Meet Shelly Pate Photography, an award-winning photographer in Washington, DC!

Three years ago, Shelly Pate, a talented photographer who relocated to the area from the South, founded Shelly Pate Photography in Washington, DC! We just love her! Not only is she an incredibly lovely person, but she’s insanely creative and a brilliant photographer

Shelly Pate Photography focuses on wedding, couples, boudoir, and maternity photography. She has the ability to capture the moment in such a surprising, special, and genuine way – you can just feel the love and understand the couples’ relationships when you look at each of her photographs. It’s truly wonderful.

Why did you decide to start your own company?

I simply wanted to be HAPPY! My goal in life as always been to spend my days doing something that I loved, something creative with new twists and turns everyday. I actually have a fine arts painting background studied photography here along the way. I always enjoyed the art art and finally had that “sun beams down in epiphany” moment after being a second photographer at a wedding!

I fell in love with documenting this special day full of tiny magical little a moments in two people’s unique story

Do you have a favorite part of what you do?

Witnessing and documenting stories a gift. One of my absolute favorite parts though is getting to know my couples. We start off as strangers but, holy cow, we become so close along the way! I have made so many life-long friends that started off as clients.

What is your favorite part about what you do?

Documenting best friends in love & getting to meet some pretty freakin’ awesome people!!

Do you have a favorite story related that you’d like to share?

Of course! So, one wedding I had last fall was at a gorgeous vineyard in Virginia. The morning had been a little rainy but then the sun came out (yay!)

So I took the couples’ first look, bride and groom photos, and the wedding party photos before the ceremony and everything was going great. Right before the ceremony (outdoor) was suppose to begin the sky started to get a little darker… but it was also close to sunset, so no worries right?

Well, like halfway through the ceremony the bottom just completely dropped out of the sky and it started PPOUUURRRIINGG

The venue staff was so great and rushed to get the wedding party umbrellas and even held an umbrella over me. Everyone was soaked but it was like THE BEST thing. The bride and groom were just having a grand time and those surprise rain ceremony shots are some of my absolute favorite photos I’ve ever taken. So rain on your wedding day = win in my book!

Shelly Pate Photography has a brand spanking new website! Be sure to swing on by!

Is there anything you’d like our readers to know about you personally?

I could not live without coffee or tacos… like there are almost always tacos. I’m originally from Georgia and relocated to DC with my husband Patrick from Savannah (if you have never been, it is definitely a must visit town!)

We have a giant “puppy” named Moose who is the center of our lives… and definitely knows it. Harry Potter is my favorite book series – I even have a tiny tattoo = )