We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Doelger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

When I was in school, several of my assignments needed people in the image, & thankfully I had access to willing models – the students at the dance studio I worked for back in the day. Then when those students started becoming high school Seniors, they asked me to take them. My response was an absolute yes! That was the easy part. Actually the easy part was the session itself, since we knew each other, they were extremely comfortable with me & being in front of the camera. They were dancers, everyone already had an education of how to move & pose their body. Thinking about it, I almost feel spoiled that my first clients were a dream.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For the past 10 years I’ve been photographing high school Seniors, families, the occasional wedding & more recently cars/trucks at shows or events. Getting into this industry was I guess, you could say, w as by accident – fell into my lap. The students at the dance studio I used as models, turned into high school Senior sessions, & a few I’ve had the privilege of documenting their wedding. I’ve loved watching them grow up. That – being a small part of their lives has carried over into how I build trusting relationships with my clients. I love seeing how they’ve grown, what they’ve been doing, hearing what’s happened since the last time we met.

Included in my photo session experience, I offer my clients a hands-on involvement from beginning to end, encompassing a few elements. All my sessions include a pre-session consultation. the first time you meet me shouldn’t be at your photo shoot. I send over a questionnaire ahead of time so I can get a good idea of how all my clients envision their photos. These suggestions provide me with a foundation to begin with. From there is styling assistance to ensure the session has a cohesive feel through out the entire gallery. Following the photo session, I offer product guidance to assist my clients in selecting the perfect product, as well as design assistance in creating an ideal wall gallery or album.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’m not sure there is a single story that illustrates my resilience, but more of the fact my business is still here, even though it’s small. Dashtwo has seen its ups and downs, the amount of clients I had in the beginning were a lot more compared to now. I’ve struggled in areas with thoughts of just closing the business when it was no longer enjoyable. Nevertheless, each year I encounter unexpected opportunities that present themselves and I find it impossible to decline. Whether it’s collaborating with someone, participating in an educational event, or seizing a marketing opportunity, these experiences fuel my determination and instill a sense of hope, inspiring me to continue on my path.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The valuable lesson that I constantly remind myself to unlearn is that each individual is on their unique journey, and it is unproductive to compare oneself to others. Not all paths unfold at the same pace; some individuals may have advantageous circumstances while others must build their own bridges. Focusing on what everyone else is doing only serves as a distraction from the progress we strive to achieve.

By engaging in the unhealthy habit of comparing myself to others and constantly worrying about their accomplishments, I have hindered my own growth. However, through my commitment to self-improvement, such as investing in my education and developing a well-defined client-centric approach, I am gradually witnessing positive outcomes. I am learning to appreciate the progress I am making and focusing on my own journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dashtwostudios.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/dashtwostudios
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dashtwostudios
• Twitter: @dashtwostudios

Image Credits
myself, Dashtwo Studios