This photoblog is my experimental space. I can post any kind of image here - it needn't even be particularly good. The practice of posting to my blog is simply part of my routine, as some people do yoga or write in a journal.

My professional work focuses mainly on three genres - editorial photography, wedding photography, and portrait photography - albeit for different reasons.

• Editorial Photography. My love of taking photos started when I was around ten, when I began to feel obligated to follow the rules of social conduct for young girls. I was keenly aware that some freedoms granted to me as a child were slipping away - rights such as laying on the floor of a restaurant, or standing on a chair, or approaching a stranger. But with a camera in hand, these rules did not seem to apply. Photography freed me. As a result, current editorial clients consider me a photographer who "does what it takes to get the photo." They might catch a sneaky smile cross my face as I do it, too. Visit my editorial portfolio for examples of my work.
• Wedding Photography. Henri Cartier-Bresson may not have photographed weddings, but by defining successful photography in terms of capturing decisive moments, he also described the essential challenge and pleasure of wedding photography. I take pride in recognizing and documenting the moments of beauty and love that make up a wedding day. I honor the privilege of participation by documenting a wedding with equal levels of quiet, focus, and respect. See my wedding photography portfolio for more information.
• Portrait Photography. Perhaps it is true that a photograph taken of someone without their blessing does steal a bit of their soul. It may also be true, however, that a photograph that describes someone on their own terms, and in their own (visual) words, has the opposite effect. I believe that when people actively participate in their own representation, the resulting photographs inevitably capture their unique identity and beauty. In other words, I work collaboratively, in a way that makes getting your picture taken actually fun. For examples, see my portrait portfolio.

If you are interested in additional examples of my work, drop me a line at or telephone 415.823.3354 or 510.449.3333.

Other things you might want to know...

• I earned a B.F.A. in photography from the University of Colorado and a M.A. in art history from the University of Arizona.
• I fell deeply in love with digital photography in 1998 thanks to a 1.3 megapixel Olympus D-450. Other significant cameras in my life include a Canon 5D, a couple of Nikon D70s, a Nikon Coolpix 4500, which is still useful because it is so flexible, a Canon AE-1, and a 70s-era Polaroid.
• Sea kayaking, Santa Maria BBQ, Latin American countries, fresh snow, gelato, and a sweet, sweet, sweet border collie.
• With a name like Genevieve Shiffrar, you might think I'm French. I'm not. My first name came through my great great grandfather who immigrated to the US from Alsace Lorraine. So actually I may be 1/16th French, depending on your understanding of Franco-German history. My last name is a phonetic spelling of a common name in Slovenia. I am related closely to anyone named Shiffrar.