We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Rubin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
Hello, thanks for having me! So, this might be an unpopular opinion but I think everyone should take a basic business class, no matter what field you are entering. I remember scoffing at the idea of a business course when I was in college, but that knowledge would have saved me a lot of headaches in the long run. Accounting, finance, project management…these skills can be applied in our daily lives too, not just our careers.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Definitely! I was born and raised in Michigan, in metro Detroit. After graduating from Central Michigan University, I packed up my car, hit Route 66, and followed that all the way to sunny San Diego. As a recent photojournalism graduate who didn’t want to work for a newspaper, I went through a number of different types of jobs in the first few years. Some good (Lead Restaurant Photographer) and some not so good (Daycare Portrait Photographer). I’m not saying portrait photography in general is horrible, but that type of work was just not for me. As I was trying to navigate my path, I began networking with other creatives in San Diego and long story short, that’s how I kicked off my journey into the video industry. (They say it isn’t who you know but most of the time it’s all about who you know, you know?)
I started cutting event recaps for whoever needed them, grabbed a Video + Editing Certificate from UCSD, and was quickly hired as a contractor for a local media company. That job introduced me to a band of creatives who I continue to work with to this day – I can bring both photography and video editing to the table; a skillset that surprisingly compliments each other quite well.
When I’m not working? I’m a huge advocate for work/life balance. Yeah, that saying “love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life?” It’s mostly true, but at the end of the day, work is work, so I’m always pushing people to pursue their hobbies. In my spare time, you can find me rooting for the Detroit Red Wings, road-tripping, or working on my passion project – www.theroadsidetourist.com – a photo blog that focuses on imagery from the road.
What problems do you solve for your clients?
Creative ones! One thing I love about this field is helping businesses solve problems through creativity. I usually work very closely with the marketing team. Selling a house? A hotel room? A restaurant? A film? All needs for marketing and I’ve done every one of these scenarios. Probably some of the coolest work I’ve done ended up on a Billboard… there’s just something satisfying about seeing your photograph in that super large format.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Networking, word of mouth, and references go a long way. It has been a constant source for not only me but other people I know in the creative community. Just get yourself out there!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Something I think non-creatives struggle to understand is the amount of work that goes into a final product that may not be evident on the surface. This often leads to questions regarding pricing and sometimes an unwillingness to pay its worth. I encourage people to ask about the process so they know what is happening and why – full transparency on both sides will help make an enjoyable working experience for everyone involved.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenrubin.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ jenrubinphotography/ - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/jenniferrubin/ - Other: www.theroadsidetourist.
com
Image Credits
Tim Erdmann, Poster design: Tonya J. Terlaje Ascura, myself: Jennifer Rubin