Meet Shannon Henley-Hernandez of Jacob’s Ladder Photography in Ellenwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Henley-Hernandez.

Shannon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a child, I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I never really had an answer. I knew I wanted to be a wife and a momma but as far as a job I was clueless. As a child I loved cameras. I had mini polaroid cameras and was given a 35mm film camera with a removable flash and tripod. It made me feel like a professional. During high school, I kept disposable cameras constantly and still to this day have a huge bag of film that never got developed. I have huge boxes of photos from my teenage years.

Every time me and my friends were together we hung bed sheets on the wall and had photo shoots that lasted hours. I definitely had an obsession of taking pictures. I still find pictures of random stuff that I had taken pictures of. Concrete on a road and even bookshelves in my room. I captured everything.

After high school, I never went to college because I still didn’t know what l wanted to be. I’d do small photoshoots for my friend’s kids and never once thought about being a photographer. After I moved to Georgia and got married I decided to go back to school for business management. I still didn’t know what I wanted to be but I was sure if find a job with that degree. After my son was born I tried to do cute stuff with his pictures because I didn’t want to get a photographer and some friends talked me into making a Facebook page and just trying. I began getting a few clients and got a little better.

I went from my point and shoot camera to my first DSLR. It was a Nikon d3200. I was in love. One day in my business class, my professor was giving us a lecture. He told us that your life is broken into 3 parts. You sleep one part. You work one part. You have fun one part. So why not do something that is fun so you can have fun 2 parts of your life. If you could do something for free all day that is what you should do in a career. I knew immediately what I wanted to do. After my whole life of not knowing.

At that instant, I knew I wanted to be a photographer. After I graduated with my business management degree I went straight into my degree for photography. I am amazed at how much I have grown. I have so much more learning to do and I cannot wait to do it. I love what I do. It is such a passion and I am so glad I found what my calling was. Now that I look back I wonder how did I not see the signs. I wanted to be a photographer when I grew up.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think that it is ever easy to start a business. I think my main challenge was starting a business away from home. I am from Alabama and I don’t know anyone here so trying to gain clients without word of mouth from friends is very hard. I also had to finish school while being a mom and wife and trying to have money to get the equipment I needed.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jacob’s Ladder Photography – what should we know?
I specialize in babies, children, and family. I have done a few small events but I mostly prefer to stick to what I am best at.

I believe that I am most proud that I have actually accomplished what I have. I am very proud that I am steadily getting better and growing.

I think that being very openminded and patient really sets me apart from others. I never put a time on a photography session. I don’t believe you can really rush good photography. I also have such creative mind and that helps a lot when creating the perfect session for my clients. I never leave a session without both my client and myself being satisfied.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh man. God! My son, Jacob, and my husband. I wish I could literally sit and list all my colleagues. They have all been a major part of my career helping me and pushing me to where I am at. Most definitely Rob Williams and Paula Cooper.