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

Alright, Jacki thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I’d been working as a family photographer when my business started shifting more toward portraiture and headshots. As I photographed more individuals, I became very interested in their stories and how they wished to be perceived through these images. I was drawn to artists who have such rich stories to tell: of who they are and also what they create. Today, artists are in a unique position of needing to successfully tell both of those stories in order to reach patrons and sell their art. Social media requires immense time and energy, and that often takes away from their creative time. By creating images they need- headshots, documentary photography, and finished or exhibition work, I am able to take some of the strain off artists so they can focus on doing what deeply matters to them.

I believe that genuine curiosity is the key to professional success. Passion becomes watered down by functional needs, and chasing the market means you’re always second best to whomever is leading the charge. By focusing on what drives me forward, I have found success with a resonant community of incredibly talented artists, and I am honored to watch them grow and evolve in their work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a photographer of artists, and I specialize in documenting the artistic process for anyone who creates art, from tattoo artists to ballet dancers. I am captivated by the artistic process, and I honor the chance to be a “fly on the wall” as someone creates art.

I began photographing professionally in 2012, when a friend pulled me and my “fancy camera” into a family photo session. I’ve been fortunate to have a consistent expansion of my business through referrals, which has allowed me to follow interesting leads and connections within my community.

There are many photographers who do social media content creation, headshots, or marketing photography. My business uniquely delivers a combination of these typologies without feeling intrusive. I grew up with a fashion designer and a woodworker, and spent many hours watching them create clothing and furniture I used every day. This deep appreciation for the process is what keeps me curious and engaged in the artistic community.

I am fortunate to call Houston, Texas home, and we have a thriving and robust arts community with diverse artists working in a variety of scales and applications. On a given weekend, I can visit a world class art museum, an open studio event at artist’s lofts, and see unique and interesting artwork at a local farmer’s market. We are surrounded by local art in restaurants and cafes, in our shops and gyms. It is an honor to live in a place so immersed in the creative process.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I operated my business for many years with the idea that my art was not valid if it didn’t make a certain amount of money. I closely tracked my yearly sales, trying to always beat last year’s number. I find now that this kind of growth is fundamentally unsustainable, and that the pursuit of profit has ultimately disengaged me from my own creative satisfaction. In the last year, I’ve had the fortune to step back from the spreadsheets and focus on chasing the work I care about most.

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

I am most satisfied with my work when my subject feels like a collaborative partner. There’s nothing better than the exclamations of a happy client, and I feel incredible pride when they reach out to work together multiple times. I am always thrilled to see a new evolution of work from these artists, and to share in their growth journey as they continue to make art. Is it incredibly rewarding to feel like a part of that growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.versophotography.com
• Instagram: verso.photo