We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jai’Lyn Lover a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jai’Lyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
Unfiltered Photography has many passion areas, one specifically is the homeless population in which I call Hidden Figures. Each photoshoot that I have a percentage goes towards the efforts that I do in my community. I typically do a Summer and Winter event. In December I will be hosting my Annual Holiday for the Homeless Event. This is an event where I provide a hot homecooked meal, Unfiltered Sweatshirts, hats, gloves, scarfs, and all other winter essentials at a local shelter. During the Summer I held Hidden Figures Freedom Fest. This was an event where our Hidden Figures were offered a vendor like experience where they could shop around for any items that they needed for FREE. I had clothes, shoes, Mary K, food vendors, and tons of other community partners. Hidden Figures were also able to get free haircuts, play games, and dance to a live DJ, all while enjoy a hot meal. I am one who truly has a passion for the people.
https://youtu.be/Es8pWmcANao?si=JZrE-vmL8Wo-BB4G
Jai’Lyn, 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?
I am Jai’Lyn Lover, the owner of Unfiltered Photography LLC. I am originally from Montgomery Alabama but I now reside in Winston Salem North Carolina. I have been doing photography going on 6 years now. My father use to work as a camera man a local news station back home, being a daddy’s girl growing up being able to go to work with my dad and watching what he was doing, and him allowing me to press buttons during the live shows is what sparked my interest in photography. My dad for as far as I can remember has always the family camera man even during the Kodak days. My parents brought me my very first camera Christmas of 2018 and I have been going and growing ever since. The name of my business if Unfiltered Photography LLC. Its not just a name its a Lifestyle. Every shoot people are always asking ” Can you make me look skinny, can you fix this, can you fix that”. I want my clients to truly love who they are inside and out. So I deliver crisp clear images with very minimal retouches to the physical appearance of the client I think that is what sets me apart from others. My proudest moments are just receiving the feedback of how much clients love their photos and seeing them being used for various projects.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Shifting from a mindset of chasing a check to networking. Most time I have to take a step back and let my passion fuel my drive and not the money. What do I mean by this? Well, when I moved 8 hours away where I had a very steady client base I had to start at ground zero. When I got to Winston I begin during my research on local events that were happening and reached out to see if they had a photographer and if they would like one. I offered a service for free and it has worked in my favor ever since with making that connection. Not only have I been rebooked with the initial contacts but also participants of the events.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I want someone to say because of you I didn’t give up. I want to continue to inspire the individuals around me and photography allows me to do just that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unfilteredphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: unfiltered.photography.llc
- Facebook: Unfiltered Photography LLC
Image Credits
Unfiltered Photography LLC