About
Hi there, I am Shana Wooley and the one smiling back at you from behind the camera, helping you plan “all the things”, and standing by you on your big day. I am a native of "the south" (I grew up in Alabama) and I moved to Kansas City in 2012. I studied photography at Austin Peay University and started W the Studio in 2009, (which is the same year that my “tinybff” Luke was born). I met my very amazing husband, Josh, online (so no judgement here if you’ve found the love of your life on the www).
I love my couples fiercely and that love often turns into a wonderful friendship for years after your wedding day is over (bonus points if you are a late night texter and have a love for .gifs and memes).
If you need me, just come over and follow the trail of empty Canada Dry diet ginger ale cans. I am probably snuggled up with my cat Thumbelina (don’t worry, I also have 2 doggies).
MY love languages
soft t-shirts
good comfy shoes — think chacos and birks 24/7
office supplies — I love post-its in all the GOOD colors and a yummy inky pen
IG — but not because I am stalking wedding photos, you’ll find my search suggestions are mostly kittens, puppies, cuddly animals, and home decor
photos — duh
good design — visually stunning whether through form, color, or creativity
Canada Dry diet ginger ale (see above) and Topo Chico
Studio Philosophy
W the Studio is a Kansas city-based creative studio with a passion for photography and thoughtful design. Our goal is to create lasting and meaningful relationships with our clients by crafting stories that touch people on a personal level and leave a lasting impression.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for our clients. We shape our team and our process around each unique request.
We combine strong visuals, powerful storytelling and best-in-class production to create an engaging and memorable experience. Whether we are architecting your engagement session or crafting the perfect setup for your wedding, we extend the same set of quality principals to ensure that you have a fabulous experience and a wonderful preservation of important memories and milestones.
Yeah, yeah, that sounds great but what does that mean?
It means, you are one-of-a kind and so is your wedding. While we make sure we are doing our best to shoot technically “correct” photos, it is YOUR day. We are along for the ride and we will help you in whatever way we can serve you best. YOU ARE MAGIC and your day deserves to be shot in a way that reminds you of that when you look at these photos with your grandkids someday.
It also means that we show you REAL WEDDINGS (not styled shoots) through and through. It means that we work to trouble shoot and dare we admit, learn new skills, to make your day freaking fabulous from our end.
It also means that we are here to SERVE YOU. These wedding photos are FOR YOU. We are privileged and extremely honored to have a front row seat to one of the greatest days of your life.
KIND WORDS
Here’s what our ACTUAL COUPLES had to say
“W the Studio deserves 10 stars! -Communication, Shana did a great job communicating with my wife and myself before the wedding. She helped us form a schedule and navigate the craziness!! -Engagement, Shana did both our wedding and engagement photos, she was a great sport........ we decided to do an outdoor shoot in some seriously muddy terrain! -The Big day, Shana was calm under pressure and delivered some incredible photos. The day was such a blur, but Shana lovingly captured so many moments that could have been breezed by. She understood our vision and delivered timeless yet modern photos that were everything we could have hoped. I recommend W the Studio for any photoshoot. Shana and her team do a phenomenal job and will not let you down!”
“We just returned from our honeymoon-so, indeed we are a bit exhausted, but still in the bliss of our wedding. We can’t begin to express the warmth, personal touch, outstanding style, accommodations to our needs-including a rush off in her darling car-so we could have a moment together after our vows. We can’t say enough about the professionalism and honest integrity and talent of this true artist!”
“Of all the vendors and professionals we hired for our big day, Shana Wooley was by far our greatest decision. The first time we spoke, I felt like we were old friends, so I knew she was the perfect fit. She is kind and personable and SO talented, as are her wonderful assistants. She is very reliable and accessible and went above and beyond for us. During the venue walk-through, she stayed longer than expected to make sure I asked all the right questions. This is a professional who truly cares about her clients. From the bridal shoot to the wedding photos, I could not be happier with her work. I could go on ... If you are on the fence about who to hire, look no further. Shana’s artistry and passion for her craft will rock your socks off. ;)”
“Shana was an invaluable addition to our wedding. She has a gift of building relational equity quickly that makes you trust her after the first meeting. She is confident, skilled, and efficient, and helped guide us through the process at each step. She and her team made sure to get every shot we needed and fantastic coverage throughout the day, always with an eye toward our particular aesthetic and tastes. Her planning and experience definitely shine through. When you’ve already got a thousand things on your mind, you can rely on Shana to make sure your wedding is shot beautifully and that you will be left with many great memories to cherish forever.”