imagery
my
STORY
I have always enjoyed taking pictures. My tool, the classic black and yellow Kodak. My setting, the wooded south suburbs of Chicago. My subjects, were often my dolls or the trees in my neighborhood but I recorded it all none the less. Then came the anticipation of development and search for your name at the pick up desk. Finally, the sensation in my hands of the neat, crisp, glossy stack of Shannon Marie Welch originals. Flipping thru each one and then being so protective of the good ones bc mom was not going to spring for doubles. Sliding the very best ones into those crinkly plastic sleeves of old school photo books, to try to curate the memory of that particular adventure.
As time and technology marched on I eventually upgraded to a digital point and shoot in high school, where I would heavily document each event. Some would roll their eyes at my snap happiness but now many years later its nice to be able to look back at a time and remember. Remember what it was like to stand in that place and be with those people and feel all the wonderful feelings of joy, hope and happiness.
I began my post high school career in the arts, attending school both in San Fransisco and London before finishing out in Los Angles. In LA, I spent 3 years working professionally in the film industry telling the stories of others. When I was ready for a change I found myself back in the midwest as a nanny. I was lucky enough to find a special family with whom I spent several years. My love for photography didn’t fade as I began chronicling all our little adventures. At the end of my first full year, I decided to make a scrapbook for the mom as a birthday present. Her birthday happened to be on December 31st, incidentally me creating the first draft of The YearBook.
The initial gift was such a success and I knew it had to become a tradition. As the years went on the gift transformed from a scrapbook to a fully printed photo book. When the second kid came around I started a new tradition of monthly photos for the first year with a printed book at the end. After a year long sabbatical traveling the world more deeply coloring my own story, I moved to Denver, Colorado. While living in Denver I found my next family and continued the photo book tradition. Capturing so many precious moments over several years. As my time as a nanny came to a close I realized how truly special those family photo books were. Being able to bring that kind of joy and provide a family heirloom is what I want to do for many more families for years to come.
Denver, CO