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

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Oh my goodness, 100%! I wish I knew what I know now, back then but everything in life is about the journey and things happen at specific times because you are exactly where you are supposed to be. So I’m trying to not beat myself up over it.

Music and live music have always played such a big part in my life since I was in elementary school. When I started taking my passion for photography more seriously in 2016, I was focused on a different genre of photography called Urban Exploration but I always wondered how people were able to get access to photographing concerts and working with artists directly. I thought it was only the latest and greatest that got these opportunities and didn’t bother looking into it more.

One night at a show, I had the guts to ask one of the photographers how they were able to get access, simple story short, the best way to get photo/media pass is to be a part of a publication. It doesn’t need to be as big as Rolling Stone or the LA Times, it could be as simple as a local publication started by a passionate creative. From there, you request shows through the artist/PR/record label and are “on assignment” for your publication to take photos and/or write a review. Being tied to a publication will give you a huge one up, as most of the time the artist’s team looks at it as press to be published versus just someone who wants to photograph for fun.

The moment I landed with a publication, in two years I got to photograph a countless amount of my favorite bands!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a child, I ran around with my mom’s digital film camera and loved taking photos. I’ve never taken any classes but I just knew what to look for and how to frame things. When I did take my first photo/video class in high school, I actually almost failed it because I thought it was stupid. Hindsight now, the assignments we were given did not make we want to learn!

I started pursuing photograph as a hobby when I moved to Los Angeles in 2016, falling in love with this world called Urban Exploration where I explored abandoned places and getting on top of skyscraper rooftops. I built my portfolio from there and got my foot in the door when I started doing some live music and sports photography for Rose Bowl Stadium and flash forward three and a half years later, I’m their house photographer. With building my portfolio and networking, I’ve gotten similar opportunities with Crypto.com Arena (aka the iconic Staples Center), working with record labels like Big Noise to photograph Mod Sun, Avril Lavigne, The Wrecks and The Veronicas, working with Epic Records for Tori Kelly, covering shows at Crypto.com Area for Drake, Missy Elliott, Bad Bunny, photographing at venues all across Los Angeles and Orange County. I’m most proud of getting to work The GRAMMYs this year.

One time a friend told me that when she looked at my concert photos, I had so many angles near and far with moments from the stage to the fans, it made her feel like she was there. That lit a fire in me and every time I capture any event, I want to make the audience feel like they were there.

At the end of the day, I’m a storyteller and how I do it is through my lens.

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

The most rewarding part is continuously getting to tell the little girl in the past that “you did it”, you’re gonna do mind blowing things and be in places with the biggest venues, artists and moments that you never thought you would be.

Music and pop culture were so prominent to me growing up but I grew up in a city where the arts were a tough career, the city thrived off of oil and gas careers. Doing something creative was frowned upon and “why don’t you go get a real job that pays well”, “why do you need to know so much about celebrities?”.

All that knowledge I kept building and that desire to work in the entertainment industry, it is such a needed asset and there are companies and a whole industry that need passionate people like that.

I never thought I would even get a foot in this world, let alone make it my full time career. Every time I get to work with one of my favorite artists, be at a iconic event like The Emmys, BET Awards, GRAMMY Awards, photographing Coldplay at a venue of 90,000 people. I always take a step back and look around and tell myself, “you did this…you freakin’ did this. Little you wouldn’t believe older you if you told her where she is now”.

The imposter syndrome is real but I do have to remember to stop and remind myself I worked so hard to get to where I am at now.

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.

I think many industries operate in such different ways and it’s what works for each individuals lifestyles as well. As a non-creative, one may have a very steady job working in a location with a set 9am to 5pm schedule, to each their own and I am happy for those individuals who find happiness in that.

As a creative, most times we do not have a set schedule and are not guaranteed work. I am blessed that I am in Los Angeles and there is a lot of entertainment culture going on but I do not clock in everyday from a 9 to 5 because events can be at any given time. If an event is not happening or being allowed a photo pass does not get approved, I unfortunately do not work and I do not see an income. I could be tentatively be put on to photograph a concert and sometimes it could come down to the day of show telling me 2 hours before the show that there is no media access.

We also don’t really put down what we’re doing when the event ends, there’s no time limit on clocking out. The event may have ended but now I am going home (or staying late at the location) and I am putting more hours in on editing the photos and delivering that to my clients ASAP. An event could be 4 hours, a concert could be an hour but the work continues for hours, possibly days and weeks after the show depending on what the client needs.

It’s tough to land yourself into the space and when you’re there, you’re tirelessly putting in 100% of yourself. Be ready for a different schedule every week, cancelling plans, missing out on big milestones in your love one’s lives but we do it because we’re passionate about what we do and the moments we have feel incredible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tjmimages.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatjessmess/