Photographer and filmmaker, Shelly Short has always followed her heart. She has chosen a path that will bring her the greatest joy. Shelly is an award-winning artist with a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design. She has over 23 years of photography and marketing experience beyond the classroom. Her love of photography and film inspired her to pursue a career in teaching the Visual Arts.
She has been fortunate to have mentors along her path and has dedicated her life’s journey to guiding others. Her teaching background started in her teens when she volunteered her summers to teach in the Vietnamese Refugee camp in Malaysia and has continued throughout her path with 2 years of teaching assistant positions, 5 years as an instructor for the SCAD Summer Seminars, and 4 years as an Assistant Professor at Eastern New Mexico University. She currently is in her 5th year at Idyllwild Arts Academy, and Chairs the Film and Digital Media Academy and Summer Programs.
Shelly has focused on developing her skills in photography, cinematography, and directing. She believes that this knowledge assists in conveying the story in the best way possible. Shelly draws from her life and the lessons she has learned to create a body of work that encompasses an idea of personal identity and the layers, symbols, and traditions that make up who we are.
She has worked on solo photography projects but most recently on collaborative film projects ranging from experimental video to traditional narrative. She thrives on the exchange of ideas and admires the effects on the final vision resulting from this collaboration.