Meet Holly Shoemaker | Photographer and Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Holly Shoemaker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Holly, what matters most to you?
Integrity. In the photography industry, the unfortunate reality is that there are a lot of people who are in it for the wrong reasons. I always strive to create a safe and inclusive creative space for everyone. It really hurts my heart when I hear from my models and clients that a photographer her betrayed the trust they put in us and makes what is supposed to be a very positive experience into something negative.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my journey as a photographer in 2008 while living in Missouri. I’ve always loved playing around with cameras, but saved up for some time in order to purchase my first DSLR in 2008. My first photoshoot was with my neighbor’s little girl, who was 3 years old at the time. After that, I knew that ultimately, photography was what I wanted to do for a living. It wasn’t until I moved to Phoenix in 2011 that I feel my journey really took off and I began to pursue photography full time. It’s absolutely not without it’s challenges, but the same can be said for any creative career path. There are days I feel like I can conquer the world and others where I feel like an utter failure. Photography is in large part an uphill battle, but it’s absolutely worth every second in my mind. If you want to make photography your career path, you have to be stubborn and driven and be ready and able to accept plenty of rejection. There will be just as many, if not more “nos” than there are “yeses” and that’s okay. You let yourself have a moment, then pick yourself up and go forward.

A lot of my creative process comes from what I call my goblin brain. It’s that part of your brain that waits until 3am when you’re struggling to sleep before dumping a random list of things. I try to write down or take notes about something that really pops out at me and store it away for the future.

I would say my two proudest moments in my career as a photographer have been my two big projects Sticks and Stones and Keep Your Hands Off My Body.

Sticks and Stones is a series that highlights the effect negative words can have on us. The series is two part, the first being a portrait where a person chooses a negative word they feel has impacted their lives in some way. Something that’s just stuck with them over the years. Then that word is painted all over their face, neck and chest. During the second part of the shoot a section where that negative word is painted, is wiped away and replaced with a positive word in red paint. In September 2021, I did an art exhibit at Alwun House in downtown Phoenix with a corresponding live show featuring a diverse cast of entertainer from around Arizona. The series had more than 75 participants and unbeknownst to me at the time, gained international attention. I didn’t find this out until more than a year later while at a convention in California when chatting with a group of young women from Ireland who had seen an article about the series. Then again earlier this year when I heard from people all over the world when the story reached Reddit. I feel like we can all connect with it in one way or another. We’ve all been called a hurtful or nasty word at some point in our lives and whether we like to admit it or not, words do hold power.

Keep Your Hands Off My Body was a series I created in June and July of 2022 and featured 27 AFAB (assigned female at birth) people from Arizona. It is a very raw black and white series that was created in response to the overturning of Roe v Wade. This was an important series to me, as someone who is female and would be affected by this ruling. To me, whether you agree with it or not, whether you would do it or not, you should be given the choice. This series gained quite a bit of attention locally and another exhibit at Alwun House was in order in November of 2022 with mostly positive, but also some negative feedback. Not everyone is going to agree with me and my personal viewpoint and that’s okay. I welcome open discussion. This project came down to the importance of choice.

I don’t think I’m any more special than any other creator out there. I just happen to be fortunate enough to have found where I fit in and am incredibly thankful for it. I have a client base that is incredibly diverse and overall amazing people to work with. We’ve laughed together, cried together, been angry together and shared in each others joy. I cannot wait to see what the future holds and I certainly have some plans for it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In a hypothetical situation where all the things were happening, I would start off with lunch at Tacos Jalisco on 68th St just north of Thomas or Taco Mich on McDowell and 16th St. Shopping at Rocket a Go Go in Tempe and definitely spending way too long at one or both of the Brass Armadillo locations. Catch a drag show at Kolbalt, probably either The Queer Arcana or Cirque du so Trey. Go to a Pain Proof Punks show, who my actual bestie runs, maybe see one of the local bands like CZYK at Rebel Lounge. And round it all out by going to an exhibit over at the Alwun House. I’m sure there would be plenty of other things squeezed in there, but that’s what immediately comes to mind.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Firstly, I have a huge amount of appreciation towards my spouse, Eric. He has been with me through the highest highs and lowest lows in my life and has supported me through every part of it. He is an incredible artist himself and even when we bump heads creatively, I still have the upmost love and respect for him. He has changed my life for the better in too many ways to count. I also have to give a huge shoutout to my dad. Even though he is no longer here, I constantly strive to make him proud and know he was very proud of me at the time of his passing. My aunt, Amy and my younger brother Nate, I love you two so much. We have been through so much together and continue to grow in our lives, despite what we’ve been dealt. I appreciate them more than they will ever know I also happen to have the most amazing group of friends that continue to support, challenge and lift me up every day. I don’t know where I would be without any of these people and I am grateful for them every single day.

Website: https://duckyoverlord.wixsite.com/negativeedge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollymasquerage/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-shoemaker-500b98286/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenegativeedge

Image Credits
Models: Cassi Cat, Lulu Lovebottom, Katara, Jacqueline Hide, Sarah Slaykitty, Ekeirra Qr’ra, Ivy Foxglove, Laura Craig and Lee Tribbie