We recently connected with Jeannie Albers and have shared our conversation below.

Jeannie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Part of what makes photography an exciting career for me: there will never be a day when I stop learning. I’m also keenly aware that my success hinges a great deal on how much I’m willing to study—things like color theory, composition, lighting, posing, editing, business, communication, marketing, etc… if I want my craft to improve and if I want to be hirable, I know I have to put in the time.

About 5 years after college was when I realized I wasn’t built for an office job. Oops. Although I’d never studied photography, I’d toted a camera since I was 13 and photographed countless portraits and weddings.
Yet, if I wanted to grow beyond my natural light amateur images and truly make it a career I’d enjoy, I’d have to learn so much that intimidated me… like lighting. At that point, I reached out to a local creative whose film & photo work I greatly admired. He was several years ahead of me, and had studied cinematography at Full Sail. I certainly couldn’t afford to go back to school (especially Full Sail), so I asked him if I could hire him to teach me how to apply cinematic lighting to stills.

That was the beginning of a 5 year mentorship, and a huge turning point in the quality of my work and art. While we mainly covered the science of light and the art of storytelling through it, it sparked this unquenchable interest in learning about this craft. I’ve found it helpful to also cross-learn; I’ll study traditional art, cinematography and music, regularly reading textbooks, watching youtube videos, and taking masterclasses online.

Looking back, I don’t know how I could’ve done things differently. I turned hobby into career rather late in the game, and I have generally had a good handle on areas in my work that need improvement since then. As a kinesthetic learner, I’ve had to apply new techniques slowly over time until they are learned habits. My pace has been slow, but it’s been the best pace for me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jeannie Albers and I specialize in portraiture, fashion, and advertising photography. My work is usually a touch whimsical, moody, and cinematic, and I shoot about 70% location and 30% in studio (like during these blistering summer months). Orlando is home and this is where family is, so I’ve told myself that for as long as I can still travel and shoot in beautiful places and with great clients, this is where I’ll stay based out of. I’ll be in Paris for all of August however, and my friends and family are taking bets whether or not I’ll return. *shrugs*

Learning about a person/company/product and figuring out how to communicate their message through photographs, is something I really enjoy (and what many of my clients come to me for help with). I think they value that while I do have my own personal style, they can trust that I care more about telling their story than my own. It’s important to me that each project is unique to each client, that their voice shines through (they are the heroes, if you will), and I just aim to provide clarity and excellence and give their brand artful imagery to represent them. I celebrate the beauty in people and this place we inhabit, and I want others to experience said beauty, and see themselves as part of it. Many times, I’ve seen the power of when someone looks at a good photo of themself for the first time; they finally feel like someone worth being photographed and seen and celebrated, and that means everything to me. My personal work is something I’m still developing and producing, and is a crucial part of my journey as a photographer. I’ll occasionally participate in galleries or produce my own fashion stories, but for the time being, the commercial side of things is how I keep the lights on.

The journey of how I got to this point is definitely not a clear path; middle school through college, I worked over 20 different jobs so that I could explore what industries I liked/disliked, what I was naturally good/bad at, and also because I’ve always been curious and wanted to experience a little bit of everything life has to offer. I’ve been a musician, an athlete, worked in hospitality, and even interned with a physical therapist (to name a few), and I seemed to be the only one in my family who didn’t know what they wanted to be when they grew up. I immensely enjoyed traditional art and photography, but didn’t think there could be a career for me there. I had no examples around me of a career artist, and I didn’t really consider it until around 2012 when my boyfriend at the time (a fellow musician), saw some of my paintings and photographs and asked why I hadn’t considered a career in either, and encouraged me to start a small business (shooting portraits and weddings and doing pop up art shows on weekends). It was only maybe a year or so later that I quit my full-time job and found something part-time so that I could really start pursuing the business. For a while it was equal parts painting and photography, and I realized a career as a photographer was more sustainable in the this city, so I honed in on it and let the painting go (for now), and since 2015, it’s been my full-time gig. It’s been wonderful, it’s been difficult, it’s always humbling… I cry a lot but I also smile a lot. It’s the best job.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

“THE ARTIST WAY” by Julia Cameron has pulled me through SO many times. I can’t recommend it enough to creatives and I’ve bought copies for numerous friends over the years. Maybe not everyone wants to quit this career path at some point, but I certainly have; it’s really really hard to have something you care so much about (your art) also be what puts bread on your table. She gives practical advise to overcoming self-doubt, tapping more into your creativity, and how to be resilient when the work or the ideas run dry. I’m currently reading its sequel: “Finding Water”.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

It’s almost always word of mouth for me. And you never know who is speaking about you in the room; I’ve had hair and makeups artist refer me to big commercial shoots… jobs I probably shouldn’t have even been on since I’m not currently represented or with a union or whatever. My rule of thumb has always been to kind and respectful (and also fun to be around). Show up on time. Lend a helping hand. Be humble. Do excellent work. Go the extra mile. It’s furthered my career more than any marketing. I think in the next year or two I may explore finding representation so that I can book more of the types of jobs I’m interested, but I wouldn’t have the portfolio to walk into their offices with if it hadn’t been for word of mouth referrals.     

Contact Info:

• Website: jeanniealbers.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jeanniealbers
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jeanniealbers