We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jen Bertrand. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jen below.

Hi Jen, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope that my legacy will be that I was someone who loved and cared deeply and who did her best to help others in ways both big and small.

Jen, 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 Jen Bertrand, a photographer and photography educator in Dallas, Texas. I help people and photographers tap into their inner badass so they can show up confidently in front of or behind the camera. For me, my business is about more than just creating beautiful images. It’s about connecting with my clients, getting to know them, and bringing their personality and inner beauty to the forefront while building their confidence and changing the negative thoughts and inner dialogue they create for themselves daily. I guide every client through the process and help them walk away with posing tips so they can feel beautiful no matter the image being taken of them.

Since my good ol’ college days in the Photojournalism Department at UT Austin, I’ve explored different areas of photography – weddings, events, families, headshots, maternity, newborns, high school seniors…you name it, I shot it. Creative stagnation led to photographing what I thought people wanted to see, not what was in my heart. And that lead to a ton of self-doubt.

When I found out I was pregnant in May of 2015, though, my soul shook and my heart beat heavy with purpose. It was the first time in my life I truly felt comfortable in my own skin. I finally felt like…well, me. I was no longer afraid to be my true self,

no longer fearful of what anyone else could or would say about me. “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill had become my anthem. WHERE HAD THIS VERSION OF ME BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE?! My focus had shifted, and I was changed for the better. When my daughter came into this world, I was told, “Get ready. The days are long, but the years are short.” Truer words had never been spoken. I realized quickly that life is just too damn short for the mundane. What is art without soul? And, what is life without fun? It was then I made the decision that my vision had a place in this world, and it was time for it to be unleashed.

That’s why Jen Bertrand Photography is focused on creating editorial, magazine-style imagery that speaks to the individual. I believe we all deserve to make our mark in this world and to be documented. The editorial imagery I create speaks to that special mark of each individual, and it comes with an unforgettable experience that changes you for the better. It makes you see the best version of yourself, and we all deserve to feel like the badasses we are.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth and a little SEO, but mostly showing up authentically both online and in person. Who you see on my website is who I am in person. I believe that people hire me not just because I create beautiful images, but also because I speak directly to their fears and work hard to help them overcome those fears. It’s true that people remember how you made them feel, and empathy in customer service wins every time. Providing unbeatable customer service will always keep people coming back and referring their friends and family to you.

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Being a creative is so much more than just being creative and/or being naturally talented. More often than not, we’re working alone and wear ALL the hats in a business – creator, marketing director, editor, customer service agent, bookkeeper, CFO, and on and on. Most of our time is spent on all of the other things that allow us to be creative that other 15% of the time. Additionally, there are so many hidden costs that the customer doesn’t see. While digital images don’t have repeated hard costs like film, there are so many other things we have to pay for in order to create that final product. From continuing education to the cost of digital storage, being a creative full-time and making money you can actually live on is HARD work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jenbertrandphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenbertrandphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenbertrandphotography
• Other: Education website: www.enlightenworkshop.com

Image Credits
Jen Bertrand Nicollette Mollet