Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Esseiva

Hi Jennifer, 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 discovered photography at the age of 15, thanks to a course on film photography given by my school. I’d always been attracted to the visual arts, such as drawing and watercolour painting. That course was the catalyst for my interest in photography, and I soon bought my first SLR: a Nikon D40x, which I named Arthur. Since then, I’ve owned four Nikon cameras, all named Arthur. In 2024, I shoot with the new mirrorless Nikon Z8.

After that, I tried my hand at several genres, including travel/reportage, fashion and nude photography. It was during a solo trip to Chile in 2012 that my passion for landscape photography was born. The Chilean landscapes were so beautiful, vast and colourful. It was incredible to be able to immortalise them with my Arthur camera.

Since then, Arthur has accompanied me on every trip. Coming from a family of globetrotters, I love discovering new horizons and I love exploring them even more with my camera. What I like about landscape photography is that I always spend a certain amount of time in the same place, which allows me to immerse myself in the place. I take the time to choose my framing, look around and appreciate the moment. But I have to admit that this also comes with a bit of stress, especially when the light changes rapidly. I’d love to be able to capture every possible shot of every location, but I know that’s impossible.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

My biggest challenge is probably my lack of self-confidence. A little voice in my head is constantly telling me: ‘You could do better’, even if my eyes can’t find a better photo to take.

To make progress, I follow many landscape photographers and analyse what makes their photographs superior to mine. By comparing myself to them, I often feel that my artistic work is less good and less visually striking.

I think that my own judgement and lack of self-confidence are sometimes my biggest obstacles. I know I should trust my instincts more. But I also think it’s good to look at what other people are doing, if only to keep an open mind and challenge yourself.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

Professionally, I opted for a career in marketing. For me, it was essential that landscape photography remained a genuine passion. It’s my personal artwork, my unique vision of the world. I didn’t want to be limited by clients who imposed specific compositions or colours.

Photography is a powerful means of expression for me, allowing me to escape and decompress after a week’s work. What I’m particularly proud of is that I’ve learned everything I know on my own.

In my artistic work, I seek to share beautiful landscapes, to make people dream and to allow them to travel without leaving their homes. My aim is simply to capture beautiful light, beautiful landscapes and to show that nature is beautiful everywhere.

Recently, I plunged into the captivating art of self-portraiture. It was a personal journey, an exploration of myself through the lens of my camera. I wanted to transcend my usual clichés, to add a dimension of fantasy and emotion. So, wearing long dresses in shimmering colours, I put myself in the picture.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

That’s a difficult question, because I’m more of a loner. But the most important thing for me is the support of those close to me, in particular my dad and my boyfriend.

My dad has always been there to support me in my passion for photography. Every time I share one of my photos on LinkedIn or Instagram, he likes them and shares them back. He even decorated one of his offices with several of my printed photos!

As for my boyfriend, Paolo, he’s an invaluable support. He accompanies me on every trip and is truly my travelling companion. As soon as we arrive, he helps me set up my tripod, gives me my filters and sets off to explore the surroundings in search of other photographic perspectives while I frame my shots. He stays by my side for hours, chatting and helping me capture new images. He also takes behind-the-scenes photos and videos for the social networks. His presence on site is a real support to me! It’s often said that behind every great man there’s a woman, but in fact I think the opposite is just as true!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jenniferesseiva.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferesseiva/
• Other: Behance : https://www.behance.net/jenniferesseiva

Image Credits
All photos are done by myself : Jennifer Esseiva