Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacki Mcbride. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jacki, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Some of the most meaningful photos I’ve captured involve super sentimental family sessions. The first session that I *immediately* cried after was when an adult daughter booked me to do a mother/daughter session at the nursing home where her Mom currently resides. Her mother is struggling with some serious dementia and she mentioned she wanted to have photos done that felt like “them” while they still could. Throughout our time together it was obvious how deep their connection is and it was such an honor to not only be able to witness it, but to be trusted to capture it. I remember driving home and pulling over at a farm stand to pick up fresh cut flowers for my Mom, just because. I was seriously in my feels. The photos I captured showed their banter, their emotion, and their unconditional love for one another, and I’ve been lucky to photograph them again since then. I didn’t know it at the time, but that session kickstarted a series of sentimental photoshoots that are undoubtedly some of my favorites of all time, including a 50-year wedding anniversary session and two family sessions with cancer-stricken parents. As much as I love love and my couples, these emotional shoots are ones that will always stick with me and have me SO grateful that I get to be a part of it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My photography journey began in the summer of 2022, when I introduced Park Place Photography to the world. Named after my horse Grinch (Park Place is his competition name), I created my Instagram account and began photographing everything and everyone. An avid lover of taking photos of beautiful places and friends, I never expected my passion to bring me to where I am today. As a full time high school History teacher, photos have always been my creative outlet that fills my cup. My husband Tim (hi babe!!) gave me the confidence I needed to take a leap and pursue this thing on my own-he believed in me when I thought I had nooo business calling myself a *professional*. Not only does photography allow me to be creative, innovative, and let people see the world through my eyes, it has also brought me some of the most amazing clients-turned-friends and colleagues I have ever known. I have a keen eye for detail and the art of noticing, often acting as a fly on the wall while you are in your natural element but also guiding and prompting you to allow your emotions and playfulness to shine. I’m the kind of person that falls in love with your love story, sees your kids as my own, and understands how precious freezing a moment in time is. When booking me, my clients can expect to have made a friend for life, have fun during our time together, and trust that I will have their back 100%.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Even before I started photography I have always been obsessed with beautiful places. Maybe it’s the Sagittarius in me, but my wanderlust is STRONG. One of my goals in life is to visit all of the US National Parks, and my travel bug is always itchin’. At the moment, I am serving clients in CT and New England, but it is an absolute dream of mine to capture an elopement in an epic location. There are so many places on my bucket list, and I seriously can’t wait for the day when that inquiry and booking comes my way.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect is seeing the gratitude from my clients. After all, they are the ones trusting me to capture some of the most special and intimate moments of their lives with their loved ones. Words of affirmation is totally my love language, so seeing the impact that *my* photos have on my clients sometimes can be unreal. Seeing my clients profile pictures immediately change, or when they send me a picture of their home filled with framed prints, it gives me the warm and fuzzies every time. Often I have to pinch myself to remind me that I get to do this for a job and how incredibly lucky I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://parkplacephotographyct.com
- Instagram: parkplacephoto
- Facebook: Park Place Photography
