We were lucky to catch up with Jacqueline Elaine Rivera recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
Success is an amusing term because while it’s something that most of us want to achieve, it also has so many different definitions. There are standards that are placed on each of us externally and also ones we place on ourselves internally. All in all, for the most part, we want to be successful and leave a legacy behind or an accomplishment to be remembered by. I believe that to be successful it takes all the things we normally hear about when we talk about its definition; determination, grit, hustle, persistence, discipline, and ambition. However, I believe that one also needs to be honest, be flexible, and be part of a community to be successful.
Often, we hear success stories and the focus is solely on the accomplishment. More digging has to occur in order for us to truly learn what it took for that person to arrive at that achievement. Success will not come if we are not honest with ourselves about what it will take to get there. Sometimes our lack of success comes because from the beginning we don’t allow ourselves to expect to fail. Success will only come with certain obstacles and failures that will provide lessons to become better and wiser. If we are honest from the very beginning about failure being a natural part of the path towards success, then we will see failure as proof that we are on the right track. Ellen DeGeneres said, “It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.” As I’ve grown in my own photography journey, I have seen how keeping an open and honest mind keeps me from giving up entirely. I know that I expect to be bad at new things before I get better. Remember that even the most talented artist of all time had to first learn how to draw a circle.
Together with honesty, we also must learn to be flexible. We can intellectually know that we need to be honest with ourselves, but if we cannot practically be flexible with our plans, then the struggle will truly be real. Flexibility is a delicate art that allows us to bend easily without breaking, like the toughest tree branches. In the countless stories that I have heard from others about success, the message has always been, “prepare for the worst, but expect the very best”. Having that flexibility takes time to acquire but it really helps when it comes time to take risks. As an artist, the path towards success will always be full of risks. We can never be sure how our art will be received, as well as, the fact that we will continue to evolve and change over time. Being flexible, allows us to not be mentally blocked or stuck by unexpected changes or curveballs. Flexibility also means that if we do find ourselves in an artistic rut, we know that it won’t be forever. Just like everything else in life, there are ups and there are downs. The important thing is that we prepare for the “downs” while we are in our “ups”.
One way we plan ahead is by seeking and finding the right community. Community is the place where the tired and despondent go to recharge. For most things in life, we have support groups; whether they are friends with commonalities, Facebook forums, clubs or interest groups at school or in other spaces, community always exists. As humans, we thrive in the gathering, in the sharing, and in the growing together. When we feel stuck, we can go to our community and speak with others who may have gone through similar situations and could help us through our own. The community is a place to find resources, tools, and other helpful insight waiting to be imparted. This has been especially true for me as I recently began organizing a group called, “Women Who Shoot – NJ” (IG- womenwhoshootNJ). This is a group for women in New Jersey who are also photographers. The purpose behind the group is for members to come together to grow, to learn and to share experiences together. The group held its first meet-up on Saturday, November 5th in Montclair, NJ. It was an opportunity for the ladies to meet in-person for the first time, share a meal and talk about what led them to photography. The meet-up ended with an impromptu photoshoot among the members present, and it was amazing to see different women brought together simply by the love for the captured image. The group plans to host a bi-monthly meet up to bring the photographers together. The next meet up is scheduled for Saturday, January 14th in Edison, NJ. The goal of community should always be to bring people together, to build up, to grow, to support one another, and give back to one another. I believe that success without community is like taking photographs in a dark room with no flash. You may capture the photo, but it’s so much easier when you have the additional support and resources, as well as the possibility of accomplishing the goal more quickly.
Jacqueline, 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?
My name is Jacqueline Elaine Rivera, also known as Jacqui. I’m the owner and lead photographer at SBJ Studios, known on social media as ShotbyJacque. ShotbyJacque was born in 2018, after years of having photography as a part of my life.
I’ve had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember. When I was a teenager, we would buy disposable cameras and take them on trips or outings with friends. I was the one in the group that was always taking pictures. My friends knew, so they would rely on me to bring more than one disposable camera. Afterward, I would be excited to go to have the film developed at the store so that I could take my printed photographs and compile a new album to show my friends.
Photography has always provided me with a different way to see the world. It gives me an opportunity to focus on what I want to focus on and blur out everything else.
Photography is also a wonderful way to connect with different people and be able to help them see their beauty in a new perspective. I primarily work with women clients, and my goal is to use my photography as a way to inspire an increase in confidence and a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty that we all possess at the core of who we are. Photography is a tool to help us tell stories and it allows us to capture ourselves in ways that we don’t get to see – since we cannot constantly see ourselves.
One new project in particular that I am seeking people for is called “Behind the Lens”. The concept is to find individuals who are open to sharing an experience that they have healed fr0m or are healing from and for us to create a photographic sequence to capture their journey of healing. In addition to being a photographer, I am a trained master’s level social worker. One of my long-term goals, is to combine my two worlds into one, and to use the therapeutic healing properties of the art of photography to help my clients continue to soar above. For more information about this project, you may contact shotbyjacque@gmail.com.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me has been my ability to connect personally with my clients. In order to capture my clients and their vision well, I need to be able to understand them and who they are even on a very basic level. As a result, I must get to know them and they get to know me, so that we can see the compatibility within the working relationship. Because of this process as an artist seeking to connect with the object of their inspiration, it also allows me to build lasting relationships with my clients. Many clients will return in the future for additional photo sessions, and it’s a testament to that relationship. Christian Morgenstern once said, “In every work of art, the artist himself [herself] is present.” There is no way around the artist having a connection to his or her artwork, and in photography that means with your model(s).
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients has always been word of mouth and referrals from previous clients. As time has passed, and I have had the opportunity to grow and get better as a photographer, more people have seen my work and share their experiences of working with me. Social media also helps, but referrals/reviews and word of mouth have always been the best.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shotbyjacque.com/
- Instagram: shotbyjacque
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shotbyjacque
Image Credits
Grace Adeyinka, Nadine Cherrak (models)