We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Grace recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I’ve always had a creative drive and spirit, so it would be easy to get down on myself and regret not tapping into that more fully when I was younger, really trying to incorporate that into my career. But if I’m honest with myself, I had a lot to learn and I was someone who had to learn many things the hard way. I didn’t have the grit, clarity of purpose, sober sense of self or cultivated heart for truly serving others when I was younger that being a photographer really takes.

It’s SO much more than simply taking a picture of someone and I wouldn’t have been able to understand that without being in the place I am now in life. Without trying and experiencing failure. Without overcoming addiction. Without becoming a mother. Without the frame of reference growing older gives you, allowing you to see the speed and fleetingness of time; showing you the sweet and tender moments in the roughness and chaos; without knowing that after it’s all said and done, connection with others and love is really all that matters.

So no, I don’t wish I’d started sooner. I think I started exactly when I was meant to and am grateful for that.

Jessica, 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’m a mother of two small children and photographer specializing in families. This encompasses families of all types, chosen and given, in all seasons of life – maternity and newborns, milestone sessions for children, teens and adults (you’re never too old to celebrate!), family lifestyle sessions and extended family sessions, graduating seniors, as well as engagements and elopements.

The cornerstone of my mission is accessibility and I work really hard to remove barriers for families who may not have been able to experience professional family photography for some reason. This means I price my work conservatively and communicate openly with my clients about their budgets. I hear over and over again how many families never have photos taken because it’s such a financial luxury but would love to have the experience, so I try to step in there and bridge that gap where I can.

Accessibility also dictates my approach to my sessions. They are always child led, when little ones are present, and I rarely book sessions back to back, even during busy season, so I’m not rushing my clients. For families with neurodivergence, people with mobility considerations, members of our deaf community, the elderly and so many others, the quick ten minute mini session will never be a good fit. My sessions are slow paced, relaxed and unforced. I’ve found this helps me meet a lot of previously unmet needs in the family photography space.

I’ve also branched into school photography within the last year for two reasons, to help supplement my income so that I can keep accessibility at the forefront and because it’s incredibly fun! School picture day has notoriously been a time of chaos, crying kids, awkward poses and fake looking props. I provide an organized and calm experience for kids, schools and parents alike that result in really sweet portraits that I price conservatively so more families can afford to have access to them.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The connection is the most rewarding part.

This past fall, right in the middle of busy season, I had the honor of working with this family who had tragically lost one child; had a daughter on the autism spectrum; one parent was struggling to find a new job; and the other parent’s mother was dying of cancer. Listen, “taking pictures” seemed trivial, a family photo session was understandably barely on this family’s radar.

Yet it was such a blessing to be able to meet them where they were, to find a location that would work for their daughter and give her time and space to get comfortable (it took 47 minutes to get her in her first photo!) We were able to memorialize their lost child in a beautiful way in some of their images. They were able to afford family photography and now have tangible memories displayed in their home reminding them of the good even when things are hard.

The more experiences like this I get to have, the more sure I become that I’m on the right path serving others in this creative way.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’m constantly unlearning that success isn’t contingent on perfection. When I took the plunge and decided to try and make a go of being a photographer, I didn’t apply the same lessons I’ve been learning over and over in life to this new venture. Good things take time, growth is slow, comparison is the thief of joy, improvement is a sign of progress. It’s easy to leap into something new and get immediately discouraged because you’re not making enough money, you’re not in high enough demand, your art isn’t where you want it to be. So it’s a constant cycle of unlearning and learning. Unlearning habits of harsh self criticism and instead focusing on the next right thing you can do to grow, be better than you were the day before and work towards balance and peace, all while hopefully putting some good out into the world for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessgracephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgracephoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessgracephotos