Natalie Rae ShaeferSouthwest Michigan PhotographerHi there! My name is Natalie Shaefer, and I was born in 1993 in the small southwestern Michigan town of Paw Paw. I fell in love with creating at a very young age, beginning with weekend mornings when my dad would make pancakes and I would sit at the kitchen table with my box of 64 Crayola crayons and a stack of paper. In late middle school I got my first digital camera, a tiny little Kodak EasyShare with 3 megapixels, and though it may have taken poor quality photos, it was the jumpstart to my interest in photography.
After high school, I pursued my higher education at Central Michigan University, and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts*. I currently work part time as a science educator at the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Portage, Michigan. At this time, I am strictly a natural light photographer. Therefore, I photograph mainly outdoors, using light that is available. I have several years of experience photographing seniors, couples, families, and small weddings. From time to time, I like to take a break from structured sessions and let my creativity run wild in more stylized, creative shoots, where I can incorporate costumes, make-up, and fictional characters or non-fictional topics. I also like to take a break from photographing humans entirely once and awhile, and instead focus my lens on the natural world. When I'm not behind the camera, I enjoy collaging, reading, writing, hiking, riding my bike, and spending time with my family. I am an unashamed cat lady, and I love pretty much any sweet treat. *Bachelor of Applied Arts in 2D Design, with a focus on photography and printmaking, in addition to a Museum Studies Minor and a Creative Writing Certificate. |