We recently connected with Jenna Donnelly and have shared our conversation below.

Jenna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

In my photography, I prioritize the dancer’s/client’s experience, which I found tends to get overlooked in the industry. There is often a sole focus on getting the perfect image, but I am more about the journey we take to get there. Being in front of the camera can be an intimidating and uncomfortable experience for anyone, but it doesn’t have to be. I want every individual to feel completely comfortable and, most importantly, genuinely seen. Each session is tailored to the person in front of my camera – it is all about creating a safe space where they can just be their most authentic selves and explore movement without any pressure. For me, it is not just about capturing a great shot; it is about creating an experience everyone feels good about and photos that show who they are.

Jenna, 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?

Hi, I’m Jenna, a movement and headshot photographer based in NYC. I’ve loved photography ever since I was a kid, thanks to my dad. He was always taking photos of my siblings and me, and some of my favorite memories are of us setting up a makeshift studio in the basement. We’d turn old blankets into backdrops and play around with creating images—I fell in love with the process of creating images by watching his love for photography firsthand.

These days, what I care about most is making my shoots feel safe, fun, and collaborative. I know photo sessions can feel intimidating, but I’m all about putting you at ease and making it a team effort. To me, we’re both artists in different mediums, and there is so much beauty in bringing them together.

I’m so proud of how far my little business has come in just a year. Getting to do what I love full-time and connecting with incredible people is such a gift.

And if you’re thinking about booking a shoot with me: don’t worry, I don’t bite! My goal is to make the experience easy, enjoyable, and maybe even fun. Let’s create something amazing together!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A big pivot in my career happened when I moved to NYC. I went to school for fine art photography, so when I started getting into the more commercial side of the industry, I felt very out of my element. One of the first couple of projects I worked on involved photographing some friends who are dancers, and I completely fell in love with it. There’s something so beautiful about combining movement with the stillness of photography.

Over time, I’ve found ways to bring my fine art background into every shoot. I still get to create narratives and employ techniques I’d use for my art photography.

Even now, I don’t fully consider myself a commercial photographer. My focus is always on creating something that feels personal and artistic. That pivot to working with dancers not only opened up new opportunities but also reminded me why I loved photography in the first place.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey has always been about discovering my process and finding ways to bring others into it. For me, creating isn’t about the lone painter locked away, focused only on their work. Creating thrives on community. We are shaped by our experiences and the people in our lives, and because of that, our work reflects that too.

I know I’ve touched on this a lot throughout the interview, but I hope it highlights how much I value this in what I do. My work is with people and about people. Every shoot I do looks and feels different because each person is different. You’re not hiring me as a photographer for a particular style or look—you’re hiring me as a photographer to see you and have others do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennajpg.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna.jpgphotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-donnelly-6abb89194/

Image Credits
all are done by me :)