Through the Lens of
Shelby Sharie
Capturing the real, sensual, & expressive stories of queer life through photography.
Shelby Sharie Cohen is a butch lesbian photographer whose camera has captured four decades of queer life — from underground sex clubs to political protests and tender moments of lesbian love. Her lens doesn’t observe from the outside. It remembers from within.
Shelby’s work is erotic, historic, and fiercely intimate. And for the first time, it's being brought forward into the light — available for collectors, institutions, and those who crave to see and be seen.
She Didn’t Just Witness Queer History — She Lived It
In 1980s San Francisco, Shelby Sharie Cohen wasn’t behind the scenes — she was in the scene, documenting underground lesbian life from within leather bars, sex clubs, and activist streets. Her camera became a tool of intimacy, resistance, and radical preservation.
Her Photographs Are Erotic, Political, and Personal
Whether capturing a lover’s body or a protest in the Castro, Shelby’s work reveals a world rarely seen: raw, defiant, tender, and true. Each frame is a memory made visible — and now, collectible.
The Archive Is Alive — And Available
With over 10,000 original negatives and hundreds of unseen prints, Shelby’s archive is a visual time capsule of lesbian erotic culture and queer survival. Institutions and private collectors can now acquire this rare and essential history.
Her Lens Still Sees You
Shelby continues to offer private sessions for those craving sensual, nude, or queer portraits — bold images that celebrate your body, your power, your identity. With decades of experience and deep cultural insight, she creates a space where you can be fully seen.
Join the Legacy. Be Part of the Work.
Whether you’re collecting history or creating it, Shelby’s photography invites you into a lineage of queer expression. Step into the frame — and take your place in the story.