We recently connected with Jennifer Cooke and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My senior portrait & wedding photography business originated from the desire to simply take pictures, meet new people, travel, and build a business that could one day become scalable, profitable, and impactful. However, I realized that I needed to discover within myself what truly made me want to photograph high school senior girls & weddings. Specifically, what truly made me want to work with and meet these high school senior girls? I very much enjoyed my high school experience, but there were still struggles throughout high school that just made life as a teenage girl hard. I realized that I wanted to build a business as well as a community of young ladies whom I could get to know and become a part of their life. I wanted to do this because I knew I could relate to these girls. I wanted their high school senior photography experience to go beyond photography. I wanted to create a space where each young lady could feel radiant, special, and loved. Growing up, I was actually somewhat of a tomboy, which isn’t bad, but I actually felt that I shouldn’t be gorgeous all the time. I’m not saying that you should be prideful about your looks, but it’s important to remember that you are beautiful just the way that God made you. You are His child. He loves you. Because of this, showing love to these senior girls is my mission. From the initial inquiry to the final gallery delivery, I treat each girl with love & respect (and I might be just a little bit excited about their senior session too!!). I want these girls to feel secure and confident in who they are. They are deeply loved and cared for by the people in their life. They need to know this. Providing a special senior photography experience is just one way in which I can encourage these young ladies and show them love!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started photography in 2018 with a simple desire to take photos. I took my Canon T6 with me everywhere and photographed everything. I learned and grew over time by photographing nature, families, seniors, couples, products, landscapes, events, & eventually weddings. It wasn’t until 2020 that I realized I wanted to turn this passion into a business where I could serve people and build a long term investment for my future family. In early 2020, I had my first paying client. This is when I thought I could turn this love for photography into a business. In August of 2020, I purchased my first full frame camera body, the Canon 5D Mark IV. I loved this camera body and still do! In 2021, I started doing a lot more photography & videography gigs. In 2021, I graduated with a Video Production degree from Liberty University in Virginia and was married to my husband, Daniel T. Cooke, right after graduation. At the beginning of 2022, my husband and I moved from Virginia to Tennessee so that Daniel (composer & songwriter: danieltcooke.com) could network with musicians, directors, and songwriters in the Nashville, TN area. We spent 2022 building connections in Tennessee, creating a Christmas Album, photographing families, portraits, & weddings as well as traveling back to Virginia on occasion for senior portraits, family sessions, and weddings. As the end of 2022 approaches, we are continuing to build our businesses and make new connections!
I love working with radiant senior girls who are just as excited as I am about their senior photography experience! I absolutely love scheduling my senior sessions during Golden Hour as well as guiding them in unique poses to help them look their absolute best! My desire is to make each of my JC Seniors look and feel amazing!
What sets me apart from other photographers in the senior portrait industry?
I provide a Luxury Senior Portrait Experience to High School Senior Girls who want to invest in their senior photography as well as be a part of a growing community of radiant girls. I offer 1 hour sessions, 2 hour sessions, and I’d even do 3 hours if the senior wanted several different locations! I provide a senior questionnaire, senior style guide, location guidance, and a final gallery of digital images. Seniors have the option of purchasing additional canvas prints from me if they would like to have artwork in their home. My style of photography is bright & vibrant. My golden hour images, sharp images, use of unique posing, depth of field, and composition define my style. It is my desire to always be growing and improving my craft. At each senior session, I always try to push the limits on new & unique photographs (posing & composition) that we can create together.
As a wedding photographer, I love being able to serve my clients by capturing their day above and beyond what they are expecting of me. Always overdeliver. This is what I strive for. Romantic portraits are extremely important because these are some of the photos that you will be looking back on for the rest of your life. It is my desire that I capture you both just how you are on your wedding day! While I stay true to my photography style (bright & vibrant), I ask you if there are any places (on the venue property) that you would like photography. I make sure that I am serving you on your wedding day as well as getting all the images I need to make your wedding gallery complete and professional. As a bride myself, I know you are excited about your wedding images which is why I offer 4 to 8 week delivery (but sometimes even sooner than that if possible). I know you’re excited about your wedding images, and I am too, so I want to deliver your finished gallery to you as soon as possible!
Lastly, I absolutely love macro ring photography. I love being able to create artsy photographs from your rings. I am particularly passionate about photographing rings on a wedding day because of the eternal symbol of love and unity that the never ending circle represents.
