Make It Minnesota

My Human Of The Wild

Make It Minnesota Magazine is a local publication. It is created to share the stories of makers and innovators that span the great northern state. As stated in the magazine, “They are here to build a timeless collection of tales from each region across the state of MN. They aim to strengthen and promote sustainable, beautiful, altruistic, unique, and creative communities.” 

This local publication teamed up with Ely Folk School for an Instagram contest. This contest was all about discovering the wild around us through portrait photography! The theme was: Humans of the Wild – A Portrait Contest. They encouraged all Minnesota photographers to get creative and share interesting portraits of people in the wild, exploring the connection between humans and nature.

Ely Folk School is based out of Ely, MN. Their mission is: “To build community by providing learning experiences that celebrate the wilderness heritage, art, history, culture, and craft of the people of northern Minnesota.”

I entered this contest by tagging the hashtag #MakeItMN_ElyFolkSchool on a few of my images. Within a few weeks I found out that I made it in to the top 20! {*YAY!*}

From there, the Top 10 entries would be chosen and published in the next Wild Issue of Make It Minnesota magazine, which released this past June 2017.

Last week I found out through this Instagram post by Make It Minnesota that my image was actually picked to be in the Top 10 and published in the current issue of the magazine!!

You can order your own copy HERE!!  Order a single copy of the Wild 2017 (Vol 2. No 3) for $7.95 or a 1 year subscription of the publication for $30.00 –these options are under “Order Options” 🙂

I ordered two copies, one for us and one for my parents 🙂 Our copies arrived today in the mail, so naturally we went out into the Wild to look at it 😉  Enjoy!

— FYI — that amazing image on the cover is by my Instagram friend, Jennifer @sageeimagery

http://makeitmn.com/

All of the Top 20 entries can be seen HERE. 

View all of the entries at the tag #MakeItMN_ElyFolkSchool on Instagram 🙂

Shannon OMalley

Hi — I’m Shannon O’Malley.

I’m a Minneapolis-based (soon-to-be Dallas, TX) photographer specializing in online dating profile photography, personal branding portraits, business headshots, and senior sessions. I work with people who want photos that feel natural, confident, and genuinely reflective of who they are — not stiff, overproduced, or performative.

My approach is rooted in natural light, ease, and emotional intelligence. I believe the best photos happen when people feel comfortable enough to be themselves — and seen enough to trust the process. Whether someone is stepping back into dating, refining their professional presence, or marking a meaningful season of life, my goal is always the same: to create images that feel honest and quietly powerful.

With over 15 years of experience behind the camera — and a journey that includes single motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a national CBS feature — I’ve seen firsthand how much impact the right photos can have. A strong image isn’t about vanity. It’s about clarity. It’s often the first impression that shapes how others perceive you — before you ever get the chance to explain yourself.

This blog is where I share insights on photography, visibility, confidence, and showing up with intention — both on and off camera.

When I’m not photographing clients, you’ll usually find me with my husband, my son, and our beautifully blended family — soaking up everyday life here in the Twin Cities (for now). We’ll be relocating to Dallas, Texas in 2026, where I’ll continue offering my signature photography experience for daters, creatives, and business owners throughout the DFW area.

If you’re here because you want photos that actually feel like you, you’re in the right place. I’m glad you found your way here.

www.shannonkathleenphotography.com