I think that the most challenging thing that we can do is actually starting a project. Starting a business, a new weight loss goal, or something as simple as a blog post. At times I can be a perfectionist and I will put off a project until I know that I am 100% ready. If this year has taught me anything, it is that there will never be a ‘right time’ to start something. All I can do is give it my best at the moment and be ok with that. I will get better as I continue to practice and find my voice.
I am finding a lot of similarities between starting a blog and starting my photography in that last paragraph. I have always enjoyed both and in high school I actually wanted to be a journalist. I had a blog for my FFA SAE and one before I redesigned my website, so now it is just getting back in the habit.
With starting to blog again, I feel like the only way to start it is with an introduction post (or is that just me?) My name is Jessica and I am a photographer located in Missouri. In case you are curious, I am an enneagram 2 (I haven’t figured out my wing yet but I think it is a 1) and I am a ISFJ-T (a defender!) Basically I love to help people and I am notorious for being a yes man. I focus on seniors, couples, weddings, boudoir, and even business photography.
When I am asked how I got into photography I always say this- I played with disposable cameras as a child. I would take a few with me to church and 4H camp and would have used them all before the end of the week. I have a shoebox full of blurry photos of dogs, horses, my brothers and a lot of other things that I can’t figure out. In middle school I got my first digital camera and I filled my Facebook page with a lot of random photos. In high school I was on the yearbook and newspaper staff.
I went to Missouri State University and graduated with a bachelor’s in Agriculture Business with an emphasis in Marketing and Sales. I love Springfield and the surrounding Ozarks and I think it is a great place to live in and explore. During the first few years of school, I took a break from photography. During my junior year, I decided to pull out my camera and give photography another shot. Since then I have been focused on growing my passion into a career and loving it every step of the way.
Honestly, I am learning as I go with having my own business. It isn’t always easy, and I have to rely on Google more times then I care to admit. But I find it so rewarding to create something on my own and even more when it can brighten someone’s day. I hope I can pass on any information that might be useful and I hope you enjoy my journey to figuring this all out.