I’m Karen Shaw, and I’m a storyteller.

I was a stay-at-home mom for many years – my first career. But I wasn’t dancing in the kitchen baking cookies! I was extremely active at my children’s schools and well-known in the community comprised of families, state and local politicians, and news reporters. After my divorce, I worked In Print advertising for many years – my second career – taking a job and having it grow into an amazing career. I loved every minute of it. In fact, I believe that when I was born, G-d created Print Traffic and said “When Karen is ready, it’s here for her.”

I started my company, Picture This Photo Books, my third career, after being laid off from my last agency. I started a company that depended on vacations and events and three months later we were in a lockdown, and there weren’t any.

I then began to network – little did I know it would become my fourth career!

One day I received an email from someone I did not know about a networking group I did not know so I wondered if it/he was legit. I did see, however, that he recorded it on YouTube so I took a look and happened to see a few people I knew from another group. I felt safe and attended my first WOW meeting. The question of the day was “Where did you go on your last vacation?” I was thinking “WHAT?” but since everyone answered it, I answered it. I went back the following week and this time the question of the day was “What is your favorite movie?” And again, I thought “WHAT?”, and again, I answered it. This time, however, I asked Juan, who was running this group, about those questions and what they had to do with business.

He explained that by asking these questions, you will learn more about each other as you develop a relationship, liking and trusting each other, feeling comfortable referring them to others. That was the first time I had ever heard this. It made sense, though, and it works.

Next, I met a photographer at one of my networking meetings, who took me under his wing. He repeatedly told me that I should tell people what I do for them, and I kept saying “I do the designing while you go on with your life.” I was like a deer in headlights. I had no idea what he was talking about.

Then, through networking, I met my coach and found I didn’t even know what I didn’t know. We had a 1:1 Zoom and the next day he called. He said he wanted to show me something that would knock my socks off! Unfortunately, I wasn’t wearing any, but he certainly would have if I were.

He rebranded both my company and me. You name it – he changed it. I went so far out of my comfort zone I couldn’t find it with my glasses on!

So now I’m designing one-of-a-kind photo books that tell your story. A Picture This Photo Books book that brings a tear to your eye and a smile to your lips all at the same time as it preserves your loved ones and your memories over the years.

I’m telling stories – Story Time with Karen – filled with emotion, based on the premise that although we’re all different, we’re all the same. Our backgrounds may be varied, but we share the memories and feelings of nostalgia.

I’m working on books for the Alzheimer’s community, the Autism community, and for the corporate world.

I’m only working 24/7, but living the mantra “if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” I’ve had the experience of meeting the most wonderful and giving people from all over the world that I never would have known if I hadn’t started networking. I’ll be forever grateful.

Karen Shaw and Picture This Photo Books. We’re whimsical, casual, or formal, and always uniquely you.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.