About Shae McCoy
Photo by Philip Muriel
Shae McCoy is a West Baltimore–born photographer and visual storyteller whose work documents culture, community, and urban transformation throughout Baltimore and the DMV region. With a background in journalism and digital media, Shae approaches photography as both art and archive—using imagery to preserve stories that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
In 2016, she launched Shae McCoy Photography (formerly Coy-Op Photos), specializing in event, portrait, and documentary-style photography. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Essence, Baltimore Magazine, and BMore Art, and has appeared regularly with LED Baltimore. Shae has also been recognized as one of The Baltimore Sun’s 25 Women to Watch.
Shae is the creator of West Baltimore Ruins, an ongoing photographic project described as “a visual story told by West Baltimore’s daughter.” The series captures abandoned and transitional spaces throughout West Baltimore, reframing them with dignity while addressing themes of gentrification, blight, and community resilience. The project was self-published as a photography book in 2021 and has been featured by BMore Art, The Real News Network, the Smithsonian Institution, WYPR, and UMBC’s Library Gallery as a solo exhibition.
Beyond her artistic practice, Shae is deeply committed to her community. She has been recognized by the City of Baltimore and local organizations for mentoring youth in the 21217 zip code and currently works as an urban farmer, contributing to efforts that address food apartheid in Baltimore City.