We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Fry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
Sooner- I decided to take my hobby photography to a more professional level. And this was around the time when everyone else decided to become a photographer as well. Plus you had the increased surge of the instagram and tik tok craze that just blew everything up. Young adults these days are just way more advanced in technology, and app use. I found it extremally hard to keep up and compete with that. So, its has been hard to advertise a business when you aren’t up to date with the newest trends on the apps.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Jenn, and I am a concert, event, and family photographer based out of Baltimore, MD.
I started off as a hobbyist taking photos of whatever my heart desired. I took photos of friends, nature, landscapes etc. I decided I wanted to try and get more serious into the photography, so I did a mentorship with Jordan Banks based out of the U.K. who is a well known landscape and travel photographer. I got some amazing information from him. And started to focus on ways to earn a income from photography. So, I started to shoot family photos for my friends. Once I got some experience with that I started to charge and promote for my services to outside my inner circle.
I then decided that while I love the family photography. It still wasn’t where my heart fully lies. So, I started to branch out to concert photography. I love music. I actually live for music. I spent mostly my time with headphones one listening to my favorite bands. And most summers at concerts. It is definitely my happy place. So, I started to work on taking photos of locale festivals, and also local bands. Its a difficult genre to get into, but It’s what brings me joy. So, this is my direction at the moment. Hoping to work with more bands, and venues in the future to have some more work.
I also love to work events. I worked with a local radio station to help capture an event they had for a new band. And, I am dedicating some time for a local event to capture some photos for a trunk or treat. I love Halloween, and thought this was a perfect time to give back to the community in a small way.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I have had severe hearing loss since I was a little kid. And, I never really had the same opportunity as other people did for things. I tried not to the handicap bother me, but it was always there in some annoying way. I would need assistance in some way or another. So, I think people sort of expect me to fail in life because of it. And, it is not easy. Because there is many handicaps I do face. I think the photography came as something I can do alone, without the help of others. And it allowed me to believe in myself more. I believe my missions is to prove to myself and others, that I can be successful in something I actually want to do.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I really wish I had the knowledge when first starting that is out there today. The technology world really provides so much information daily. Which also makes it a very competitive world. Youtube alone is a great starting point to find out tons of information on many things, And I spend a great detail of my time on there to continue learning new things. Most younger adult’s today can pick up a camera, and be absolutely amazing. With no practice. I wish I had skills like that when I first started. But, the learning for me took more time and practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenniferfry.smugmug.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn_fry_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennFryPhotography/
Image Credits
Jenn Fry Photography for all photos Ice Nine Kills Motionless in White Lilith Czar