S H A N N O N.
- s o u l p u r p o s e
- Feb 2, 2020
- 4 min read
#PEOPLEWITHPURPOSE A series celebrating wonderful people, doing wonderful things.
Hi! Please introduce yourself ( name, where you are from and anything interesting about you).
Hi! My name is Shannon Ollinger. I’m twenty, from London, England. I’m currently studying photography at University Of the Arts London and enjoying every minute of putting all of my time into one subject that i’m passionate about. Living in London is a means for being inspired everyday. Looking at the surroundings, and people around you is THE biggest source of inspiration out there. You’ve just got to figure out what your eyes are drawn most towards.
2./ What is your p u r p o s e and how did you come to finding it, why you love it and how it makes you feel?
My ‘p u r p o s e’ would be, and probably always will be photography. It makes me happy, it makes me sad but most of all it gives me purpose and that's the most important thing you can look for in life. Something that frustrates you, but could never frustrate you enough to stop. It should be the one thing that you could never want to stop doing - And I don’t.
I have aims to travel alongside my camera. Taking pictures of people all around the globe, sharing people's stories that may otherwise never be heard. My plans include visiting war-torn countries as a war journalist (I'd like to spread a bit of positivity on those suffering), to shooting magazine editorials and behind the scenes of short films.
There's no aspect in photography that interests me more than learning about people and the way they behave in certain situations and express themselves.
A massive part of my photography is making others happy. I often say that if I do nothing more than leave an audience viewing my work feeling happy, then my work has done everything I have set out to achieve. There is enough negativity and evil in the world, and that’s why I do what I do. To make a difference in peoples lives. And hopefully giving them a reason to be happy if even for five minutes.
3./ Tell us about what you used to do before your found your 'p u r p o s e' , how that made you feel and why you knew it was time to change / If you are working your p u r p o s e as a side hussle tell us how you work that around your day job:
Before I found my p u r p o s e when I was 16, leaving secondary school and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life. I was in a bad place myself and I knew I wasn’t happy, and I allowed negativity to consume me. I wanted a clear direction and I wanted to do something that made me happy, and I knew I wasn’t meant for a 9-5 office job. So therefore I went around London taking pictures of strangers with my old Canon DSLR camera I’d received 5 years prior as a christmas present from my Dad, and that's when it all clicked into place - literally.
I took a three year college course after discovering my calling where I discovered I thrived most at coming up with sociological and political based photography series. I have a huge inerest in fashion / expressive style so started to combine the two. I’d look into the reasons why people dress the way they do, and whether the wealth of an area can influence how you dress. This project was the start of something fantastic, and I just didn’t realise how significant it would be.
4./ Tell us about your products/ services and what you offer.
I have previously offered modelling, acting and musical portfolios,on location and in a studio. I also pride myself in sport photography, specifically MMA and boxing. However, my specialty is working along-side a model and getting some truly unique imagery which is completely tailored to you and the energy you bring to me. I like to try and portray my models as authentically as possible as I think its extremely important to focus on the positives in life - such as natural beauty.
I will soon be offering a range of zines, and short films that will be available for purchase (which will fund my photography projects abroad after university) but that is a project to be developed on.
5./ What sets your soul on fire & what is your dream for your business for the future?
To share as many stories of people who have a specific energy about them. To touch as many peoples lives as possible, and to help as many people who need it. Life isn’t for being selfish, we’re all in this together. As long as you’re doing something that makes YOU happy, YOU may as well do your best to take the positivity you have and spread it so that as many people can be influenced by you as possible.
I want to learn from others, see how others live and how their cultures compare with mine.
My dream for my business is to just be recognised, stable and happy. But my one honest goal is to stand in any major city, and be able to look above me and see my photographs stretching across billboards and displays. Plastered all over times square, or Tokyo. Thats my goal. Otherwise, to just take pictures of people and make as many people happy while doing this.
6./ What is your website address/ social handles - How can people to find you?
INSTAGRAM IS THE BEST WAY TO VIEW WORK AND TO CONTACT ME:
My Website: (NOT AS FREQUENTLY UPDATED)
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