We were lucky to catch up with Shannon Griffin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Shannon, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Rob Walker writes, “Being creative — whether you are an artist, designer, writer, entrepreneur, or engaged in work or play that falls anywhere on the spectrum between those ideas — begins with noticing what others have overlooked. Whether that entails spotting problems that need to be fixed, underrated phenomena that should be celebrated, or hidden-in-plain-sight mysteries that demand explanation, it means tuning out distraction and engaging with the world.”
My favorite part of what he wrote was, “Being creative begins with noticing what others have overlooked.”
When I became a mother I felt incredibly overlooked and isolated. My entire pregnancy was spent being fawned over, making sure I was okay, doctors checking on me, etc. After I had my daughter it was no longer about my health, my needs, my wants, or my mental health. Even women who aren’t mothers are often overlooked and the ones who take care of everyone else in their lives.
My promise with each woman I photograph is that I’m going to bring them into the light. There is no more hiding. There is no more telling yourself that your family comes first and you’ll stay in the shadows.
Is it uncomfortable? ABSOLUTELY!
Is it necessary for growth? YES!
The purpose of my art, my WHY, is to take women through a process where they begin to notice the beauty in themselves that THEY have overlooked. When you find that, you stop searching for it from others. Yes, we still want to be noticed and seen by those that you love, but you don’t NEED it when you find it for yourself.
So many of us are drawn to videos of people “noticing” because we walk around feeling incredibly invisible or perceived in ways we don’t want to be perceived. Boudoir, or “intimate portraits” are a way of taking that power back and taking up space.
Take up the space. You’re worth being noticed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I was asked if I’ve always been this confident and sure of myself and my business.
I thought about it and responded: “When I’m photographing a woman it’s the only place where my mind is quiet. I don’t think about anything else in my life. I don’t think about my child, my husband, laundry that needs to be done, bills that need to be paid, etc. My mind is quiet and it’s the only place in the world where I can truly let go. The women that I photograph have no idea how much they are therapy for me, so my ‘why’ is to give that therapy back to them through documentation and experience.”
What’s interesting is I was reflecting on it this morning and my why of starting boudoir was because I was in a marriage where I felt invisible and unwanted. I started photographing women to give them what I couldn’t get from myself or my marriage.
Now, it’s evolved into helping mothers feel seen, validated, and to find themselves in their new skin. My clients went from being in their 20’s, early 30’s to now being mid 30’s to 40’s.
It’s amazing to watch my why change. I also think it’s important to talk about my why in my messaging because just like back then, women who are going through what I’m currently going through (or similar) are finding me. We’re holding spaces for each other and building that trust so that we can create true art together.
Art has a way of healing and that’s been the common thread throughout my years of this work. While my reasons for being passionate about it might change and take new shape, my voice has always been for women.
We need places to go where we feel seen.
We need others to tell our stories so that we don’t get lost. We need gifts of silence in the day-to-day chaos.
We deserve pockets of refuge in this vast existence.
What about your passions in life? Has your why transformed over time?
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
-Passion
-Integrity
-Genuine care
Be yourself and the rest will follow. Yes, you have to work incredibly hard, but it doesn’t feel as hard when you’re passionate about what you do. Also, think outside the box. I truly care about the people I work with and if something isn’t working, we return to the drawing board. Art is about taking a risk and having your client trust in that process.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always looking for interior designers who love art and work with clients who do, as well.
I sell fine art prints (custom sized) that are beautiful large and installed in client’s homes. I also can be commissioned, so it’s amazing to have a designer with a client who has a vision and wants to create art of themselves for one of their homes.
You can read my story about being a palm beach boudoir photographer, and check out other amazing business owners, HERE.