We were lucky to catch up with Jacqueline Rios recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

One of the worst investments I made as a business owner was hiring a Photography Business Coach at a time when I wasn’t fully ready to integrate what I was learning.

At the time, I was highly motivated on a conscious level. I wanted to grow, refine my pricing and build a stronger client experience. That led me to invest in coaching, thinking that having the “right” strategy would move things forward. But what I didn’t realize then was that there’s a difference between being ready in theory and being ready in practice. This was about 2016.

Looking back, I can see that I had internal blocks around pricing, self-worth, and stepping fully into my value—that made it difficult to execute consistently. So even though I was receiving valuable information, I wasn’t fully integrating it. As a result, the return on that investment was limited for me.

I initially felt frustrated, like I had made the wrong decision and more doubts set in but eventually, I didn’t see it as a loss, I saw it as a lesson in timing and deeper self-reflection. The biggest takeaway, was learning to pair strategy with self-awareness. Self-awareness hasn’t been a one-time realization—it’s unfolded in layers. Each new level of growth has required a more honest look at how I show up, where I hesitate, and what I’m actually operating from beneath the surface.
Now, before I invest time, energy or money into something, I ask myself not only “Does this bring me value?” but also “Am I in a place where I can actually receive or hold space for this?” That shift has made me much more intentional with my decisions and has led to stronger outcomes in my business.

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?

Hi, I’m Jacqueline, the photographer behind Studio Soir. My journey into photography began as a late bloomer in 2009 at the age of 29, when I was accepted into New World School of the Arts in Miami. It was the first time I realized how deeply I was drawn to creating images that lived in my mind—I felt a need to bring them to life through photography.
At first, I was intimidated by it. Photography felt overly technical, expensive, and rooted in processes I didn’t yet understand, like darkrooms, chemicals, developing images, etc. It felt overwhelming. But at the same time, I was deeply curious about combining light, emotion, forms, and rawness. I was somewhat obsessed with the images I saw in fashion, music, and art magazines. I covered my walls with them as a teenager and I knew then I wanted to create work that carried that same feeling it just took me longer than most.
What began as a creative outlet gradually evolved into a business as I developed my style and built a deeper connection to the work. The name Studio Soir came from a more personal place—I was a very shy artist and felt the need to separate myself from my work, so I flipped my last name, Rios, into “Soir.” It became a way to create with a sense of distance and freedom. “Soir” also means “evening” in French, which unintentionally aligned with the softness, partial obscurity and mood I’m naturally drawn to.

Studio Soir grew as a reflection of my approach to photography—intuitive, intentional, and observant, focused on creating images that feel soft, honest, and at times, slightly surreal.

Over time, I’ve learned that my work is not just about technical skill, but about presence and connection. My goal is to hold space for people when I photograph them—to create an environment where they feel safe enough to open up, to soften, and to be seen in a more honest way. Collaborating with other creatives has also played a huge role in shaping my work, and that sense of creative freedom continues to sustain and inspire me.

Currently, I’m feeling especially drawn to the motherhood space—photographing expecting mothers, new mothers and the evolving connection between mothers and their children. There’s something deeply tender and poetic in those relationships and capturing that connection feels both meaningful and aligned with where I am creatively.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is getting to stay true to what lights me up every day. Whether I’m planning a personal creative shoot, preparing for a client session, or simply observing light and shadows, I’m constantly seeing and composing in real time.
That way of seeing becomes second nature. It’s not something you can fully explain—it’s something you develop and I feel fortunate that my work allows me to experience the world through that lens every day.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I would say resilience has shown up in my journey in layered ways. There have been multiple seasons in my life where I felt doubt, but I kept showing up to my art anyway.

When I became a mother, I was navigating a completely new identity, but I still felt a deep need to stay connected to my art. I didn’t always have the time or energy, but I held onto it in whatever way I could. Later, going through a divorce and having to rebuild my life (and identity) was another defining moment. I realized Photography has always been my constant—it was something that felt fully, authentically mine.

There were moments where I felt like I lost parts of myself or questioned my path, but my connection to my art through photography never really left. It always helped guide me back to myself.

Resilience, for me, hasn’t looked like big, dramatic wins. It’s looked like continuing to show up, staying connected to what I love, and choosing to rebuild, even when it felt uncertain. I’m still in that process—still growing, still refining—but I’ve learned to trust that consistency and connection to my work and community will keep moving me forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiosoir.com
• Instagram: @studiosoir
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-rios-aaa17319

Image Credits

All images are taken by me, Jacqueline Rios