After turning 18, I found myself in the heart of Colorado. Wide-eyed, curious, and searching for something that felt like me. It was there, nestled between the mountains and moments of stillness, between heartbreak and unlearning myself that I slowly uncovered my passion for art. It didn’t happen all at once. It was a slow burn. One that taught me how to see the world with more wonder, more tenderness, and more intention. Photography wasn’t just something I picked up—it was something that picked me. What started as a creative outlet, a quiet form of self-expression, soon became a compass for my entire life. A way of noticing. A way of remembering. A way of honoring life’s fragile beauty. 

 

In 2018, I graduated from Metro State University with a Bachelor's in Art Education, concentrating in Photography. My time in the arts and education program grounded me. It deepened my love for life and connection. It taught me patience, gave me purpose, shaped and humbled me. It sparked curiosity where there had once been fear and expanded my compassion in ways I’ll never forget. Most of all, it immersed me in a creative community where I felt seen for the first time. After spending nearly a decade growing in both my home state of Nebraska and the rugged beauty of western Colorado, I felt something stirring. A nudge to leap, to trust, to begin again. In February 2023, I packed my car, said a quiet goodbye to comfort, and embraced a new chapter. I now call Arizona home. Today, Shelby Borer Photography is more than a business. It’s a heartbeat. A ministry of memory. A love letter to all the lives, stories, and souls that have come into my frame. And like me, it continues to evolve. 

To learn more about my photography style and story, click here.