We were lucky to catch up with Jillian Schmuhl recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jillian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Yes absolutely, I just wasn’t always sure I could. When I was a little girl I got my first camera and quickly fell in love with capturing the beauty around me but it wasn’t until I lost my father that I truly knew it was something I wanted to pursue professionally. It had always been a hobby and my father really encouraged me to use my gift. He insisted on being my first customer back when it was just a hobby. When I lost him unexpectedly I knew I wanted to find a way to honor him and make him proud. I felt what better way to do that then to go after a dream of mine. In naming my business I wanted to incorporate something special between him and I as well. He sang me a song called Daisy a day and so Sweet Daisies Photography was born.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Jillian, I’m a wife to my high school sweetheart and mother to the most amazing little boys a mom could ask for. I got my first camera at the age of nine and quickly became obsessed with the ability to freeze time and even take something someone else might overlook and show them the beauty I see in it, As I stated before it took losing my father to truly pursue photography as a profession but I believe my initial love with seeing beauty that others may overlook has allowed me to make a successful business. When I capture a love story whether it be a couples love story or a families I see the beauty of their love for each other and help them see it through my eyes. I encourage embracing the moment. I feel a lot of times people come into a session with an expectation that it will be stiff, awkward and difficult. I want it to be fun! Play with each other laugh and make memories not just a stiff lifeless photograph but one that shows the emotion, the love and connection they share. Every family is different and everyone’s story is different and beautiful in their own way. That is what I want them to see and feel every time they look back at those photographs. A photograph is so powerful in its ability to bring us back to not just that one moment the photo was captured but really the entire year of memories and emotions, For example looking back on one single photo of my child brings all the memories of the age they were at that moment. The missing tooth , the skinned up knee, those little freckles from too much sun at the lake that summer… I want people to realize the value of embracing the imperfect yet beautiful things about themselves and their loved ones because its truly beautiful and most definitely powerful. I hope that my customers can understand that when they invest in photographs it is not just for the person they are at this moment in time but for their future self that will appreciate it even more.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me personally the most rewarding thing about my job is knowing just how important a photograph is. As someone who has lost a loved one I cant tell you how important capturing your loved ones are. Its absolutely priceless! I love hearing from my clients how much they love a photograph I have taken of someone special in their lives is to them but Knowing in my heart that as special as it is in this moment to them it will be even more priceless to the entire family down the road. I think on the many generations that will enjoy the memories I capture and it brings me so much joy.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Something I wish people knew about creatives such as myself is when we deliver the final products we are delivering a piece of our heart. So much love and work go into our art and it feels as though you’ve given a piece of yourself away,

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sweetdaisiesphotography.pixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetdaisiesphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SweetDaisiesphotography1