Shawn Merrick is originally from Queens, N.Y. and now resides in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife and three children. Graduating from Irmo High School he then shared his gifts with his local community program as Creative Director for high school/middle students. He has nurtured gifts in hundreds of students over a span of 18 years. He has taught photography, theatre, music performance and has been the creative director for student productions throughout the city. He has helped many organizations with his creative input to put them in the place to be on the cutting edge. One of them being Keenan High School. Using his creative direction to aid them in their art facility that will serve many students to come. The Creative Culture Brand was first visualized by Shawn Merrick in 2013. It was then he began to dream of a photography company that would be able to house a collective of creatives that could learn and express their gifts through beautiful images of photography, videography, and production. Shawn Merrick has successfully conducted major photoshoots for many top art leaders such as celebrity designers in the South East ,shot the first photography campaign for some of Columbia’s leading fashion organizations , national music artists, nationally known comedians tours, national authors and speakers. His work has also graced the cover/inside of 14 magazine publications nationally and internationally.  He has created video pieces celebrating culture/life and also led many productions sites for events throughout the city. One of those events being a partnership event with the Columbia Museum of Art Rendezvous Experience (A Celebration of Alexander McQueen) which he co-directed with the museum’s staff. Shawn has been a guest speaker for business master classes for creatives here in South Carolina with leading business organizations and has also produced Mental Health Summits for Creative bringing in Counselors/artists together. He is also the owner of statewide event The Creative Culture Art Expo which is an expo that is best known for being a safe space for creatives to receive information, inspiration and demonstration. The Creative Culture Art Expo conducts live interviews in front of a physical/ streaming audience ,keynote speakers and also live performances from this artist including William Starrett from Columbia Ballet, national muralist Ija Charles, Jessica Fitcher of director Trustus Theatre. The CCAE has conducted the Art Expo in theaters such as The Opera House , The Ritz Theatre , Allen University’s Chappelle Theatre , University of South Carolina’s , Booker T. Washington Auditorium and most recently the C.M.F.A. (Columbia Music Festival Association) which was a sold out event. Shawn Merrick continues to push the boundaries of art and creativity while reaching for new territories to share opportunities for others.