A Young Visionary Behind the Lens

Shawn Peterson, the founder of Shawnie’s Cinema, is just 18 years old and has a story as dynamic as the photographs he takes. He was born in San Diego, California, a vibrant city, but his life has been far from ordinary. As a military child, he has lived around the world, living in multiple countries and continents and feasting on the beauty and diversity of the world around him. This has given him a deep appreciation for the moments we spend in life and the will to save them.

Shawn’s artistic journey began one day when he was 16. A simple yet life-changing gift from his mother — a camera — unlocked a creative passion he never knew existed. From that moment on, he started to see the world through his camera’s lens, snapping weddings and wildlife, sports and astrophotography. Shawn understood his camera was more than just a tool — it was a way to tell stories, to catch emotions, to freeze time.

Shawn’s work is his passion, and it is reflected in his personal mantra of “Your story, cinematically captured.” He wants his clients not only to have stunning images created but to see their stories in cinematic terms, when they are celebrating their happiest moments.

Now a journeying photographer, Shawn has already had his fair share of them. He spent time in a snowy mountain range at 10,000 feet, braving a howling blizzard to photograph wild animals and, as a result, got lost in the forest for a brief time. Nevertheless, such challenges only served to kindle his desire for yet more adventurous pursuits. Each adventure brings him closer to his ultimate dream of becoming a National Geographic Wildlife Photographer and, at the same time, running his own photography business.

Shawn is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati, where he is studying international business with a minor in finance. Planning on doing a semester or year long exchange program in Europe, Shawn is a man of business and art. To him, photography is universal — it is a language that can communicate between cultures, experiences, and emotions. Shawn believes that anyone — whether with a camera on their phone or a professional DSLR — can capture the very essence of life.

Shawn Peterson In Wyoming

This is Shawnie’s Cinema, and it is a result of Shawn’s long dedication to his profession and his idea of the importance of telling a story. It’s not just taking pictures for him; it’s creating legacies. He hopes to inspire others, through his lens, to appreciate the beauty of their own stories, one cinematic frame at a time.