About this ebook
About the author
SHAWN FRANK is a professional photographer and educator based in Portland, Oregon, with over fifteen years of experience shooting commercial, editorial, and fine art photography. His work has appeared in *National Geographic Traveler*, *Outdoor Photographer*, *Digital Photographer*, and *PDN*, and he has exhibited at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York and the Portland Art Museum.
Shawn began his career as a photojournalist covering local news for small-town newspapers in the Pacific Northwest, where he learned to work quickly in unpredictable conditions with minimal gear. That foundation in getting the shot under pressure shaped the practical, no-nonsense teaching style he brings to every workshop and tutorial. He transitioned to commercial and travel photography in 2013, shooting assignments for tourism boards, outdoor brands, and editorial clients across six continents.
His approach to teaching grows out of a conviction that technical mastery is hollow without creative vision. In his workshops and online courses, he emphasizes the why behind the settings—helping students move beyond guesswork and into intentional, repeatable decision-making. He believes that the best camera is the one you have with you, that mistakes are the fastest path to learning, and that photography is ultimately about seeing, not gear.
Shawn lives in Southeast Portland with his wife and two young children, who serve as both his most patient subjects and his harshest critics. When he's not shooting or teaching, he rebuilds vintage motorcycles, roasts his own coffee, and hikes the Columbia River Gorge with a film camera and a single 50mm lens.
