We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeanne Schnoor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jeanne, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

As a photographer, you are a story teller. With landscapes, fine art and portraits.

In portrait photography I strive to capture special moments, natural laughs and smiles. If you think about it, even our eyes smile. As I would go through images with clients, I would point out when my client began to relax their eyes, now there was a sparkle that matched the smile on their face. With landscape photography it is impact first and foremost. The image must capture the attention of the viewer. You can have a perfectly executed image, it is sharp in all the right places, exposure spot on, but if there is not impact the viewer will not linger on the image to go into the image and look around.

Customer success story for Portraits-I had a client come to me for portraits. When she came to view her images in my studio she began to cry. I thought oh no! What have I done to make her cry? She stared at the screen and told me, “My mother told me I was ugly, plain, no one would ever want me while growing up. But you made me look beautiful!” I didn’t make her look beautiful with Photoshop. Instead I used wonderful lighting to light up her eyes. Moved the soft box close to minimize wrinkles. Rim lit her hair. And posed her in a flattering manner. I welled up knowing I had given a gift to this client, I will never forget it.

Landscape/Fine Art-I had a very patriotic client. He wanted a large image of Washington Monument. I boarded a plane to Washington DC. My flight was delayed and I didn’t arrive to my hotel until 2:00 am. I was exhausted. The weather forecast was beautiful for the morning but rain the rest of the week. My husband told me this is your only chance. So 2 hours later we were in a Uber on our way. I got the image I wanted! It was a pano, 9 images stacked together so it could be printed in large format. I sold not one of these…but 5 copies! This was also when I was opening my portrait studio, so selling these fine art prints funded lighting and new floors for my studio.

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

I fell in love with photography at an early age, when I got my first camera. I was 10 years old and took my first photography class in 4H. My entry for 4H made it to the State Fair and placed well, from there I was hooked!

While in high school I was fortunate enough to be on the yearbook staff and I had access to a camera and darkroom.
What more could a girl ask for?

I continued photography through the years, but I missed the artistic creativity and freedom that the darkroom offered.
With the introduction of digital capture…it was like having a darkroom again.

I have attended many classes through the years, Professional Photographers of America, Santa Fe Workshops which is one of the top photography schools in the nation, and too many other workshops to mention. I siezed every opportunity to improve my skillset for portraits and fine art. I continue to educate myself on the newest techniques to capture exactly what I want for my clients. You never stop learning. And there is always something new you can master.

I set a side time each month to mentor new photographers. I also volunteer to judge art shows and critique when asked for a local photography club.

I have been blessed to represent many corporate clients, as well as individuals. I always strive to deliver the best prints and quality work I can to my clients.

I closed my portrait studio a few years ago when my husband I purchased a 5th wheel. We are off and traveling the entire United States. Each day brings a new street photography, a new style of portrait photography for me or a beautiful sunset or sunrise.

People & Landscapes are my favorite to photograph. And God has provided me with such a variety of people and places to capture!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I wanted to own a portrait studio that was in a commercial space and not out of my home. I worked at a large portrait studio learning lighting, photographing and all other business aspects. After 2 years, I ventured out on my own. I could not yet afford a commercial space. I sold fine art and did portraits for clients in outdoor spaces. I saved for 2 more years. I eventually began purchasing lighting, soft boxes, reflectors, backdrops, an electronic backdrop system. My entire spare bedroom was full of paid for in full studio equipment.

A few years later I leased a commercial space. I set up shop. It was far from perfect…but had the high ceilings I needed, the space I needed. It really needed updated. But I did not want to be in debt to update. I worked for 1.5 years full-time, some weeks 7 days a week. I was able to purchase wood floors and remodel my space from top to bottom. I finally had a studio that not only looked professional it was professional right down to my training, my equipment and the services I provided to my clients.

I was blessed with profitable years each and every year. Referrals were my main source of business for fine art and portraits. Then Covid hit. In our state we closed for almost 8 weeks. It was then with time off…I was reminded of how important family is, I saw my grandchildren every week. I was getting 8 hours of sleep. I was not working 7 days a week. The time came to re-open. I told my husband, I would not trade owning my own studio for anything in the world. I had grown tremendously as a photographer and business owner…but…I was ready for something new. I felt I had a new lease on life.

We purchased a 5th wheel, I put in my notice to my landlord for my commercial space and I never looked back. I still sell fine art on a regular basis. Our travels have allowed me to visit almost all the destinations on my bucket list to photograph.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Covid forced me to be away from my studio. It forced me to slow down. It forced me to re-evaluate my commitments. I have chosen more time with my family. More time to travel. More time to live life, not just work. Yet, photography will always be a part of my life. It is a passion for me since my youth. I am also enjoying giving back to new photographers. I have the best of both worlds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jeanneschnoor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanneschnoor/
• Facebook: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.facebook.com/jeanneschnoorphotography/&ved=2ahUKEwiLtJTZ58ONAxUdDkQIHQz_AwAQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3N8dSKtY5b4KghwGt2a0nO
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/frHFU6t

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