Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Shanahan.
Hi Jason, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I served in the Marine Corps for almost a decade before putting down my rifle and picking up a camera for the first time. After my time in the military, I moved home to Maryland, went to college and began a career in water treatment. That job gave me great opportunities to travel, and I took them all. My old career was a decent one and I made a good living, but I just didn’t feel that desire to get up every day and go to work, so I started thinking about what really makes me happy. I always had a love for nature, the beach, and creative art, so photography really seemed like the natural path to take. I got a cheap point and shoot camera and started creating photos of everyday things around me, and before too long, I realized that I really had something special. After having my friends tell me “You should do this for a living” I thought, well, yea, maybe I will! That day, it just clicked, literally! Why not turn my new passion into a career, and so I did! I quit my job, moved to the beach, and opened my first studio.
I have developed a unique coastal style over the years, and that comes through both when you meet me, and when you look at my work. I love to incorporate bright, natural light and a true to life, film inspired editing style so that those who view my art can get a true sense of the power, beauty and inspiration all around us here at the beach.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road thats for sure. I have been a nomad for much of my life, and as a result of that, I move to a new place and don’t really know a ton of people . That makes it really tough to get a new business going in an area where much of the business happens the old fashioned way, through word of mouth and referrals from friends. It took me a while to build up trust in the community and score enough good reviews before things really took off.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In my day to day work, I focus mostly on real estate photography, as well as family portraits. During the daylight hours, I shoot many new home listings as well as rental properties for agents and rental companies. Once the evening rolls around, you can find me on the beach creating photographs for a visiting family, or possibly even a wedding here and there. When I have free time to shoot, I love shooting local birds and other wildlife. I have a great collection of wildlife art for sale on my website store, and I also can be found at local artist markets around the region. I think the thing that sets me apart from alot of others is that I really do my best to stay true to reality and limit the adjustments I make during my editing processes. I want the viewers of my photographs to feel what I felt the moment that shutter clicked.
What’s next?
I hope to be able to do this until I retire. This job gives me the freedom to really express my creativity, have fun while doing it and almost always beable to do it in a beautiful environment. I have thought about expanding the studio and bringing in assistants and other photographers, but I think for the time being I will just keep it to a one man band.
Pricing:
- Family Portraits beginning at $299
- Real Estate beginning at $199
- Seniors starting at $499
- Weddings starting at $1000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wanderingsurfer.com
- Instagram: @wanderingsurferphotography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/wanderingsurferstudios
