I received my first camera on my 9th birthday, and that’s when my photography journey began. I started by taking photographs of my baby brother. By the time he was a toddler, he became an excellent first model as I dressed him up, and practiced my makeup techniques. Thanks, little bro!

As I got older, my sister and I joined forces experimenting with hair + makeup, and posing for photos. A couple of young, emerging pre-teen artists dressing up for a fun day in front of the camera. My parents, however, were not impressed with our creative photography endeavors, just as they were not on board with my attempt at a homemade acne mask. This was before social media and the internet. I’m not sure how I came up with these ideas…

However, I discontinued practicing beauty and fashion photography at home after that, but I always felt safe exploring my creativity at my Grandma Alvina’s house during summer visits with my sister. Grandma always thought we were fabulous and loved to see us don her vintage attire consisting of animal print dresses, hats, high heels, purses, and costume jewelry galore. We would slip on her gorgeous dresses and feel transformed. Hello again backyard photoshoot!

Grandma took our photos and I made sure to develop the film before going home. I later learned that my grandmother was an award-winning photographer in her younger years.

It’s no surprise that I became a licensed esthetician and makeup artist in my 20’s all while still photographing friends and family for fun.
I opened a skin care salon and continued practicing photography.

At my little brother’s wedding, the same brother who inspired my love of photography, I was “discovered” by a professional wedding photographer. She noticed my ability to pose and see light and took me under her wing as a second shooter and mentor.

In a very short time, Shannon Stellmacher Photography began and I embarked on a 20-year career photographing weddings in California’s Napa Valley. I was enamored by the beauty, the glamour, and the emotion of the day. I loved creating beautiful portraits and being a part of such a special day while my clients looked and felt their best.

Weddings are a combination of reality and fantasy. I loved capturing both aspects but made a career of creating fashion-inspired images for my clients.

After 20 years of photographing weddings, I now specialize in portraits and beauty. This is how Stella Alvina Studios was created. The name was inspired by my Grandma Alvina who allowed me to be myself in front of the camera and behind it.

When you come into my studio, I want you to feel safe to be yourself, see your value, explore, and see yourself in new ways. There is no shame in feeling confident and having fun in front of the camera. I want you to be joyous when you see your images, and most importantly, I want you to feel fierce AF