do all that I can to make my clients comfortable before, during and after their session. If you have a crazy photoshoot idea, want to book a session, or even just say hello, please do not hesitate to reach out, I'd love to hear from you!
-Shawna
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SHAWNA DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY
1216 Sand Cove Rd
Photographer in Saint John, New Brunswick
