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This week’s Pinup Pole Show Pinup of the Week is none other than Marylin Monroe incarnate herself, Heather Lou, posing with Joshua Hernandez’s 1952 Chrysler Ute, photographed by Shane Karns at Tonya Kay’s Pinup Pole Show.
Shane Karns is a Pinup Pole Show favorite. We’ve been there with him as he transformed from hobby photographer to career photographer and it’s a pure delight for us to say, “we shot with him first!" Today we get to speak with Shane about his growth and journey.
TONYA KAY: What drew you to photography as a career?
SHANE KARNS: First, I never thought it would ever be a full time career. I was thrilled the first time I received a few bucks as a 'thank you.' I shot all the time, everywhere, for everybody and for free. At some point people just started to give money as a way of saying thanks for what I was doing, which led me to better equipment and only encouraged me to continue my journey down the rabbit hole of learning the craft.
From there, friends and strangers started asking what I would charge to shoot different things... So I started charging small amounts, and at some point charging not only paid for my equipment but begin to contribute to my everyday living expenses. However, even at that point I was sure it was a fluke weather pattern that would "blow over" and I didn't even think about it being a career.
It was close friends and family that all began to push me to consider letting go of my 'real job' as a successful 10+ year real estate agent and to pursue photography full time. Without that push I wouldn't have done it. I'm a husband and a father of two little girls (now 7 and 9) and I knew I couldn't just decide to be an artist without there being decent paid gigs involved. Not to say it's all about the money, as I'd shoot and edit all day for free because I love it so much, but for my girls and our future I know the time I spend 'working' has to have some monetary value.
