Meet your photographer
Hey, I'm Shelby!
Seven years ago, I kept seeing couples rushing through shot lists and families bribing kids into perfect poses, missing the real moments in between. So I started doing it differently: slowing down, creating space, and letting the meaningful moments happen. I'm a bicoastal photographer in Raleigh and Sacramento, and I show up curious, intentional, and committed to images that feel like you. Let's make some beautiful imagery!
Your day shouldn't feel like a photoshoot.
The most beautiful photos of you happen when you're being yourself. That's the work I want to make with you.
Help me get to know you.
Tell me the full story. The small stuff is usually the best part.
Be on the lookout for an email from me within 2-3 business days. If you don't hear from me, feel free to resubmit your form or email me at hello@shelbyspencerphotography.com
We had the absolute pleasure of working with Shelby Spencer for our wedding weekend, and words can’t fully express how grateful we are. From the start of field day, to the end of the night at our wedding, she made us feel completely comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Her kind and calming presence was exactly what we needed on such an emotional and fast-paced day.
She has an incredible eye for detail and an unmatched ability to capture the most meaningful, candid moments — the ones that truly reflect the love, laughter, and joy we felt. Looking through our photos brings us right back to each moment in the most beautiful way. Every image tells a story and feels so uniquely “us.”
Not only is she an exceptionally talented photographer, but she is also a genuinely wonderful person to work with — patient, thoughtful, and passionate about what she does. We are so lucky to have had her document our day and could not recommend her more highly!
Alexis D.
We have been working with Shelby for almost four years now! She has such a gift for capturing genuine moments and all those little in-between expressions perfectly. Her photos feel entirely natural and effortless, and she makes the whole experience so easy. She is incredible with kids, too. It’s easy to feel awkward when having “staged” photos taken, but we always feel so comfortable with her and, quite frankly, never feel posed.
Beyond documenting your family so beautifully, Shelby takes the time beforehand to send a mood board and creative direction tailored to the style and feel you’re going for. It’s always so helpful and makes me feel prepared going into the session. We absolutely love working with her!!!
Ally P.
Stop your scrolling! If you’re looking for a wedding photographer you’ve found her! Having our wedding photographed by Shelby truly ended up becoming a dream come true. There are SO many options when it comes to who to hire as your wedding photographer and the minute I got in touch with Shelby I knew I didnt need to keep searching. She was so easy to talk to and keep in touch with. Over the course of about 9 months she was by far the easiest vendor I worked with! One our wedding day, she was on time and directed everyone so seamlessly. We got our photos back within the timeline we had previously discussed and the quality was unreal! I would HIGHLY recommend Shelby if you’re like me - someone who prefers candid photos and photos that feel like a natural documentation of your special weekend. I have received nothing but constant compliments on our photos since our wedding a few months ago. Love her!
K.Space
We had the absolute pleasure of working with Shelby Spencer for our wedding weekend, and words can’t fully express how grateful we are. From the start of field day, to the end of the night at our wedding, she made us feel completely comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Her kind and calming presence was exactly what we needed on such an emotional and fast-paced day.
Shelby and her team did an absolutely amazing job photographing our wedding. My husband and I are not the type to love picture taking or being in front of a camera and she made us feel super comfortable. During the ceremony and reception, you would not have even known she was there but the photos of both turned out perfect. I cannot recommend Shelby enough!
Not only is she an exceptionally talented photographer, but she is also a genuinely wonderful person to work with — patient, thoughtful, and passionate about what she does. We are so lucky to have had her document our day and could not recommend her more highly!
Kirsten G.
Shelby is phenomenal! My husband and I are not comfortable around the camera and usually tense up when cameras are pointed at us, but Shelby is extremely intuitive and knew what direction we needed. Our photos are organic and not posed. She did a beautiful job of capturing the essence of our wedding and went as far as taking beautiful family photos of our friends and their children. My guests even commented on how amazing and kind she was at the wedding. She knew exactly what she was doing and I could not have asked for anyone better. She is also just a kind and genuine person. I would (and do) recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer and I’m so thankful I picked her! I will cherish the memories and photos for the rest of my life.
Bridget K.
Shelby is wildly talented. She made the entire experience feel effortless from start to finish and was an absolute joy to work with. As someone who doesn’t love having their photo taken, I especially appreciated how relaxed and comfortable she made me feel during the shoot. Communication was clear and seamless throughout. She delivered a sneak peek and final gallery exactly within the promised timeline, and her pricing felt like an incredible value for the quality of work. I can’t recommend her enough.
Amanda N.
Shelby is the best! We immediately fell in love with her portfolio and knew instantly her style is how we wanted to document our wedding. Shelby shot our wedding solo and captured it from every angle that she must also be a part time ninja. She is also extremely nice and accommodated every request we could possible throw at her. Do yourself a favor hire Shelby Spencer for whatever you need photographed, you will love the results.
Jodi S.
The entire process of working with Shelby was fantastic. She answered all of my questions in a timely, thorough fashion. She walked me through her artistic process/what our shoot would look like, while also helping create a shared vision for what we wanted out of our photos.
The day of the shoot, Shelby was so enthusiastic and patient with our 2 year old. The shoot never felt awkward or forced. The images that she sent us were absolutely perfect. She captured us in our true nature and I’ll treasure these images for the rest of my life.
Laura C.
