Raven Shutley

Owner/Photographer

My name is Raven Shutley and I'm the owner of and photographer at Raven Shutley Studios, a wedding and portrait photography business based just north of Atlanta. As someone who is actively on a mission to change and improve the wedding industry for marginalized people, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, I was excited to recently come across Inclusive AF and was impressed by your dedication to your dedication to diversity, equity, & inclusion and how real and authentic you and your conversations are.

My journey at Raven Shutley Studios involves coming into an unwelcoming industry as a young woman and immediately recognizing that it needed to change. At this point, I've been a professional photographer in the Atlanta area for over 16 years and have photographed hundreds of couples for their engagement sessions and weddings.

I've been a guest on podcasts such as Ash Said It and Burn the Boats, on which we discussed my time in the industry, how I've watched it improve and how I'm actively working every day to improve it even more for couples and people who are overlooked in the wedding industry.

My clients often make comments about how they were surprised how much fun they had while shooting with me and how family photos at the wedding were so fast and easy. And, most importantly to me, how they were worried about photography as a plus-size person / queer person / person of color and how I made everything comfortable, natural, and how they felt beautiful and authentically seen & represented.

My clients know me for my supportive and calming demeanor and my corny jokes, but they also know I refuse to compromise when it comes to connection, inclusivity, and advocacy.

As someone who has always felt camera-shy, I flip the script and create an experience people will actually enjoy, even - or especially - if they're someone who doesn't like having their photo taken. The key to feeling comfortable in front of the camera is feeling like you have an ally on the other side, so I take the time to get to know my couples and their unique love story.

I was born and raised around Atlanta, and now I live with my partner and our cat just west of Athens. I love being halfway between the mountains and the city so I can easily get to either, and I love exploring new locations, especially if I get to photograph it.

When not photographing, I love backpacking, traveling to different Renaissance Faires, lifting weights, reading, traveling, and learning. I'm on a constant journey to improve and learn and grow any chance I get. I want to understand myself and the world and people around me.