Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanty Kinney.
Hi Shanty, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Brazil, and my story has always been connected to two things I love deeply: music and photography.
I started singing when I was very young, mostly in church, and when I was 10 years old I got my first guitar. Music was a huge part of my life growing up, but around that same age, photography found me in a way I never forgot.
I went to a friend’s birthday party, and her family had a professional camera. I remember picking it up and taking pictures during the party, and something about it just clicked for me. I loved the feeling of noticing little moments, people laughing, details that maybe no one else was paying attention to, and being able to freeze them forever.
Not long after that, I went to a Bible camp where they had a photography competition. My group entered, and we won. I still remember how special that felt, because it was the first time I thought, “Maybe I’m actually good at this.”
When I turned 15, I got my first professional camera as a birthday gift, and that changed everything. I started photographing friends and family, and little by little, people started paying me for sessions. I saved everything I made, sold that camera, bought a better one, and kept investing back into photography. I was young, but I was serious about it.
By 16, I photographed my first wedding. Looking back, that was such a big moment for me. It was scary, exciting, and beautiful all at the same time. I realized that photography was not just about taking pretty pictures — it was about being trusted with memories people would carry for the rest of their lives.
After I graduated high school, I stayed in Brazil and worked as a photographer for a couple years. I photographed families, couples, newborns and whatever opportunities came my way. That season taught me so much about working with people, running a business, and believing in myself.
Then in 2018, another dream opened up. I started working for Celebrity Cruises as a solo musician. I got to perform, travel the world, and visit more than 40 countries. It was one of the most incredible chapters of my life. Being around so many cultures, languages, people, and stories changed me. It made me more confident, more open, and more connected to people — and I think that shaped the way I photograph today too.
When the pandemic happened, everything changed. I came to the United States to visit a friend, and during that unexpected season, I ended up meeting the man who is now my husband. Life completely shifted again.
After we got married, I picked my camera back up and returned to photography. And honestly, it felt like coming home. Even after all the traveling, all the music, all the different seasons of life, photography was still there waiting for me.
Today, I’m a lifestyle and wedding photographer, and what I love most is telling real stories. I love the emotional, honest, in-between moments — the ones that show who people really are. Looking back, photography has followed me since I was 10 years old, and it has grown with me through every chapter of my life. It started as curiosity, became a dream, turned into a business, and today it’s one of the biggest parts of who I am.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. Like most people pursuing a creative career, I’ve had plenty of ups and downs.
One of the biggest challenges was simply learning as I went. I started so young, and there wasn’t a roadmap. Every experience, every mistake, and every client taught me something new.
Then life took me in a completely different direction when I started working on cruise ships as a musician. It was an incredible opportunity, but it also meant putting photography on hold for a few years.
When I eventually moved to the United States, I was essentially starting over. Back home, people knew me, my work, and could recommend me. Here, nobody knew who I was. I had to build everything from scratch in a market with so many incredibly talented and well-established photographers.
That has definitely been the biggest challenge – earning trust, finding my place, and growing in such a competitive industry. There have been moments where I’ve questioned myself, but I’ve also learned that success doesn’t happen overnight.
Today, I feel like I’m slowly finding my place and attracting the clients who truly connect with my style and the experience I want to create. That’s been really rewarding, because it’s no longer about trying to be like everyone else, it’s about building something that feels authentic to who I am.
Looking back, every challenge has made me a better photographer and a better business owner. I wouldn’t say the road has been easy, but I think it’s those experiences that have shaped the way I connect with people and tell their stories today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a lifestyle and storytelling photographer, and my work is centered around capturing genuine connection, real emotion, and the little moments that often become the most meaningful memories.
I specialize in families, couples, motherhood, maternity, and, more recently, I’ve been stepping back into weddings, something that has always been close to my heart. As I’ve made that transition, I’ve had the opportunity to second shoot alongside incredibly talented wedding photographers. It’s been an amazing experience to learn from other professionals, observe different approaches, and continue refining my skills while capturing beautiful wedding days.
What I love most is capturing moments that feel honest — the little in-between things, the way a child reaches for their mom, the way a couple laughs when they forget I’m there, the quiet emotional moments that may not look “perfectly posed” but feel completely real.
I think what I’m most known for is creating a relaxed experience. I don’t want people to feel like they have to perform for the camera. A lot of my clients come to me saying they feel awkward or they don’t know how to pose, and I love helping them feel comfortable, guided, and still like themselves.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve been able to build a business around something that feels so personal to me. Photography is not just about pretty images for me, it’s about preserving chapters of people’s lives. Especially now as a mom of two precious boys, I understand even more how fast everything changes. The little hands, the messy hair, the way your babies fit in your arms. Those things feel ordinary in the moment, but one day they become everything.
I think what sets me apart is the way I see people. I’m not only focused on making something beautiful, but on making something meaningful. I bring my own story, my background, my sensitivity, and my love for real emotion into every session. I want my clients to look at their photos and not just think, “We look good,” but also, “This feels like us.”
At the end of the day, that’s what I’m most proud of: creating images that feel honest, emotional, and timeless, and giving people memories they can hold onto for the rest of their lives.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that surprises a lot of people is that before focusing on photography full-time, I worked as a solo musician for Celebrity Cruises.
I spent several years performing onboard cruise ships and had the opportunity to visit more than 40 countries. It was such a unique experience that taught me how to connect with people from all different backgrounds and cultures.
I honestly think that experience shaped me as a photographer. Traveling the world helped me become more observant, more adaptable, and more appreciative of different people and their stories. It taught me to notice the little moments that make each person unique, and I think that’s something I naturally bring into every session today.
Most people know me as a photographer, but music was actually my first creative love, and it’s still a huge part of who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shantyquatrina.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantyquatrinaphotography?igsh=MWhzdnQyanJxeTdyMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18orP1HtxK/?mibextid=wwXIfr
