Shanette
the heart and hands behind the camera.
Hi, I'm Shanette.
I'm a Colorado wedding and portrait photographer based in Bailey, serving the Colorado mountains, Denver Metro, and wherever your story takes us.
I believe the best photographs are the ones that make you feel something. Whether you're exchanging vows on a mountaintop, celebrating with everyone you love, or chasing golden hour with your family, my goal is to preserve more than beautiful images—I'm here to capture the emotions, connections, and fleeting moments that become your favorite memories.
My approach is calm, intentional, and deeply personal. I'm more than your photographer—I'm your timeline helper, dress fluffer, boutonniere fixer, family organizer, extra set of eyes, and biggest hype woman. I'll guide you when you need direction, step back when the moment deserves to unfold naturally, and make sure you can stay fully present while I quietly document your story as it unfolds.
When you work with me, you're not just investing in beautiful photographs. You're investing in an experience that allows you to be fully present while knowing the moments that matter most are being preserved with care.
Why I Photograph
the Way I Do
The reason I became a photographer started long before I ever photographed a wedding.
When my daughter, Sloane, was born, she went into respiratory failure and was admitted to the NICU. We didn't know how long we would have with her. In those early days, my camera became more than a camera—it became a way to hold onto moments that felt impossibly precious.
I photographed everything.
The tiny wisps of hair on the back of her arms. The delicate folds of her eyelids. Her tiny fingers wrapped around mine. Every little detail I was afraid I might someday forget.
As the months passed, I made it my mission to photograph her every single month until her first birthday—a milestone we weren't sure she'd reach. I styled little sessions, documented everyday life, and captured every smile, every milestone, and every ordinary moment in between.
As a single mom for the next decade, I never took time for granted. My camera—or later, my iPhone—was always within reach because I knew just how quickly life could change, and I never wanted to miss the moments that mattered.
Today, at sixteen years old, Sloane still instinctively strikes a pose whenever she sees a camera. Photography has been woven into the fabric of our family for her entire life.
That experience forever changed the way I see the world.
It taught me that the photographs people treasure most are rarely the perfectly posed ones. They're the windblown veil just before the ceremony begins. The way your dad squeezes your hand before walking you down the aisle. Your grandmother wiping away a quiet tear. The laughter that erupts when everything doesn't go according to plan. The way your partner looks at you when they think no one else is watching.
Those are the moments that tell the real story.
That's also the inspiration behind my Crowned Bride Journey. It isn't just about documenting your wedding day—it's about preserving the anticipation, the planning, the quiet milestones, and the once-in-a-lifetime moments that lead you there. Because your story doesn't begin when you walk down the aisle, and I don't believe your photographs should either.
When you step in front of my camera, you're never expected to know exactly what to do. I'll gently guide you when you need direction and step back when the moment deserves to unfold naturally. My goal is to create a space where you can simply be present with the people you love while I preserve the moments you'll never get back.
Because years from now, I don't just want you to remember what your wedding looked like.
I want you to remember what it felt like.
The joy.
The anticipation.
The happy tears.
The overwhelming love.
Those are the moments worth remembering.
Those are the moments I'll never stop chasing.
Let’s Tell Your Story
