We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Mullins . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I come from a family of extremely talented artists and knew I was always drawn to artistic adventures. However it was not until high school that I knew I really wanted to seriously pursue a career in the arts. While taking photography classes, my teacher never inhibited my creativity even when my ideas were not always the most accepted for a public high school setting.

He encouraged and celebrated my unique viewpoints and pointed out my innate sense of composition which I never had thought about. He always asked “just because you can edit a certain way, should you?” And this really made me stop and think, about how I was approaching my art. I didn’t ever go in with a set viewpoint but rather let my mind stop when it felt right.

It gave me a huge sense of validation when people would point out that I had created patterns which I do not notice right away; I just knew it felt right when composing pictures. They were able to see this innate creativity that I didn’t realize I had, which not only encouraged me further but validated this creative process that brings me so much joy.

Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I earned my B.F.A. in 2008, but have been creating art since I was young. I was building mansions with Legos, and drawing masterpieces with my crayons and construction paper. My passion for art has never ceased, and today I believe that the perfect spot for me, is behind the camera and capturing what the world has to offer. I offer family portrait, engagement, senior, commercial advertising/fashion, and just for fun sessions.

I believe photographs transcend time and bring memories for life. Everyone should love the way they look and appreciate their beauty, which is what I try to offer. I try to capture their true nature, and I like candid photos that portray “real” moments. I offer a relaxed atmosphere where we have fun and joke, and definitely not take ourselves too seriously.

I always make sure to include a large variety of pictures and don’t like limit their final galleries to a certain set of images. I have a hard time narrowing down the images to edit, how could I ask my clients to only chose a few images to keep!? I also offer a full satisfaction guarantee. If for whatever reason you are not happy with your images, we will reshoot. So far that has never happened ;)

Growing my business has been a labor of love, but it has grown solely through word of mouth and self advertising which I believe is a huge testament to my clients. All my clients have trusted me to capture their moments and memories, and have returned yearly and recommended me to their friends and family.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Support small business! “Struggling artist” is a thing, and what a wonderful gift it is, when that struggling artist is struggling a little less with outside support. Supporting artists and creatives is a way to invest in their creativity, culture and human spirit. It empowers them, it allows them to thrive, and both the artist and consumer benefit! I often think that Art gets pushed to side and not seen as a valued part of our community or a skill that children should learn, which makes for a pretty boring reality. Investing more into the arts should be more of a priority, whether it be programs for schools, exhibitions, or simply allowing people to express their creativity with a doodle. Any form of creative expression should be celebrated more, and support doesn’t have to just be monetary but verbal encouragement goes a long way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Undervaluing my time and product has been an extremely difficult lesson for me. When I first started I did not think it was proper to charge a higher dollar value as I believed I did not have the experience or resume to back it up. But overtime I have come to realize I have been undervaluing my time and all of the resources I provide.

I have had to revaluate my business model and charge appropriately for my services, which feels like a heavy conversation to have with clientele. I am a very unconfrontational person, so speaking up for myself seems like a daunting task, but I have to remember I am my own advocate and it is important to invest in myself in order to provide a quality product.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaydaphoto.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jaydas
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Jaydaphotography1