Shawn Michael Pridgen (b. 1983) is a documentary photographer,  small business owner, and the son of a retired United States Marine,  born in San Clemente, California. After graduating from DePaul University with a B.A. in Political Science & International Relations in 2010, he attended DePaul’s School of Public Service. He completed coursework toward a master’s in public service administration (MPA) in 2014. 

While completing his master's, he worked as a Research and Policy Intern for the Chicago Housing Authority (2009-10), as a Clerk and Coordinator for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Office of Chief Counsel (2010-12); as a Human Resources Administrator, for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice (2012-13); and as a Legal Team Assistant, for Target Corporation (2013-14). From 2016 -2017, he was a Consultant for Northwestern University; then went on to become a Shared Services Coordinator for Octave Group until 2018. The following year, he served as a Business Coordinator for CNN; and was a Legal Personnel Assistant for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Manhattan (2019-20) before beginning his photographic career with the outbreak of the Black Lives Matter protests (2020 -21). 

His imagery has since appeared in INQUE Magazine, Harper’s, The Guardian, Outside, The Washington Post, Bicycle, The Point, Hearst Publishing, Tracksmith, and GearPatrol.com. In 2020 he created ShawnMPridgen LLC; a documentary photography small business focused on racial equity. He actively contributes his work to local nonprofits, activist organizations, and corporate entities whose mission statements align with and/or acting seek to contribute (s) in the continuing struggle to provide representation and commercial visibility of underserved communities; to take a stand in the fight for racial justice; and to create sustainable and actual racial equity, domestically and internationally. 

He has Collaborated with organizations that include Patagonia, The Laura Beya Collective, Justice For George NYC, Warriors in the Garden, Riders 4 Rights, UnitedNY2020, Freedom March NYC, Signs for BLM, Bicycle Film Festival, Prospect Park Organization/NYC Parks, Bike for Good Glasgow West (Scotland), and Bridgebuilders; his work has appeared in the #ICPConcerned: Global Images for Crisis exhibition in Manhattan, NY.

Clients with projects focusing on unique and diverse subject-matter are welcome to contact him directly. 

Additional information is available by request.

ShawnMPridgen LLC ™

Email: Shawn.Pridgen@Outlook.com