Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacqueline “Shay” Hattaway. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jacqueline “Shay”, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
She left him – my mom left my father, who was an alcoholic and drug addict. For many years my mom put up with the problems because she thought she was doing the right thing and was worried she couldn’t survive on her own. In reality, she did better off without him. My mom is such a hard worker and determined woman. She started her own cleaning company and always found a way to make it all happen. Every single thing. Her friend once told her, ‘your kids are the richest little broke kids I have ever met. You always make it happen for them.’ And no truer statement was ever said about my mother. She is and always will be Mrs.-Get-It-Done. The best thing she has ever done was prove to me that if you want to make things happen, you will. While I was in college I found myself in an abusive relationship of four years. I ended up getting pregnant during the pandemic and it changed the course of my life forever, it changed my whole outlook. I knew that I would have to leave if not for my safety and well-being, for the sake of my sons. I was scared more than anything, but I knew that it would be for our benefit. I tried working after the first year of my sons life and was fired due to having to leave work often to tend to and pick up my sick baby from daycare. I knew at that very moment I needed to do something else. I could not keep barely making it, never get to see my child, have to PAY for someone else to raise my baby, and NOT feel happy or fulfilled. I knew it was time to chase my dreams full time and make my business happen. I had been photographing on the side for nearly two years when I decided to go for… ever since that moment, I’ve had moments and days of panic and worry about how I am going to make it all happen – and by the grace of God, it always happens. My only hope in life is that my son knows there’s nothing more fulfilling than chasing your dreams and getting shit done, and that his mom did both.
Jacqueline “Shay”, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Shay! I am the owner and creative mind behind the camera at ‘Jackie Shay Photography + Creative LLC’, and a division of called ‘JSP + Creative Intimates’, where I hold a safe place for individuals of all shapes, colors, and sizes and facility an experience that helps you learn to not only embrace, but love your body as it is. In today’s world of social media and photoshop, it is so important to be able to view yourself with kinder eyes and embrace all the beautiful ebbs and flows of the body God created for you. At Jackie Shay Photography, I carry those same core values while documenting your human life experience. I enjoy capturing intimate moments of genuine connection and documenting life’s milestones and achievements through still images and video clips. From couples, to engagements, weddings, births, newborns, milestones, seniors, events, and anything else you want memories you create to look back on for years and years to come. My approach to documenting your life is a directorial approach. I do not do just the typical stand here, smile, and say cheese! I direct you through games or prompts to evoke genuine emotion and connection that really shine through in my work.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The greatest pivot in my life is when I went from working full time at a crystal shop, and full time single parent, and trying to run my small photography business on to side. To losing my job because of my commitment to my role as a mom and caring for my baby when he needed me, and deciding to take the biggest leap of faith in my life and pursue my creative dreams full time with ferocity. I am determined to succeed and just like that saying, when it’s something you LOVE, you never have to work a day in your life.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I love sharing the resources I’ve found and come to love! I live by the idea of community over competition, 100%. One of my absolute favorites is Canva! They have a free version too! I enjoy making carousel instagram posts with the ‘SCRLL’ app. They have many templates to work with and coming up with layouts from scratch are super easy. Follow me on Instagram for more helpful insight and sharing of marketing resources, and if you have any questions please message me there!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jackieshayphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackieshayphotography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jackieshayphotography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JackieShayPhotography
- Other: JSP + Creative Intimates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsp.creativeintimates/ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethanjustamom_podcast Podcast Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSJ9ypjzfgxycKzKFDbcVETCOgAtK2sJG&si=UWKOAfJuNQdHcfrk
Image Credits
Photo of me taken by Hector Ulin with @perspectiv.photos