Meet your new favorite photographer!

Hi! I'm Shelby, the creator and photographer behind Shelby Monio Photography.

I don't really have a core memory of when I started photography. All I remember is constantly grabbing my mom's camera and taking pictures of the many animals around our house. I graduated from New Prague High School in 2020 as part of the pandemic class. During high school, I took both film and digital photography classes, but I truly fell in love with photography when COVID pushed us into online learning. Suddenly, I was completing all of my photography projects from home. Instead of following a lesson plan in a classroom, I had the freedom to create, explore, and photograph what inspired me. That's when photography became more than just a class—it became a passion. My first sessions were my cousin's senior photos and my best friend's engagement photos. From there, I photographed more family and friends before deciding to officially launch Shelby Monio Photography in 2021.

While I am incredibly grateful for my photography business, my true loves are my animals, hunting, and the western way of life. Pay me in animal cuddles, hay bales, or permission to hunt private land, and we'll call it even.

When I don't have a camera in front of my face, you'll usually find me with my mini cows, horses, German Shorthaired Pointers, or cats. I breed, raise, and sell mini midsized cattle, and they're one of the subjects I wish I photographed more often—they definitely don't get their beauty shots taken nearly enough.

My dogs, on the other hand, might get photographed a little too often.

I'm passionate about ethical, responsible dog breeding and can easily fall down a rabbit hole discussing bloodlines, training, hunt tests, and breeding programs with anyone willing to listen. Summer and fall are my busiest seasons for photography, but they also happen to be the busiest seasons for AKC hunt tests with my dogs. So if I'm unavailable for a weekend and don't have a camera in my hand, you'll know exactly where to find me.

In 2026, I got engaged to my fiancé, Brock, and together we've built a life centered around the things we love most. When we're not working cattle, spending time with our horses, or training our dogs, you'll usually find us hunting somewhere in the outdoors. And if we're not doing any of those things, we're probably at the racetrack. Brock races a power stock, and I spend many of my weekends cheering him on, taking photos, and supporting our racing team. Between photography, animals, hunting, and racing, life stays busy—but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Whether you're looking for senior photos, family portraits, western lifestyle imagery, or simply want to capture a season of life you'll never get back, I'm honored you're here.

Let's bring your vision to life and create something you'll love for years to come.