Meet the duo behind the cameras:
Adam & Scout
At our core, we are just two nerdy kiddos who love telling stories and creating beauty together
We built Nightshade Studio to get back to what we love: uplifting and connecting with others while making art for the sheer fun of it, free from restrictions.
Each shoot is just as exciting and fulfilling for us as we hope it is for our clients. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone’s face light up when they look at their photos on the back of our camera.
Our Secret Weapon
Our personalities -- truthfully! We're often told that our energy is contagious. The best gear in the world and a perfect location won’t make a difference if you’re not comfortable and having a good time. While we do have all the technical stuff in the bag (literally), the gear we use is just a small piece of the puzzle. Our magic really comes from our ability to work with you to create the right moments.
A Decade of Experience
For years, clients have hired us for the value we bring beyond just executing a photograph. Not only do they feel how much we care about each project's success, but they have also commended our attention to detail and craftsmanship with lighting, set design, styling, and art direction. We truly enjoy the process of turning concepts into something real and tangible, no matter the scale.
We have a love of stories, big and small, and want to be a part of telling yours.
Our story? tbh, we met while swiping -- where playing it safe in our profiles almost cost us the chance of meeting. We didn’t list our love for the artistry behind the LotR movies, our penchant for fantastical stories, our hilariously varied and sometimes obscure music tastes, or our shared love of exploring cemeteries, and most of all - how we both have a tendency to dive head first into seemingly unrealistic creative endeavors, fully immersing ourselves, and how that has shaped our careers within the arts.
In hindsight, it was silly to hide what makes us unique… and we’ve taken that to heart with Nightshade Studio as well. We strive to make something interesting, not just another stiff portrait, to share stories on set and within the work, all while carving a moment of beautiful escapism to enjoy and revisit time and time again.
Adam Wamsley
photographer
My path into photography has been anything but direct, fueled by curiosity, a love for learning, a healthy dose of caffeine, and an eclectic mix of life experiences along the way.
I've always been drawn to the escapism found in creative outlets and their ability to transport, challenge, and inspire.
As a kid, I dove into anything and everything that sparked my imagination: from epic tales to my dad’s anatomy books, painting, drawing, sculpting, D&D, video games, and music - The ADHD was strong with this one. In high school, I built my first computer and started competitive gaming. My friends and I carved bows, built forges, and even created a working trebuchet just for the fun and challenge of it all. Somehow, I completely missed the cosplay scene which I feel would have loved. Instead, I was recording music and performing live shows with my metal band, and soon got a taste for travel. Those experiences, paired with my wanderlust, taught me the value of finding joy within the process & the journey itself, as well as being able to share it with others—a mindset that still shapes how I create today.
Photography only became a major part of my life while studying Biology in college, where I was missing the collaborative and expressive aspects of the arts. Buying my first camera changed everything—it gave me an ever evolving outlet to connect with others, create, tell stories, and bring ideas to life.
Since then, my work has taken me around the world, photographing for a diverse range of clients and projects—from advertising commercial, beauty, and fashion brands, to magazines and music festivals.
My approach combines a deep technical understanding of lighting and composition with my passion for storytelling and creative collaboration. For me, photography isn’t just about “taking pictures”—it’s about making moments and helping people see the world, or themselves, in a way they haven’t before... but most importantly having a good time in the process.
Scout Wamsley
photographer
Born and raised in NYC, I am the daughter of a painter and a singer who both encouraged my creativity from a very young age. By 10 years old I taught myself to sew clothing and by 12 I memorized a book of HTML codes to create my own Harry Potter websites. It was also around that age that the Lord of the Rings entered my life in a big way. The making of documentaries for those films entranced me - I loved not only watching how such incredible talent came together to create the world, but also how the process allowed such strong bonds to form between the cast & crew. The love and care that went into every aspect is so evident, and it really inspired me to seek out similar creative experiences. This also led me to learn things in so many different areas of production because it all fascinated me. Costuming was my main obsession, taking me to London for university and then to New Zealand where I won an award from Sir Richard Taylor himself! I then had the privilege of working as a seamstress and dresser on Broadway (Something Rotten!, The Book of Mormon, Matilda, Miss Saigon), as well as on two Cirque du Soleil shows. I studied makeup & prosthetics in LA, having the opportunity to work with some lead artists in the industry. Finally, to round out my arsenal, I learned how to style hair, and have also done set & prop creation for personal projects, as well as producing and art directing commercial photoshoots.
If you haven't guessed by now, I'm très neurodivergent. 😂 Despite the challenges that come with that, the unique way my brain works has allowed me to passionately pursue each of these areas, and has given me a multifaceted background that I bring to each photography project.
When I'm not on set, you can find me exploring historical homes & museums, doing cute puzzles by the fire, or collecting acorns on my cemetery walks.
