About Me
Hi, I’m Shannon (she/her)! I love observing people, preserving sweet moments in time, and making people feel like their best selves, so photography has always felt like second nature. I’m mostly self-taught, and I asked for my first camera (a v-cam now camcorder) when I turned 11. I’ve been documenting our family vacations since middle school, and I became more serious about portrait photography in college. I took a photography class in college that allowed me to learn more about composition and the technical side of photography. While it’s hard for an artist to monetize their art, I’ve been asked more and more to photograph people in my community, so I decided to start Shannon Mahedy Portraits. Not sure where it’ll go, but it’s been a blast so far!
Some more about me…
I grew up on the Jersey Shore, but I’ve spent the past ten years in the Minnesotan tundra. Minneapolis has become a second home to me, and I’ve fallen in love with its thriving arts scene, progressive political climate, and culturally-diverse residents. I’m constantly inspired by the community organizing and resilience of BIPOC in the Twin Cities.
I moved to Minnesota to attend Macalester College in 2013 and graduated in 2017 with a degree in International Studies, Hispanic Studies, and Human Rights. My post-undergrad path has been a winding road, and I’ve explored a variety of fields. After graduating from college, I worked for CohenTaylor Executive Search Services as their Project Coordinator. I then spent time in Los Angeles completing a service year through Good Shepherd Volunteers. While in LA, I held a Case Manager/GED Tutor role at a domestic violence shelter called Good Shepherd Shelter. I came back to Minneapolis and spent almost three years as a Community-Based Client Coordinator at the Associated Clinic of Psychology. I then worked at the Sexual Violence Center as their Outreach Advocate for about 15 months. I’m currently the Communications Coordinator at Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry.
My mom has been a flight attendant for over 40 years, so I have flight benefits (aka free flights). I’m really lucky, I know! I’ve been fortunate enough to visit around 25 countries, my favorites being Argentina, Iceland, Bali, and Egypt. I spent the fall semester of my junior year of college studying Human Rights in Buenos Aires. I then returned to South America to spend a month working as a receptionist at a hostel in Santiago. South America holds a special place in my heart.
When I’m not working, I enjoy watching films, trying new restaurants, making art (painting and print-making are my fave mediums), going to museums, decorating my home, participating in local social justice movements, thrifting, and taking dance classes.