Today we’d like to introduce you to Gennan Shippen.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gennan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my career in the photographic industry when I asked for a SLR camera for Christmas when I was fifteen. After that I took photography classes in high school and community college. It quickly became a passion and a wonderful means of exploring ideas and the world around me. I built a portfolio and applied to art schools in San Francisco. I began my formal studies at The Art Institute, well known for its fine art approach to photography. While there I also studied drawing, painting and art history. After two years at the Art Institute I realized I wanted a more structured education in photography and transferred to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
At Art Center, I learned intensive classes in lighting, composition and Photoshop among many other classes. After graduating I started working in a photo studio in Pasadena that specialized in catalog product photography. I was a senior photographer and lead re-toucher there. Eventually I left that studio and focused on my retouching and editing skills. Retouching for several agencies, top brands and publications- while also maintaining clients for which I shot lifestyle photography. I started shooting weddings and events around 2010 and fell in love with the special energy of weddings and found myself loving being a part of such a happy memorable time in people’s lives.
I had been in the advertising industry for so long and found it much more purposeful and refreshing to be able to capture real moments for real people. These photos have meaning that lasts so much longer than the next round of Christmas catalogs or magazine that gets tossed after that sales season is over. After having my daughter in 2013, I decided to devote my energies to weddings and event photography to allow myself a more flexible schedule to spend time with her while she is little and to give myself a career that has much more meaning for myself and my clients than I had ever had before.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, not a smooth road at all. While the photography and creative side is a joy, the business side is often baffling to me. Connecting with potential customers is tricky and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd and noise. Anyone who owns a camera considers themselves a photographer but it takes allot of experience, training and an innate eye to capture real life and real light beautifully and in the moment with no “second takes”.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Watch The Stars Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in wedding and event photography and work closely with our clients to capture just what id unique l about their event. Couples spend immense amounts of time and effort on every detail of their wedding. When it’s all over, you have the memories. We are there to make sure those memories are captured in the most beautiful way possible, when a bride emails me after I send out their custom slideshow and tells me that she cried with joy while watching it, it means so much to me.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’ve been so lucky to be able to create something that I love to do as my career. I’ve definitely had ups and downs. Always the downs have shown me a different way to look at things or a better path to take once I’ve gotten more perspective on the “bad” luck.
Pricing:
- Engagement sessions start at $350
- Weddings start at $1200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.watchthestars.photo
- Phone: 310 621-0996
- Email: info@watchthestars.photo
- Instagram: watchthestars
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/watchthestarsphoto
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/watch-the-stars-photography-los-angeles
Image Credit:
Watch The Stars Photography
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