We recently connected with Jena Ulriksen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jena, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success comes from persevering through hard times, celebrating the small wins, building relationships, and maintaining your mental and physical wellbeing in the process. To me, the idea of “success” far surpasses any monetary or superficial gain you can get. I think success comes from figuring out what your goals and values are. If you have a clear vision, it will help you create an actionable plan to reach your goals. It helps you stay focused on carrying out your “why,” and what really matters to you. When you are always working toward your “why,” it is almost impossible to not succeed.

As I’ve grown as a business owner, it can be hard to take a step back and recognize all the hard work put in to get to where I am today. I think one of the ways I feel successful is when my clients submit five star reviews and then book me again for their future photography needs. This sense of validation keeps me moving forward to provide a service that has a lasting impact on as many people as possible!

Jena, 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 am the owner of Sunshine Sentiments, and I am a North Carolina based, travel ready wedding photographer and videographer dedicated to capturing sentimental moments and preserving treasured memories for the madly in love and adventurous souls to relive throughout time. I am dedicated to the quality of my work and services and respect photography as an art form used to preserve treasured memories as a means to recall the emotions and love on your most special days.

I have always been interested in photography, but that’s not where I got my start. I have been in the fitness world for the past ten years, working for gyms, boutique fitness studios, and briefly for myself. I loved working in fitness because I got to meet new people, learn their stories and provide them a service that they valued. Just a few short years ago, I picked up my first “real” camera and absolutely fell in love with the idea of blending my creative side with my social side.

My whole world turn upside down in March of 2023, when my dad passed unexpectedly. I went searching for any and all relevant images of him and our family together but had no luck. Grappling with the empty feeling, I made it my goal to provide lasting memories in the form of photographs that people could almost feel; photos that could transport people back in time to the exact moment I took it.

Since then, I have been able to go full time in photography and got to hone in on my craft. In 2024, I started offering film and videography; this allows me to cover wedding days in a way that most photographers cannot. My fiancé is my videographer, and together, we offer a client experience that is both catered and unique to my clients. In our arsenal we have digital cameras, both 35mm and medium format film cameras, and even a Super 8mm camera for those who really love the vintage, nostalgic, home-movie style coverage.

My goal is to learn about what makes my clients excited, what they value the most, and how I can best serve them. I am a lover of all love: I am inclusive and celebrate love that looks unique to everyone. I am authentic and yearn for the natural, candid moments, documenting everything that you will want to remember in 30-40 years time. Always in the pursuit of genuine human-ness and connection, Sunshine Sentiments is your go-to for all things sentimental and important to you.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth has always been the best source of new clients! When clients have a great experience and they tell their friends about me, it is the highest compliment. It is a snowball effect and I am always grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and impact more lives in a positive way.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Being a creative does not mean I am always getting paid. I am a heart-driven creative, which means that I am in this career first and foremost to provide an impactful service for those who value beautiful imagery and having their memories frozen in time to be relived for many years to come. Of course being paid is important, and makes the hard work sustainable, but it is not what drives me. Sometimes this means photographing for free. Sometimes you have to remember you need to spend money to make money, or take on projects that don’t pay well or pay at all. Sometimes, it’s remembering that your payment just may be the experience you gain. The flip side of all of this is knowing when and how to set boundaries so that you don’t get taken advantage of. It’s almost like a dance, balancing the logistics and following your heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunshinesentimentsphoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinesentimentsphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunshinesentimentsphoto