We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaymi Sanders a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaymi, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My biggest mission in photography is helping my clients cherish the nostalgia of their most vulnerable moments. As a wedding photographer this is huge for me, because those memories of your father seeing you for the first time, an intimate moment between your grandparents, and tearful vows are moments that can easily be forgotten in the rush of a wedding day.

I had a client recently tell me that her favorite photo in her entire wedding gallery was a candid shot I got of a moment between her and grandmother right after the ceremony. These moments are why I am so passionate about what I do. They are moments you will never get back and it’s my hope to help my clients cherish them forever.

Jaymi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Jaymi and I am a luxury wedding and editorial photographer serving Chicago, IL and Southern California! I shoot digital and film because I love both mediums equally. I’m a lover of my sweet cat Ember, my even sweeter husband of five years, and traveling to the most beautiful corners of the world to tell a love story. I have always loved taking photos but got my first inquiry in 2018 when a local graduating senior asked me to take her senior photos because she “liked my instagram aesthetic”. At the time, I wasn’t planning on making photography a career, and never considered myself a photographer, so after the session, I didn’t think about starting a business until a whole year later. Photography quite literally fell in my lap and I haven’t looked back since! I was able to shoot my very first wedding in 2020 in my tiny Indiana hometown (masks and all), and since then I have had the joy and privilege to shoot gorgeous weddings and editorials in Chicago, California, Arizona and more. Owning your own business is never easy. There are plenty of times I ask myself if I did the right thing, but time and time again, after hearing how I blessed my clients in some way, shape or form, I am reminded that it is all so worth it.

I focus on telling a story over perfectly posed photos. I crave authenticity and emotion and it is my heart to bring that to life at every wedding and session. I believe what sets me apart as an artist in the wedding industry is my editing style and the way I set up a portrait. I believe that even the way a photo is edited can tell a story more fully, so I focus on creating a timeless look that last for generations.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I outsource and hired a social media manager to help me with fine tuning a social media strategy. I didn’t have a well thought out system when it came to social media, so outsourcing helped me so much. I now post three times a week, batch content a month out and have a well rounded routine that I stick to. Since then my presence on social media has flourished. I know not everyone can do that financially, so for those just starting out, I highly recommend collaborating with other creatives in the industry. I think there is so much value in prioritizing community. The more people you connect with, the more well known your name and services will be. I have received so many amazing opportunities by just reaching out and connecting with others!

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I was able to go full time as a wedding and editorial photographer in the summer of 2021, and it was the best decision I have yet to make regarding my business. Before I made the jump, I was working full time at a bank, and pulling all nighters to stay caught up in my photography business. in 2021 I traveled to Vegas for a photography project, but as a full time bank teller, I couldn’t get off work until three hours before my flight. I exhausted myself that weekend, flying late Friday night, shooting all day on Saturday and catching an early flight back home on Sunday to make it back to the office by Monday. It was this trip that made me realize, that juggling two jobs was not how I wanted to live my life. That trip pushed me to make the decision to quit my 9-5 corporate job and focus on what I love doing. Four months later, I put my two weeks notice in and clocked out for the last time. Since then, I have been able to take on more projects because I have more time, and have landed jobs and opportunities I could have only dreamed about a year ago. All of this to say, God is so good in providing, and I give him all the glory for how far I have come in just one year.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jayminicholevisuals.com
• Instagram: @jayminicholevisuals
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayminicholevisuals
• Other: Tik Tok: @jayminicholevisuals

Image Credits
Personal Photo of myself was taken by Kassidy Ilayne Studios.