Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Jacobson.
Hi Jenna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My photography journey with Jenna’s Photojournal actually begins with my mother. My mom had a deep passion for photography – she was involved in photography clubs, local competitions, and enjoyed attending various events to capture journalism-style and nature-focused images. I grew up watching her try new techniques and assisting her with different projects. Sadly, she died of breast cancer in 2016, and it was after that I decided to pick up her cameras and give it a go myself. I suppose it was my way of continuing her stories. Fast forward to the summer of 2020 and my wonderful friend, Megan Baker, asked me to help her photograph weddings as a second shooter. I learned so much from Megan in the few months we worked together. This was really the springboard that helped me see my own potential and take my photography work more seriously. I launched my Instagram page, @JennasPhotojournal, in October of 2020 and things have been looking up ever since!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a new passion project always comes with challenges, however, pandemic lifestyle actually allowed me more time to focus on growing my skills and using social media to connect with other photographers and potential clients; time that I may not have had during normal years. Connecting with other creatives through social media and collaborating on projects has been so enjoyable and important to building my portfolio, but social media does have its downfalls. It’s so easy to compare your own work to others. Keeping the mindset of community rather than competition helps me stay out of that spiral of comparison.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I am open to many different types of photography opportunities, I find myself most often drawn to couples, families, and wedding photography. I strive to keep my editing style true to color with some vibrance – think “naturally enhanced.” I want people to look back at their images and remember the day exactly as it was. I include some posed prompts in my photography sessions of course, but my goal is to capture real smiles and genuine moments. I pride myself in promoting inclusivity and authenticity. Everyone deserves to have their memories captured to look back on for years to come.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Photography is not my full time job. My background is actually in psychology! I work full time as a school psychologist for a public school district. Working for a school district allows me to have weekends, holiday breaks, and summers open to pursuing my other passions – like photography! I believe I bring some of my psychology-focused mind into every photoshoot, noticing details and interactions that others may not observe. Being a psychologist and photographer both require having an eye for detail, observing human behavior, and being in tune with others’ emotions.
Contact Info:
- Email: jennasphotojournal@outlook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennasphotojournal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennasphotojournal/
Image Credits
Jenna Jacobson
