Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Zmuda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jennifer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

I think rather than one specific person, I would have to say my heroes are the future generations that are coming up right now. When I look at them, I see people who are fearless, so eager and willing to just jump into things that they are passionate about. It’s the new “American Dream” in my opinion. Instead of working so hard to fit into a mold and hoping to be considered for opportunities, I see these entrepreneurs forging their own paths, holding strong to their core values, pursuing work that interests and inspires them, and standing firm in knowing their own worth. When I think back to my twenties and the start of my career, this wasn’t the way the world worked, or at least I didn’t think it did. It felt as though I had to say “yes” to anything and everything and was often undervaluing myself and my work. I still sometimes struggle with this, but when I look to these future generations and see them thriving, I feel emboldened to trust in myself more and go for things that maybe previously I would have been afraid to do.

Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I didn’t initially set out to be a photographer. I was actually finishing up graduate school at UC Irvine, where I was studying dance and choreography, and I needed to promote my master’s thesis. I decided to do my own photography for this and I really enjoyed it. After graduating, I continued to build upon this more and more as I was promoting a modern dance project that I was running and then eventually began getting hired by local studios for their promotions. My career just organically continued to grow from there and I learned what I needed by researching things that interested me. I have actually only taken one photography class in my life and it was “Intro to Photography”, during college.
While I started in dance photography, over the years I have expanded my business into three pillars of work: dance, family, and commercial. I know many photographers like to niche down and focus only on one type of photography that they are the most passionate about, but for me, I find that what really drives my work is the ability to amplify my clients’ passions. While each of these types of photography are so unique, each allows me to support and elevate my clients through my work. For instance, in family photography, I get to capture priceless moments that mean so much to my clients. Whether it’s a wedding, the birth of a child, or portraits, I am able to create a tangible memory for them to look back on and that is so special and fulfilling to me. With commercial photography, there isn’t necessarily that same sentimentality, but again it comes down to how my work can support my clients. I love that I have a skill that can help to boost someone’s small business and further their dreams in a way that maybe they alone couldn’t. I love the feeling of being part of a team when it comes to this type of work. And finally, there is my work in dance photography. This will always be near and dear to my heart as I grew up dancing and love movement. Being on the other side of the camera for this allows me to capture dancers in their most beautiful state and hopefully help to further them in their careers in one way or another.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A little over three years ago I became a Single Mom by Choice. Having my daughter, Josie, completely changed my life. Suddenly my work wasn’t just about me and my interests, but about providing for my family. It changed my perspective on time and how valuable it all is. Working was and still is important because again it provides for my family, but it also means time away from my daughter. This prompted me to reevaluate the structure of my business and, primarily, my pricing. I really had to work to address my struggles with Imposter Syndrome and actively push myself outside of my comfort zone when it came to bidding on bigger jobs and believing in my worth and the value of my work.

Since this point of pivoting my perspective, I have seen a huge growth in my business. Year after year, business has doubled in revenue and I’m able to serve more people in my community. My images have been published in Good Housekeeping and Architectural Digest, which was a dream I never even knew I had. The best part is that I have expanded from being the sole employee to developing a team of seven. Creating job opportunities for hard-working and talented individuals is so meaningful as a leader and business owner.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

It all comes down to using my skills behind the lens to help others achieve their goals and amplify what it is that they are passionate about. I find great joy in creating as a team and truly value a collaborative process. I am always open to learning new things and finding new ways to support my clients. As long as that sense of team and community exists, I find great satisfaction in my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jenniferzmuda.com
• Instagram: @jenniferzmuda_people , @jenniferzmuda_dance , @jenniferzmuda_commercial
• Facebook: Jennifer Zmuda, Jennifer Zmuda: Dance Photography, Jennifer Zmuda: Commercial Photo & Video
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jennifer-zmuda-photography/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/jenniferzmuda TikTok: @jz_photographer

Image Credits
Jennifer Zmuda