Life & Work with Shawn Ferjanec of San Diego

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Ferjanec.

Shawn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I worked for more than two decades in the Los Angeles film and entertainment industry as a Creative Director, but photography was always a part of my life. Outside of work, I loved to travel, and my camera was almost always with me. I initially gravitated toward landscapes and fine art photography, photographing places I visited around the world.

The shift to photographing people happened almost by accident. An actress friend needed new photos, but she wasn’t looking for traditional headshots. She wanted something more dramatic and editorial, so we approached the shoot almost like a magazine story. That was it. I was hooked.

I realized very quickly that what I loved most was working with people. I love the connection and collaboration that happens during a shoot and seeing how someone’s personality can shape the direction of the images.
My years in the film industry have had a huge influence on the way I approach photography. I tend to think cinematically, paying close attention to lighting, composition, environment, mood and storytelling rather than simply documenting what someone looks like. That eventually led me toward the editorial portraiture I shoot today.

After many years in Los Angeles, I moved to La Jolla, where I’m now based, while continuing to work with clients in LA. My photography has also been published in a number of LA-based publications. In many ways, photography feels like a natural continuation of my career in film.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented people, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, and those collaborations have been a huge part of my growth as a photographer.

Like any creative career, though, there’s been a lot of learning along the way. One of the biggest challenges has been finding my own voice and figuring out what kind of photographer I wanted to be. There’s always a temptation to look at what everyone else is doing, especially now with social media, but over time I’ve learned to trust my own instincts and the influences I bring from my background in film.

Photography is also one of those things where you never really feel finished. There’s always something new to learn, whether it’s lighting, directing, working with a new team or simply finding a better way to connect with the person in front of the camera. I actually enjoy that part of it. It keeps the work interesting and keeps me pushing myself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is primarily focused on editorial portraiture, photographing actors, artists, musicians, executives and entrepreneurs. My goal is to create images that feel polished and cinematic while still feeling authentic to the person I’m photographing.

What sets my work apart is the perspective I bring from more than two decades as a Creative Director in the film and entertainment industry. That background influences how I think about lighting, composition, mood and storytelling.

I’m most proud of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with and the body of work we’ve created together. Having my photography published is always exciting, but ultimately I want to create portraits that are visually interesting, beautifully crafted and genuinely reflect the person in front of my camera.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the drive-in movies as a kid in upstate New York.

We’d all pile into the station wagon with blankets and pillows in the back, bring snacks and watch classic Disney movies. As a young kid, the whole experience felt like an adventure.

I’ve always loved movies, so looking back, it seems fitting that I eventually moved to Los Angeles and spent more than 20 years working in the film industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shawnferjanec.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnferjanec/

Image Credits
@sebastianlysen
@chrishell.stause
@jaydnmeier
@lakenromine
@_magdalenaferrer_
@jocelynbinder
@elizawinn