Hi, I’m SHELL SMITH.
I’m originally from Hudson, Quebec, where I grew up with two sisters and the very normal habit of kissing people hello on both cheeks. After going to university out East, I moved to Toronto, went back to school, and lived downtown for 12 years.
I’ve been a photographer for what feels like forever, but I’ve been shooting weddings full-time for the last 13 years, right around the time I met my husband and we moved to Norfolk County. We live in a house that’s always a project, and we have a daughter who keeps life interesting in the best possible way.
I photograph weddings in Toronto, Hamilton and London plus surrounding areas, mixing in a few destination weddings each year. Whether your day is in the city, the country, or somewhere in between, I’m in!
“Having Shelley as our photographer for our wedding was AWESOME! We knew from day one that Shelley was a perfect fit for our special day. My husband is pretty introverted and Shelley made it so easy for him to feel comfortable while taking photos. She brought a colleague along who was also soooo great!! Our whole wedding party loved them and they got along so well with our videographer. Everything just worked seamlessly. I highly recommend Shelley's photography as well as her customer service. If you're considering booking her, don't walk…run!!!”
-Amanda+Nick
WHY I DO THIS
I shoot weddings because I’m good at it and because after all my experience, I still find it creatively fulfilling. What’s kept me doing this full-time for over a decade isn’t just the pace of the work or the routine of it - it’s the challenge of documenting a day that moves fast and means a lot. It’s capturing moments people don’t even realize are happening, but that end up meaning everything.
Couples often tell me I’m calm, fun, and the least stressful part of their day. Honestly, that might be the biggest compliment of all. And when they get their gallery and say things like “I didn’t even know this moment happened”that’s when I know I’ve done my job right.
Every time I get that “You’re our photographer!” email, it’s an immediate elbow air jab and a shout to my husband “Lovey! I booked it!”
There are a lot of photographers out there, so when someone decides I’m the one they want to document their day, I don’t take it lightly.