Biography
Astin Shrader was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, just southeast of Atlanta. From early childhood she was an artist, always drawing or painting. Her talents were encouraged by her parents and peers, and she was usually in charge of making the poster for every group project throughout her grade school years. Along with her artistic talent, Astin graduated with honors from high school, and was accepted to the University of Georgia her freshman year.
Originally a drawing and painting major, Astin took an elective photography class and found herself in a darkroom surrounded by chemicals and wet paper, and she fell in love. She switched her major, completed her BFA in Photography, along with her Minor in Art History, and graduated 2012.
After recieving her Bachelor's, Astin pursued her own wedding photography business, Tiny Tin Photo, along with freelance photography work. In 2016, she was accepted to the Savannah College of Art and Design - Atlanta, where she received her MFA in Photography. Astin plans to teach the art of photography while pursuing her fine art and commercial work.
Astin's most recent bodies of work focus on sleep, the unconscious, and dream symbolism through the scope of autobiography. She is currently working to build a chronicle of her dreams through a large body of visual work that recreate the vivid scenes of her own unconscious imagination. It is through the pursuit of her own dreams that she hopes to discover herself.
Education
June 2019 Savannah College of Art and Design
MFA Photography
Atlanta, Georgia
Phenomenal Focus Scholarship, SCAD Achievement Honor Scholarship
December 2012 University of Georgia
BFA Photography
Minor - Art History
Athens, Georgia
Member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Coca-Cola First Generation Scholar
May - June 2010 Study Abroad Education - University of Georgia
Maymester - Photography, Drawing, and Painting
Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
UGA Costa Rica campus, Monteverde, Costa Rica
Professional
Experience
January 2019 - Present Astin Shrader Photography
Freelance Image Retoucher
- Receive and transfer digital files
- White balance, color correction, general image adjustments
- Skin retouching from basic to advanced
- Body shaping via Photoshop
- Lightroom gallery and Portraiture export management
- Current and Past Clients:
Captured by Belinda Photography, www.capturedbybelinda.com
Boudoir with Mary, www.boudoirwithmary.com
Angela Woolridge Portrait, www.angelawoolridge.com
April 2018 - Present OWN Boudoir Studio
Photo Editor
- Receive and transfer digital files
- Culling services
- Digital workflow and catalog management
- White balance, color correction, general image adjustments
- Skin retouching from basic to advanced
- Body shaping via Photoshop
- Lightroom gallery and Portraiture export management
January 2018 - Present Shutterstock
Image Contributor
- Portfolio: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/astinshrader?language=en
March - June 2018 Savannah College of Art and Design - Atlanta
Teaching Intern
- Shadow professor for Advanced Digital Techniques class
- Assist students with technical issues and troubleshooting
- Participate in student critiques
- Develop personal teaching philosophy
- Lead demonstrations of new techniques to class
- Shadow additional professors to compare teaching styles and methodologies
Sept 2017- Feb 2018 Whitespace Gallery
Gallery Intern/ Photography Intern
- Maintain and host the gallery space
- Direct clients to meetings with gallery director
- Assist Atlanta artists with moving and install, framing, and breakdown, such as Benitta
Carr, Craig Dongoski, Nancy Floyd, Bill Orisich, and Amy Pleasant
- Document all exhibitions with photographs for gallery and artist use; documentation
images used for John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship recipient
Amy Pleasant
- Maintain email lists, social media posts, and answer phones
2016 - 2017 American Wedding Group - 2016-2017
Freelance Wedding Photographer
- First and Second shooter
- Digital workflow management
- Retouching and Digital Post Editing
- FTP software transfer
2003 - 2016 Tiny Tin Photo
Self Owned Photography business
- Wedding, Boudoir, Family, and Headshot Photographer
- Social Media and Web Management
- Marketing, Promotions, Client Relations
- In-Person Sales
- Preferred Vendor of the Georgia International Horse Park and Cherokee Run Golf Club
Spring 2011 Internship, University of Georgia
Darkroom and Digital Lab Intern
- Maintain darkroom labs and chemistry
- C4 print chemistry and equipment maintenance
- Digital lab tutor and troubleshooter
- Lighting Studio Management
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
May 2019 MFA Thesis Exhibition - Träuma: A Visual Study in Dream Therapy
Garcia/Wilburn Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
Group Exhibitions
May 2019 What About Us?
Atlanta Photography Group, Atlanta, Georgia
May - June 2018 11th Annual Student Book Arts Competition: Finalists Exhibition
ACA Library, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, Georgia
Oct, 2017 Open Studio Exhibition
Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, Georgia
May, 2017 Verse: RAW Artist’s Show
The Masquerade, Atlanta, Georgia
Oct, 2016 Open Studio Exhibition
Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, Georgia
Dec, 2012 BFA II Exit Show: The Skinny Jean Bandits
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
July, 2011 Still Life
Working With Artists, Colorado Photographic Arts Center, Denver, Colorado
Publications Light - A Journal of Photography and Poetry, featured photographer, Vol. 1 No. 4, 2017
Affiliations RAW Artists - Member 2017
Recognitions Finalist - Photographer’s Forum 37th Annual Best of High School and College Photography
Contest, 2017; catalog
Collections Private Collection, Clemson, South Carolina
Private Collection, Conyers, Georgia
Professional
Skills
Adobe Photoshop Darkroom Technician
Lightroom Large Format Camera Operation
Adobe Bridge Historic Photographic Processes
Drum Scanning C4 Printing/ Printer Maintenance
Studio Lighting Design Social Media Management
Digital Montage and Compositing Blog and Webpage Publishing
Digital Workflow Management Handmade Books/Bookbinding
Retouching and Digital Post Editing Gallery Management
Final Cut Pro iMovie Video Editing
Wordpress
Relevant Creative History:
Certified Reiki Master Therapist
The Upper Hand Day Spa, Conyers, Georgia - January 2019-present
Competitive Dance Team Instructor/ Award Winning Choreographer
Rockdale Gymnastics, Conyers, Georgia (2005-2008),
East Atlanta Dance, Conyers, Georgia (2014-2015)
Guest Choreographer - General Ray Davis Middle School Dance Team
Under direction of Jessica Tamburro, General Ray Davis Middle School, Conyers,
Georgia - 2009
Ballet and Jazz Company Instructor/ Gymnastics Coach
Rockdale Gymnastics, Conyers, Georgia - 2005-2008