Raised in Oklahoma City lower middle class, I was on my own at 15 years old. I started a family as a teenager and have worked very hard for everything I have. In this industry some people go to school and the rest just happen to be in the right place at the right time. That was me. I never had schooling beyond a GED, but have always had a natural eye and talent for art. I have always enjoyed art of all sorts, paintings, crafts, music, graffiti, fashion, tats, etc.
Being a photographer was something I had never thought of until I started working for Olan Mills in 1995. I took a telemarketing job that I hated. When I heard they needed a photographer I thought "I think I could do that." Combining my love of art with my people skills, not only could I be a portrait photographer but I was really good at it. About a year and a half later I was an area trainer for the 16 studios in the Oklahoma area. In 2000 I moved on to work for a upscale studio in Prairie Village, Kansas. I stayed with VanDeusen Photography working as the Portrait Director/ Studio Photographer until late 2005.
I had decided I wanted to focus on my goals and my family more, so I took a few jobs closer to home. I worked for Olan Mills a little more and Jay Carey Photography in Leavenworth, Kansas. In 2008 finally I got my own professional equipment. I now have 13 years experience as a passionate professional photographer. I love my job and am so excited to finally be doing it on my own.
People always ask me what my favorite subject is. I believe it is generally people that are themselves in front of the camera. Children most always are not afraid to do so. So, most of the time I would say children are my favorite. They also give me a chance to play and be a kid myself.
"Pretending to be someone your not is a waste of the person you are." -Kurt Cobain
Im a wife and a mother of two beautiful children with another one on the way. I’m an Artist by any means possible, as well as a part time waitress & bartender. I love life and try to live it with no regrets because life is to short to worry. My friends and family are very supportive of my goals and my art. They give me strength to keep pushing myself to do bigger and better things.
Based in Leavenworth Kansas, Shae Koonce Photography is available for work in the Kansas City/Leavenworth area.. All images are created on location. Before each sitting the client and I exchange ideas to determine how to create exactly the portrait they need. The location is determined by what I "see" in the client as well as what they're wanting. I believe it is very important to always be yourself, and I love working with interesting people that inspire me. I try to get to know my clients, so that each image reflects the unique personality of the subject in the photo. A portrait should not just show a persons face against another background, but should tell that persons story. I strive to make each image that I create tell a story. I never rush a session and over booking is not my style. Whether its recorded in a contemporary, classic, photojournalistic or an artistic style... each moment captured in time by Shae Koonce Photography will be captured with patience, for magical moments can not be rushed they just happen.
It is far to easy to make your own prints these days. I believe in this time and age that copyright laws are a joke. Each image purchased from Shae Koonce Photography comes with a copyright release, giving my clients the option of ordering images through me or making their own. I charge for my creativity and keep my print prices low because I want to make money for being an artist not being a lab.
TESTIMONIALS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shae Koonce,
Thanks for the wonderful pics that you have done for me, and to put them on disk also made it that much easier for me to share them with my family. There are not many Photographers that would do the type of shoots you have open mindedly done for me, the color and the Classic black and white. Thanks for mixing up the two styles, and also thanks for Personally hand making a poster I still to this day have it hanging up (the evolution of goth.) -Raife Knight
"The shoot was fun and very professional, I've never done this kind of thing before so I didn’t know what to expect. The pictures I got back when all was said and done were amazing and I'm proud to have had Shae do them then anyone else." -Eric
Thank you Shae! My photo shoot was more than I imagined. I still can't believe we were able toget all the shots I wanted. Thank you for being so professional and I still had a lot of fun. The images came out fantastic. I have never felt so beautiful thanks to your skill and talent. I can't thank you enough. My family and I will treasure these pictures forever. -Angela Drake
I had so much fun taking photos thanks to Shae. She is an amazing photographer. I was worried about her taking over my bright colorful style and making the shoot all about what she wanted, but I was SO wrong. She had an amazing way of combining my style and the surroundings with her artistic abilities, and she has A LOT of artistic abilities, no doubt about that. Everyone enjoyed the photos she took of me and I loved them myself (which doesn't happen often). I even enlarged a few and gave them to my mom and dad to put on their desks at work. That way they could see how there baby had grown up. I couldn't imagine having my photos turn out better than how Shae did them with her editing and effects, it all came together perfectly. Thanks again Shae! -Becky
Shae,
Thank you so much for doing my pictures. They are exactly what I was hoping for. They are perfect. Not to mention the shoot. I had so much fun going on location instead of sitting in a boring studio. I will definitely be calling you for any future photo needs.
Thanks again,
Jen
Shae Koonce offers the following services:
Shae Koonce Photography
Leavenworth, KS
