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

Jessica, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I think families are essential to a thriving world. We all come from them, and for better or worse, they play a big part in making us who we are. I love to help families remember their values, what makes them unique, and how specifically they cherish one another. And I like to do that one photo at a time.

A large part of this passion in me stems from my own family photos, or lack thereof. My father sadly passed away in my early 20s and I soon regretted not having more photos with him and of him. The few I have are so valuable to me. Since his passing, I’ve married and now have three young children. I often wish I had more visual proof of how goofy a grandpa he would be to my daughters and how musically talented he was to show my husband. This motivates me not only to take photos for families to enjoy in the now, but also to honor the stories of valuable people for for generations to come.

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

I’m a family & lifestyle photographer located in the DFW area. I love to help families artfully remember the seasons they find themselves in. Sometimes that’s maternity sessions, sometimes an extended family session with one year olds cradled in 98 year olds laps, and sometimes that’s just an normal day-in-the-life moment with a family in their home. All of it is important and represents a part of a unique life. I love to creatively document those moments and connections for my clients.

I actually started out shooting weddings, but it was the slower paced family sessions that really spoke to me. Those everyday moments of my childhood are fond memories of my own, and I think helping kids SEE how their parents feel about them is very worthy work to me. Also helping parents remember the love that brought them together in the first place is very important…for the parents now, but also for their kids in 20-30 years. I shoot with this in mind and I think it gives my work a nostalgic and sentimental vibe that spans decades.

I also think it’s really needed in this picture-perfect, ‘instagram worthy,’ visually over-saturated world to show more than just the smiles. There’s a lot to be said in the quiet and comforting embrace of a mom to her toddler or the knowing and loving glance between parents over the beautiful chaos running at their feet. I love to spend a little more time with clients to really see these moments, and my hope is that they feel beautiful and authentically portrayed when they see their photos,

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

While google may help some people find me, it’s truly my wonderful clients who bring me more families! My hope during every session is that moms feel as little stress as possible, kids have a lot of fun and feel affirmed by their parents, and dads realize photo shoots aren’t all that bad. :-) I want the planning process beforehand not only to be easy, but also so specific and customized to each family. After their session is over, I hope their viewing experience of their gallery is memorable and they’re left only with joy and gratitude! A client’s great shared experience is the highest compliment they could ever give me!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Have you ever heard that song that takes you right back to a moment from high school? Or smelled a candle that reminded you of your childhood home? I think photographs have the same sort of power…they can take us right back to events years, even decades prior. Inside of those photos are sometimes the memory of a loved one no longer here, and I think it’s really important for people to have those.

I sometimes feel like I’m playing the long game with my work. I’m photographing families for the now, yes, but I try really hard to think about decades from now and the weight these photographs will have in the hands of grown men missing their moms. It’s truly a treasure in the making, and that’s why family photography is so important.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicaadaway.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaadawayphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicaadawayphoto

Image Credits
I took all of the photos and own the rights to them.