HEY, I’M SHONDA
I PHOTOGRAPH HOW IT FEELS, SO YOU NEVER FORGET.
shonda
Owner | PHOTOGRAPHER
Music lover, nature seeker, cat mom, & human mom too.
I live in downtown Grayling, Michigan, in an old house with creaky floors and a whole lot of charm. My cat Jake runs the place (and honestly, he’s the best cat). I’m typically found in a worn out band tee, lost in a wall of sound at a rock concert, or curled up with a horror movie or something ridiculous on TV to balance it out.
I photograph couples who don’t follow the script. The rule-breakers, the quiet rebels, the lovers who want something more meaningful than stiff poses and cookie-cutter moments. I specialize in elopements, small weddings, and real love stories told through honest images. If you want a wedding day that feels like you, whether that means hiking a trail, dancing barefoot in the backyard, or saying your vows under a canopy of trees, I’m here for it.
Thank you – Led Zeppelin
“My world it smiles.
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles. Thanks to you it will be done.
For you to me are the only one.”
Photography has been my heartbeat for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I loved flipping through my Grandma’s photo albums. She told me photos meant so much to her because she never wanted to forget. I felt that in my bones, I’ve always carried a camera with me, chasing memories before they fade.
I’m not here to stage a performance or tell you to “say cheese.” I’m here to document what it felt like. The nervous hands, the deep breaths, the laughter through tears. The real stuff that you’ll want to remember years from now.
As someone who’s shy & introverted, I get it, being in front of the camera can feel awkward. I also don’t like being the center of attention. I’d rather be behind the lens, quietly catching the magic as it unfolds. That’s part of what makes my approach different. I’ll guide you just enough to help you feel comfortable, then step back and let the story unfold naturally.
With my years as a Certified Dental Assistant, I learned that we all feel awkward and have insecurities. This may seem random, but it’s taught me a lot about patience, compassion, and helping people feel at ease, even when they’re vulnerable. Those lessons have stuck with me, and I carry them into every shoot I do.
My other love is music and capturing the raw energy of rock and metal shows, the grit, the sweat, the unfiltered emotion. There’s something about the energy of a concert that reminds me of a wedding day: unpredictable, emotional, electric. You’ve got to be ready to catch those blink-and-you-miss-it moments, and I am.
I’ve been married before. We eloped. Just the two of us. And even though that chapter is over, I’ve never once regretted that choice. When I choose to get married again, it won’t be about the show or the stress, it’ll be intimate and meaningful, just me, my future soulmate, my daughter, and a handful of the people who matter most. No pressure. Just love.
That’s the kind of experience I want to create for you, too. One that’s stripped down to what matters. Real. Emotional. Unforgettable.
Whether you’re planning an elopement in the woods, a small wedding surrounded by your people, or just want to create something beautiful and meaningful together, I’m here for it.
Let’s throw out the rulebook and make something real.
Ready to do this your way?