Life & Work with Austyn Schaffner of Las Vegas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Austyn Schaffner.

Hi Austyn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a passion for photography and storytelling, but for a long time I never truly believed it was something I could realistically turn into a career. Like a lot of people, I treated it as more of a dream than something I could actually pursue full-time. I loved creating, capturing emotion, and documenting real moments, but fear and uncertainty held me back for a while.

Eventually, though, my passion became greater than my fear. I realized I would rather take the risk of chasing something I genuinely loved than spend years wondering “what if.” That led me to take one of the biggest leaps of my life, quitting my full-time job and fully investing myself into building Schaffner’s Captures.

What started small slowly grew through word of mouth, social media, and putting everything I had into improving creatively and giving people an experience they’d actually remember. Over time, Schaffner’s Captures evolved into more than just photography. It became about storytelling, emotion, and capturing moments in a way that feels real and personal.

Today, I’m incredibly grateful to be doing something I truly love alongside my wife, constantly growing, learning, and meeting amazing people through this business. We’ve expanded into weddings, couples, maternity, newborns, sports portraits, events, and video work, and it’s exciting to see how far something that once felt impossible has come.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, definitely not. Starting your own business comes with a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially when you have a family depending on you. One of the biggest struggles for me was walking away from the security of a full-time 9–5 job and taking a chance on something that wasn’t guaranteed. There were times I questioned whether I should stop and go back to a more stable path.

Another big struggle was confidence in myself and my work. Early on, I constantly questioned the photos and videos I was creating and whether what I was delivering to clients was actually good enough. I think a lot of creatives deal with that self-doubt. Over time, though, I learned that growth comes from continuing to create even when you’re unsure of yourself, and every challenge helped me grow both creatively and personally.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the owner of Schaffner’s Captures, where I specialize in photography and cinematic video with a big focus on storytelling and genuine emotion. I photograph everything from weddings, couples, maternity, and newborn sessions to sports portraits, events, and commercial work. No matter the session, my goal is always to create something that feels real and personal instead of overly posed or forced.

I’d say we’re most known for creating an experience where people feel comfortable being themselves. A lot of our clients tell me they were nervous in front of the camera at first, but by the end of the session it felt natural and fun. I really focus on capturing authentic moments and emotions rather than just perfectly posed photos.

What I’m most proud of is honestly how far Schaffner’s Captures has come from just being an idea I was scared to pursue. Building something from the ground up, taking the leap to do it full-time, and seeing people trust me to capture some of the biggest moments of their lives is something I’ll never take for granted.

I think what sets me apart is the personal connection I build with clients and the passion I put into every shoot. I truly care about the people I work with, and I think that shows in the final product.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t wait until you feel fully ready or confident to go after something. If I had done that, I probably never would’ve started Schaffner’s Captures.

I’ve also learned not to compare myself so much to other photographers and creatives. Early on, I doubted my work a lot, but over time I realized the most important thing is continuing to grow and creating work that feels true to me.

More than anything, I’ve learned that consistency matters. There are always going to be hard moments and self-doubt, but continuing to show up and keep creating is what makes the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.schaffnerscaptures.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schaffnerscaptures/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schaffnerscaptures/