I'm full of dreams and adventures
My name is Shawna (she/her) and I am a wedding and elopement photographer specializing in destination weddings and elopements. I'm originally from Vancouver, Canada, and that will always be my true home. I have been travelling all across this great, big world, which started as a solo trip, but in 2015 I picked up this crazy Belgian guy along the way and just couldn't get rid of him ever since! Turned out I had met the love of my life, and he's put a ring on my finger, so I now live in Europe.
The serious bits: A graduate from photography school, I've been shooting professionally since 2013. My specialties are elopements, weddings, honeymoons... anything to do with love - including classy boudoir! I love the way a camera sits in my hand, the sound of the shutter clicking, and the anticipation of seeing those photos on the computer. It's one of those passions that gets me so excited that when I start doing it, suddenly it's three days later and I haven't eaten, slept, or showered since.
A few things about me: as an outdoorsy person, I love being in nature. I’m down for adventure any day and find happiness when I’m surrounded by mountains. My favourite drink is green tea. My favourite food is lasagna, although it's a tough one because I'm definitely a foodie. I eat (whole foods) plant-based because I am against animal cruelty, for the planet, and want to know I did my best to live a healthy life. I'm a huge environment geek and try to lower my footprint whenever I can (#zerowaste #takethetrain). Some of my favourite things to do are yoga, rock climbing, hiking, and camping in the wilderness with a cozy fire to curl up by. I love multi-day hikes in particular - you know they’re going to be difficult, sweaty, and painful at times, and you have to gather the courage to begin them; but they are always worth the effort! Kind of like marriage, perhaps?
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I'm looking for couples who are FEARLESS and ready to show their vulnerable side. Ones who are not afraid to let the wind blow through their hair and are ready to EMBRACE the mess. I need you to be an expert at looking deeply in your partner's eyes and letting your knees get a little weak. A couple who wants to nuzzle their faces together while remembering the moment when one of you popped the question, and the other one answered HECK YEAH. Show me some RAW AF kisses like you haven’t seen each other in years! Let me join in on the most adventurous day of your life (the adventure of love is not to be taken lightly) and let's make people's jaws drop with your photos.
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how we will be instant bffs.
I like to take responsibility for my actions, even on game day.
The environment
I'll keep this as short as possible, because I could talk about this forever. It's impossible to deny that our planet's health is declining because of our actions, so I try to do my part. Here are some of the things I do: walking/biking/public transport and taking trains/buses over flying, buying second hand, rewilding with what little space I have, refusing before reusing before recycling, composting properly, having a Tupperware fetish to avoid food waste that has allowed me leftovers for days, and switched to a vegan (mainly whole-foods-plant-based) diet. How can you make your day as eco friendly as possible, even when you want to have a destination wedding? Not only do I have all the tips, I have a legit document full of suggestions on how you can make your day more conscious- JUST ASK! This one is free regardless of whether you hire me or not.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Action
I'm am accepting of everyone, no matter who they are and/or who they choose to be. This one is just so obvious to me- how could you not let someone be who they truly are? Why would you not? What threat is it to you if their skin is a different colour? Why should some people be denied the extra help they need to have equal access to society? It baffles my mind. So this is a safe space, please be you and rock your own socks off. My camera prefers authenticity anyway!
Animal Rights + Empathy
I am NON-JUDGEMENTAL- please don't be afraid if you're not vegan or vegetarian! I don't bite, I swear; my friends come from all walks of life.
Yes, I believe animals have rights too. I'm vegan for several reasons, but this is a huge part of it. And why is empathy in the same section? Because I'm an extremely empathetic person (as you'll find out as the three of us are bawling our eyes out as you say your vows), and that's what brought me to veganism. I can imagine myself being in the situations those poor animals get put in, and it breaks my heart, it scares me that humans can let this happen. I won't go too far into detail, but if you want more information, again feel free to reach out. I will never, EVER judge you for your eating habits, I just think it's great whatever positive changes you're thinking about making (or that you've already made) for the animals, the environment, and your own health. (PS- you know, vegan catering exists, and it's freaking AMAZE-BALLS).
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