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

Hi Jenna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Being a creative comes with the opportunity to give back to the community in ways that big corporate giants just cannot. Giving your artistry to another individual running a business of their own, or working on a passion project of their own – can fill you with joy and re-spark passions unlike anything else; all while helping another individual do the same.

One of my favorite ventures as a photographer has been working alongside other small business owners and non-profits in the Denver area. Alexa Hesse, the owner of Yummy Lotus, is the perfect example of this. Yummy Lotus was created with pure intentions to help others find solid ground, and stabilize within their health – this quickly transformed into the creation of the best darn pepper jam you’ll find on the market. Why? Because Alexa Hesse crafts each batch with a piece of her heart. You can see the hard-work that goes into creating each jam, and that alone is reason enough to support it. Being one of her product photographers has brought inspiration to my company many times. As a portrait photographer, products weren’t immediately my ‘jam’, but working with Yummy Lotus gave me the opportunity to learn a new skill, and i’ve been working alongside her to enhance those skills ever since. (https://www.yummylotus.com/)

I also had the pleasure of working with Project I See You in Denver in 2018. You could see that the crafting of Te Veo House was so close to their hearts, and was so important for the community. I was given the chance to create a video introduction for the house, to be shown at a fundraising event for the project. Again, being a portrait photographer, this project was outside my wheelhouse – but I accepted the opportunity as a chance to help another community with their dreams, while enriching my own skillset and portfolio. This project guided me through basic video skillsets, and was the beginnings of my video aspirations, which I am now introducing to my clients. (https://www.projectiseeyou.org/)

I will always support my community in any way possible, it brings more meaning to my craft, and allows me to bring success to others’.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Jenna Loeva, and I am a photographer/videographer residing in Denver, Colorado. I began my journey as a photographer in middle school, ideating dreams of becoming a travel journalist. This goal has since shifted towards traveling as a portrait photographer and videographer, but my love for people and my community has remained ever-growing. Studying journalism and psychology at MSU Denver, my heart resides in crafting images and videos that tell stories and capture moments worth a million memories.

I hope to not only provide photo and video services to my community and beyond, but to provide memories to my clients that are cherished, and serve as a reminder of life’s beauty. I aim to capture emotions and personalities in a true and artistic light, creating images and videos that are overflowing with emotion.

Adding videography to my services in 2023 has opened a new platform for creating with my clients and serving them in more ways. I am overjoyed to be booking clients outside of Colorado, and beginning my journey as a traveling photographer and videographer – giving me the chance to connect with more beautiful humans outside of my home state.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

As society has began to shift towards an even more automated world, artists and creatives can be found with growing concern for their job security as much as any other industry. AI developed artwork has taken over social media platforms over the course of the last year, and the technology is only continuing to grow. While these robotic, on demand creations are exciting, easier to access, and, well, cheaper – it also removes one of the most important pieces of the human experience – human connection.

Right now more than ever, society can support artists and creatives by choosing to book with or purchase from them, instead of using automated technologies. While a robot can give you a creative portrait of yourself in minutes that you can perfect to your liking, you miss out on the opportunity to craft a memory and share space with another artist. I’m not saying you shouldn’t use these technologies, by all means – take advantage of your resources. Simply, remember that there are actual humans in your community excited to create with you, and take joy in crafting an experience that you will remember and cherish for the long run.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being a creative is rewarding as a whole, but to me, the most rewarding piece is connecting on a deep and vulnerable level with so many other amazing human beings.

Being in front of a camera can be intimidating for many, and it often makes people uncomfortable and nervous. I strive to ease these discomforts, but it is a very vulnerable process in which each individual must trust me to showcase their personalities and emotions in the truest light. It is so immensely rewarding to connect with each of my clients, and curate images and videos that capture their dreams. I get to work alongside so many beautiful humans, and feel eternally grateful to be shown these pieces of them and their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennaloeva.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennaloevaphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennaloevaphotography
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennaloevaphoto

Image Credits
Jenna Loeva Photography, LLC