As a senior portrait & wedding photographer, it is my utmost desire to make sure that my clients feel radiant throughout their entire senior photography experience as well as their wedding day experience.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding a business from the start can be very difficult, especially when it comes to expensive photography equipment. However, it is possible. First, you don’t have to buy the most expensive camera and lens when you are first starting. You can gradually work up to more expensive equipment as you grow your skills.
When I started photography, I was using my Canon T6. It was great for a while until I discovered the Canon 5D Mark IV. I loved the Canon 5D Mark IV and wanted to find a way to afford this $2500 camera body. I did my research and discovered that Amazon Prime offered interest free payment plans with an Amazon Visa Credit Card. It’s a funny story actually. One night, I was just curious as to how much the Canon 5D Mark IV cost on Amazon. So, I googled it, and I found a refurbished Canon 5D Mark IV Body and kit for around $2300 on Amazon. At first, I was like, that’s cool. Yet I started thinking about it, and realized that I could probably use my photography sessions to gradually pay off this camera (interest free with the Amazon Visa Credit Card). I became very excited, and I called my parents. I was still in college at the time, and I was like…. “Am I crazy?” I explained my plan to my parents, and they supported me in my decision to purchase the camera. After I purchased the camera, I called my boyfriend (Daniel) to tell him what I did. He was surprised, but not worried. Now one might ask, was it worth going into a bit of credit card debt? My answer is hands down yes, because I was able to take better photographs in college and build my portfolio so that by the time I graduated, I already had a business. Most people would say that credit card debt should be avoided at all costs. I agree with them except for this particular situation because it did really help my business grow. I was able to pay off the Canon 5D Mark IV in less time than the payment plan. And guess what this led to? Future gigs and future equipment that I could fund using my business income! The investment was worth it! If I had not invested in this camera when I did, I would not be where I am today.
Now, all of this did not happen overnight. Although I did purchase the camera in one night, it took 9 to 12 months of photographing sessions and working to pay off this investment. But once you have the investment, it is completely worth it!
When you’re building a business, you have to think of the first few years as an investment. If you continue to invest your time and some funds, your business will grow.
Now, there were other business expenses such as building a website (which I built myself), editing photos within Lightroom, gallery hosting, contract signing, business insurance, etc. So yes, those were other expenses I had to pay for, but ultimately I was able to do it through perseverance, determination, and God’s provision.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
During my junior year of college (spring of 2020) and while I was beginning my photography business and working on my video production degree, I subluxated my lower back from carrying around too much heavy equipment and books at once. This was one of my most difficult college experiences & business experiences because here I am wanting to do well in college and start a business, and I have a severe back issue. I missed classes, but still did the work remotely. It’s only by God’s grace that I finished that semester with good grades after what had happened. My boyfriend, Daniel, was with me every step of the way to help me. We are married now, and he is still there with me every step of the way as he is my second shooter for weddings (so he helps me carry my equipment when I shouldn’t but want to). After many chiropractic visits & exercises, I was able to recover and continue on with my life; however, I still have recurring back issues to this day. Thankfully, it does not stop me from running my business, but it does limit what I can carry at one time. Ultimately, God is the healer and gives me strength to continue doing what I love everyday.
Situations in life like these make you evaluate what you have to do to keep going. For me, I had to make life changes to keep living. I also had to realize that maybe my dreams of operating a steady cam for film production might not come true. But that’s okay! Because of this situation, I ended up going into photography even more than video production. While I can still do some video production, I have some limits to protect my health. And I’ve discovered over time that I absolutely love the art of photography as well as discovering new ways to turn it into an impactful business!
I write all this to encourage those business owners who have struggled with major health issues. It doesn’t have to stop you from running your business, but you do have to accept living a little differently. I see all this as a blessing because it reminds me that I’m human and can’t do everything. But I can do what God has gifted me to do here on earth.
For all you business owners struggling with health issues or other obstacles, don’t let it define you. Let your stories help and encourage others!
Contact Info:
- Website: jenniferjaquithcooke.
com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn
ifercookephotography (Seniors) & https://www.instagram.com/ jennifercookeweddings ( Weddings) - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ jenniferjaquithcookephotograph y/ - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/ jenniferljaquith/ - YouTube: youtube.com/@
jennifercookephotography - Other: Serving both Tennessee & Virginia
Image Credits
Jennifer Cooke Photography (https://www.instagram.com/
Daniel T. Cooke Productions (https://www.instagram.com/