Art & Life with Shea Mayberry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shea Mayberry.

Shea, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been making art my entire life. I began taking art classes after school each week and in summers. Then attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts summer school while I was in high school. I was always happiest when creating and surrounding myself with art, but once I had to start thinking of supporting myself “in the real world”, I questioned being able to create a successful, independent life as an artist. I received my master’s degree from the University of North Texas in Journalism with a focus in Arts Administration. UNT has an amazing Journalism School and a sensitivity to supporting the development and success of artists and arts in the community. This really spoke to my heart!

After moving to Southern California, I worked as associate curator in an art gallery. I loved working with artists and art students there. I am always so awed and inspired by peoples’ creative vision and skill! While there, I began taking more time for studying art, taking painting, drawing, photography, and art history classes. Even studying art and art history in Italy. It was during my traveling in Italy that I began dedicating more time to my photography. I dedicated myself to learning everything photography and asking my friends brave enough to get in front of my lens to model for me. This experience is what led me to love portrait photography. I enjoyed working closely with people and watching them come to life in front of the camera. This is how I knew I wanted to give people a photography experience that they actually enjoyed, not one where they dreaded being in front of the camera. So when we moved back to Dallas five years ago, I decided to pursue photography full time and set up my portrait photography business, specializing in photographing women.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
In my boutique photography business I specialize in shooting fine art women’s portraiture. Types of sessions I shoot include boudoir, bridal boudoir, maternity, maternity boudoir, beauty portraits, and personal branding. My images have a fine art style that is bright and feminine.

My goal is to create a photography experience that is comfortable and fun for my clients so they actually enjoy having their photos taken. I try very hard to put them at ease so they can relax and let their unique beauty really shine. I talk to so many women who hate having their photos taken, some even hating their wedding photos. I don’t want their experience in my studio to be like that!

I believe every woman should have photos of herself that make her feel beautiful and make her smile. So in my photography sessions, we are relaxed, playful and often laughing out loud. It’s a great way to celebrate a special time in life like a milestone birthday, a wedding, a new baby on the way, a big anniversary, kids going off to college, etc. It’s truly an honor for me to be able to share the special moments with my clients and give them images that they will cherish.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I don’t think being an artist is as lonely as it once was with all the resources and ways to connect with people on social media. For me, the key has been using social media and the internet to find groups of likeminded artists locally, then connect with them via meet ups, classes, events, etc. Some of my best friends have come from these types of activities! Dallas has such a rich art culture that there are many ways to find fellow creatives here.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can see galleries of my work and find out more details about photography sessions on my website sheamayberry.com. Once a client books a session, we work closely together to tailor the experience to their specific needs and desires. We talk style and wardrobe, location and mood, as well as how they want to use their photos. This means they get a customized photography experience that celebrates their unique story.

Contact Info:

• Website: sheamayberry.com
• Phone: 972-863-2252
• Email: shea@sheamayberry.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sheamayberryphoto
• Facebook: facebook.com/sheamayberryphotography
• Twitter: twitter.com/sheamayberryphoto

Image Credit:
Shea Mayberry Photography

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