Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Ables.
Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been the creative type. I love music, theatre, and art. As a kid, I always requested a new camera for events like birthdays and Christmas. I was the girl who always brought my camera to school, and documented everything I could. For me, it’s always been about the fun of capturing the moments for me. Shortly after my husband and I had our second child, we had a friend come to do in-house newborn photos for us. After they left my husband looked at me and said, you could totally do that. I let that sink in. He was right but I had never looked further at it, I worked full-time and now had two kids. I decided one day to splurge and invest in a DSLR. Then I took a night class to learn how to use it to its full potential and get out of auto mode.
That’s when I fell in love with all a camera can do and focused more on composition. At the time my co-worker was having a destination wedding and hired a photographer for her destination and therefore I asked her if she would let me do her engagement photos. From there my love and need to capture moments for others grew! Friends and family reached out as I shared images on social media and became more confident in myself and my images. That first session was 11 years ago! Now I have regular families who reach out annually and a growing client base.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the road when you build a hobby that becomes a business is never smooth, if it is you aren’t doing something you should. Struggles make us grow! The main thing for me is I still work full tie and have 3 very busy kiddos but I still love my craft. due to this, I don’t really market myself on the regular with social media. I am always pushing myself to learn more and get better, but I don’t drive a client base the way full-time photographers do. This has its ups and downs. The upside is those who know me, reach out and check in and book me as needed. Word of mouth and referrals are also huge for me.
This means work isn’t steady which is totally, okay given our current lives. I’m busy in the summer and the fall and my area of business growth is in family photos and Senior Portraits. My love for Senior Portraits is rapidly growing!! Another struggle with not being full-time in Minnesota is I don’t run a studio or have studio space. This means I am limited a little in the winter. But I will add that I love a snowy session for those who are brave enough to ask for one! I’ve also run into basic struggles like losing images on a card, equipment failing, etc. There are also a lot of self-doubts with a saturated market of amazing photographers in MN, but I have to remind myself it is what I make it. I’m not full time and I don’t market on a regular, this does not depict my talent.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think what makes me special as a photographer is that I work solely on referrals and word of mouth. This continues to be humbling to keep steady in-season sessions going year after year by return clients and clients who reach out by getting my info from others! My main focus has always been families with a wedding here and there from people who have asked. My photography business is taking a strong push into the world of graduating seniors. They might be friends from the community, referrals from others, and even repeats from those families I have captured year after year. I have a love for the creativity of a senior session, the one on one time to create and capture who that teen is in that moment.
I let them choose the location and outfits to fit their style and personality. I like to have fun and make them feel comfortable. The images should reflect who they truly are and the things they love and the places they spend their time. I think what sets me apart is my ease and inclusiveness. I always include the images because I believe in easy and affordable for myself and the client. I also pride myself on not overediting for a current style. I love a natural image caught in the light we are in. If you want a fun session with a natural feel I’m your gal!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck is interesting and in my personal life, it sometimes feels like we have more bad luck than good! But if I break it down it’s been this way from the beginning, Luck that my co-worker agreed to give me my first session, luck that people trusted me after that to keep reaching out.
Luck that every year when the season changes from winter to spring just when I always wonder if I’ll keep having sessions, people keep reaching out. I guess with photography it’s been more good luck than bad. (knock on wood!)
Pricing:
- Families: $250 for 60 mins (gallery included)
- Seniors: $300 for 90 mins (gallery included)
- Weddings: inquire
- Newborns: inquire
Contact Info:
- Website: jablesphotography.com
- Instagram: @jessicaleemn
Image Credits
RCC and Jessica Ables
