Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Harris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessica, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I used to think that to create a meaningful life I had to achieve. As a recovering type-A perfectionist, I thought the only value I had came from my productivity and achievements. I thought that what was meaningful was what I could provide to others. I looked at meaning as it is defined through the Merriam-Webster dictionary: as anything that brings forth “a significant quality.” But my health has allowed me to reconsider what I think about creating meaningful projects. I have learned that meaning is the value you place in something or someone. Being forced to slow down, has allowed me to see the details I may have previously missed out on in life because I was just too busy “doing”. I can now see that creating meaning happens in everything I do. The way that I serve my clients through communication and preparation before a shoot, giving direction during a session, and later during editing. Each small detail, the tiniest action can bring joy in the most unexpected of ways.

Jessica, 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?

Hi, my name is Jess and I am an imperfect person capturing beauty as my creative outlet. What does that mean? It means, I’m a gluten free and dairy free foodie, with an addiction to iced espresso and an obsession for houseplants. The truth is you never can have enough plants… though my husband may disagree. We’ve been married for almost two years, and since then have been searching for our dream house (with a pool!) in West MI. We recently said goodbye to our senior pup Mr. Waffle but hope to be dog parents again someday. Life has a lot to love, but by far what I adore the most is capturing the beauty and uniqueness of those around me. There is something so magical about posing a newborn baby—capturing their tiniest little features to remember forever—that never grows old for me. Or the joy of bringing an extended family together and capturing generations of love—laugh lines, wrinkles, the antics of toddlers, and couples who adore one another like not a day has passed since they fell in love. I am blessed to be able to connect with others during such special times in their lives.

I feel honored to be invited into each child, mother, family or friends’ journey. As I look through a camera lens, I can see them in a way that they’ll never be able to see themselves. I can see the small details that add to the beauty of a face or the silly moments where a person is completely and truly their authentic self. I get to witness that and document it, so that as the years pass, they can look back on that moment in time.

Services Provided

• I offer a variety of sessions including but not limited to: maternity, newborn, family, engagements, milestones, and graduates.
• Sessions are available in Studio and Outdoors
• The investment for Standard Sessions begins at $150 while Extended Family Sessions, Graduates + Special Occasions begins at $250
• Each session comes with an online Gallery to Download and Share your edited High-Resolution images
• Print Release Form Provided

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Researcher, storyteller, and author, Brene Brown said, “owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do.” And boy oh boy do I feel that in my core. The last 10 years have been a rollercoaster of excitement, struggles, moments of doubt, and appreciation for the life that I have. In 2015, what I thought was a minor head injury after an accident, turned into a life of chronic pain and doctor’s appointments. The door to the plan I had for my life was abruptly shut, leaving me devastated. Each day was a struggle of pain and variability, and I was not sure what a future would even look like for me.
The journey to healing my body has been a long and arduous road. I am not sure that I will ever truly be healed from the effects of the accident so many years ago, but each day I choose to wake up and tackle life no matter the setbacks. I may tackle it with all of the energy of a lethargic sloth or end the day crying into a tub of ice cream, but progress is the fact that I get up each day and do it again.
The me I was in 2015, lying in bed, mind hazy with pain and confusion, wondering how I would survive, would be so proud of me today. Not only have I pursued each day with intentionality and perseverance, but in the middle of all the pain I found a passion and outlet for myself. When I remember where I started with a beat up $50 camera, and see where I am now, I can only be humbly amazed. I have learned and grown but even more, I have been able to provide families with magical moments captured in time. The smiles, laughter, happiness and joy I have been able to experience with each client have worked to heal me in ways I never could have imagined, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
I think maybe that’s what resilience means to me, not knowing what is next but doing the next best thing. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other regardless of what the future holds, and adapting to what comes next. I might hit walls but I’ll choose to get back up again. What at one time in my life felt like the end of my world, instead became the beginning of an even more beautiful season of my life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I face many obstacles being a photographer with Chronic Migraine. Each day is different. What I was capable of yesterday, may not be realistic for today. I may be filled with energy and excitement at 10:00 am but just a few short hours later need to sequester myself in a dark room until the world stops spinning. This back and forth can be the most frustrating and hopeless part, but it’s become part of my daily routine. While I certainly wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone, it has taught me resilience and given me the ability to pivot in ways I could not have once imagined. Whether it’s dealing with an upset baby during a time sensitive shoot, getting toddlers to focus and smile in the same direction, comforting moms-to-be who may feel self-conscious about their bodies, or dealing with the unwanted symptoms of a Migraine: I can harness all that energy and pivot to a new plan of action. The benefit of learning to listen to my body and adapt my plans in a way that best takes care of myself, is that I can be in the moment and yet anticipate the chance to move in a new direction.
I remind myself that pivoting in life, does not always mean failure or defeat, it also includes new opportunities for growth. Pivoting can be new beginnings or can lead to creative ideas you would not have ever thought of otherwise. While I would love to tell you that I have an amazing attitude each day, most days can contain a certain level of despair when living in chronic pain. On those days that feel especially dark, and I can’t see the right path ahead, I trust my faith to carry me through. I choose to get up and believe each day that there is light even in the waiting.     

Contact Info:

• Website: jessnicolecreative.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jess.nicole.creative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessNicoleCreative/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jessicawersteinharris

Image Credits
All image credits to Jess Nicole Creative