Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayme Halbritter.
Hi Jayme, 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 became a photographer because of my grandmother. On this day (I’m writing this on July 13), my grandmother passed away suddenly in 1990. It was tragic. She was my favorite grandparent (sorry, other grandparents) and was my rock in an otherwise rocky upbringing. She was an avid gardener, and she would photograph her gardens, and then in the winter, she would make paintings from her photos. After she passed away, my grandfather gave me her Canon AE-1. I started college soon after I got the camera, took a studio arts photo class, and fell in love. I remember my first black and white image appearing on the tray and how enamored I was. In 1996 I studied abroad in Jamaica for a year and did documentary photography before I knew what documentary photography was. With that body of work, I got a job at the Minnesota Daily (the University of Minnesota’s college paper) and worked there for 4 years. During the last three summers, I interned at newspapers and got a flavor for being a working photographer. I decided to take the path of freelance photographer and have been doing it for 21 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Strangely, I feel like my grandmother has been my guardian angel. I have never marketed, and I have existed as a freelancer through word of mouth and repeat business my entire career. I like to think that my grandmother has been watching over me, and is somehow helping to manifest all of the work that I get. As far as struggles go, keeping myself going has been challenging when times are slow. It’s hard to be your own boss and stay disciplined and focused, especially in this day and age of distractions. I recently started to teach myself video and have been doing a variety of interviews, which has kept things fresh for me, but if you want to talk about struggles, try to teach yourself to shoot and edit video.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would say I specialize in connecting with people. They are at the heart of everything I do; whether it’s connecting with my subjects or clients, everything I do is people related. I’ve always said I’m mostly a “people shooter,” which still holds true. I’m known for my laid-back personality and ability to make people comfortable, which in turn allows me to capture genuine moments. I’ve always shied away from calling myself an artist as I associate that with painters or sculptures, but after all this time, I’m starting to embrace the fact that I am creative and creating art. I had someone tell me once that even if someone else has done the same thing you’re doing, it’s unique to you because YOU are the one doing it. I’m trying to let that idea guide me as I go down the path of doing interviews again. As my mom always said, there’s only one Jayme Clifton Halbritter. :^)
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role you feel it’s played for you.
I don’t know if it’s luck as much as it is being blessed. I do feel that my grandmother is looking over me. It’s uncanny that I haven’t marketed after all these years, and work continues to come to me. It’s truly a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaymehalbritter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaymehalbritter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaymeHalbritterPhotography/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FotoJayme
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEY7H-_yu-vKrXHy_cneHlQ
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclifton/
