Hey there, I'm Shae. The girl behind the camera!
And I've been behind a camera for as long as I can remember. I grew up learning photography from my mom, she's both a professional and a teacher. The first form of photography I learned was actually dark room photography, in my moms classroom, when I was in 7th grade. Since then I have second-shot with her, learning how to see light, people, and raw moments long before I called it a job. I officially started photographing professionally in 2019, but this has been my passion since I was a little girl.
How I Got Here
I grew up in Lubbock, Texas before joining the military, meeting my husband, and moving away. At 21 years old I moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany with my husband where we were stationed for three years, and where I truly became a working photographer. Followed by a move to Destin, Florida in 2021, I continued my work for on the beautiful beaches for three more years. My husband left the military in 2025 and now we have landed in Vilcabamba, Ecuador, where I am currently based as a professional photographer. For six years, my business was known as Shae Finn Photography. After moving here, my work has shifted. I renamed to Soul Rays by Shae because that's what feels like I am capturing now. The way peoples energy, presence, and soul show up in a still moment, frozen in time.
What I Do
Today, I focus primarily on solo women and couples, as well as family sessions, and ceremonies and events are available by request. My work is candid, documentary, and adventure driven, raw, honest, true to color, and very little "say cheese" going on. I'm here for real moments, movement, laughter, chaos, and connection. I'm currently photographing locals, travelers and expats in and around Vilcabamba, offering adventure sessions throughout Ecuador, and I'm always available for destination work. My schedule is wide open and I'm perpetually ready to go.
How I Do It
Right now, my work is about creating a more relaxed, experience based kind of photography, one where we take our time, do cool things, go beautiful places, and make photos that actually feel like you.
I work best with people who are comfortable in their own skin, open minded, down for an adventure, and willing to do it for the photo as much as I am. I will absolutely hike the mountain, climb the sketchy tree limb, or jump into freezing water if that's what it takes to get the shot, and I tend to attract clients who are right there with me. The goal is simple: cool photos of cool people in cool places, done in a way that feels good.
Jade // Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Working with Shae was an incredible experience from start to finish. Shae was professional, confident, and it was immediately clear that she has a lot of experience. Shae guided me through posing with ease, was adventurous, and bold in her approach, and made the entire shoot feel effortless and fun. I felt completely comfortable the whole time, which really shows in the final images. The quality of the photos absolutely blew me away - I'm beyond impressed and couldn't recommend Shae more highly.
Jordan & Jackson // Destin, Fl
We did a 'trash the dress' session in Florida with Shae, and I was completely blown away by her artistic eye. She made us feel (and look) like models, truly. We even went all the way into the water, hair soaked and carefree, and the results were beyond anything we expected. I genuinely can't pick a favorite photo. Every single image feels frame worthy. Shae made the entire experience fun, comfortable, and unforgettable. I recommend her 100% for any type of session, she has a way of making magic happen. I'm so grateful our paths crossed and can't wait to work with her again.
Reagan p. // Lubbock, TX
I've used Shae for several different sessions, and let me tell you - her work is absolutely worth the investment and your time. She puts so much care into every part of the process, from the session itself to her editing and the relationship she builds with her clients. Even though she doesn't live in my state (or country), she's still my go to photographer every chance I get. I genuinely can't wait to reach more milestones in my life so Shae can capture them.
Maggie R. // Kaiserslautern, Germany
Shae was incredibly easy to work with from start to finish, and her communication was fast, clear, and effortless. She captured beyond amazing photos of our family and made the entire experience genuinely fun. She was patient, kind, and thoughtful with our kids and dogs, making everyone feel comfortable and cared for. She also helped with outfit advice and made sure we felt confident and prepared. The photos turned out better than we could have imagined, and the experience itself was just as memorable. We highly recommend Shae, and honestly I will be booking another trip just to work with her again.