We recently connected with Jessica Lewis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
My journey into both photography and voiceover has been fueled by curiosity.
I’ve always been curious about how things work, why things happen, how to be more productive, and what to create next. I fell in love with photography around the age of 8, when someone handed me a Polaroid to snap some family Christmas photos. I was fascinated with the control I had behind the camera and loved the feel and sound of snapping the picture, the flash going off, the film ejecting out of the camera, and the long five to ten minutes it took to develop the film right in front of my eyes. My love of voice over and radio began after watching Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams; I was fascinated with how one voice could have such a positive influence on a dire situation.
I learned photography by just picking up any camera I could get my hands on, and exploring the world through a lens. I was on the yearbook team in high school.
My college major was broadcasting, so I spent a lot of time involved with the student radio station as a production manager. A visual communication class was one of my favorite classes, and that lead to me taking a film photography class.
The most important skills I have learned are: Always be curious. Discover your perspective and tell a story. Learn as you go. Fail Forward.
What obstacles stood in the way? Deciding which direction to go and what to invest my time and money into. Not having clear direction. I still struggle with this because I’m curious about everything! I love online classes and am currently enjoying CreativeLive membership. I listen to a lot of podcasts from other artists; it’s helpful to hear their passions and journey and how they got to where they are today.
Jessica, 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 think I answered a lot of my backstory in the last question, so I’ll focus on the products/services I provide.
Photography — it’s currently a hobby, but I have been a wedding and senior portrait photographer. Weddings were taking up a lot of my time, and I wanted to be home with my kids.
Voiceover – I provide a wide variety of voiceovers for commercials, explainer videos, products, museum displays, corporate videos, eLearning modules, phone systems, and even announce a short, fun game during minor league baseball games this year.
My goal for each client is to give them an excellent experience and an outstanding product. Under promise, over-deliver. In order to do this, the client always comes first; I treat them with respect, reply as quickly as I can, turn things around as quickly as I can and keep learning how to do my job better, so in the end, their products are better.
It’s about building trust with each client, along with having fun! I want to work with other creatives who value high-quality work, but also enjoy making the process fun and rewarding.
Some clients include Dior, Stryker, Ocean Spray, PNC Bank, and so many amazing creative agencies, directors, cinematographers, videographers, and freelancers who put together amazing projects for their clients.
Have you ever had to pivot?
At one point, I had started a boutique packaging business for photographers. It started out with a handmade stitched CD sleeve made from kraft paper. Our Etsy shop grew and so did our customers; they loved it! My cousin joined me in growing the business and it went from making hundreds of CD sleeves to thousands to tens of thousands. Customers would ask if we could make other things, and so we did. At one point we had six or eight employees coming to my house and working in my basement from 9-5, while also keeping up with 3 kids upstairs. My parents and husband were a huge help as the business grew.
I loved leading a team, creating new products, taking product photos, and creating new websites. But with our youngest being a handful (he was recently diagnosed with ADHD), it was time to let this business venture go so I could get my mental health back in order. My cousin agreed to buy me out, and I pivoted into starting a podcast, which led to doing more and more voice over work.
It’s scary letting something go, especially as it’s growing and changing. But I didn’t want to miss out on my young children growing up. Even when they drove me nuts half the day. My faith is a deep part of me, and knowing when to stop and pivot, and actually following through on it, isn’t as scary because I know there’s a bigger picture and future that I cannot see, but have faith that it will all work out. And it always does.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My personal mission statement: In a world that gets busier, faster, and more confusing each day, I choose to be mindful and present for my family, friends, and clients.
Our most profound beliefs and values are showcased in how we live out our lives. Every breath and every moment is a choice that defines who we are. There’s nothing more powerful than telling a story with honesty so it can have an impact on others.
And if I had a phrase that would guide my work – it would be:
et lux in tenebris lucet — Latin for “and the light shines in the dark.”
Other values that have guided me throughout my creative journey are Beauty and Design.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.JessicaLewisVoice.com and http://www.JessicaLewisCreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicalewiscreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaLewisCreative/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalynnlewis/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF_hF0glxocymeHMN9vcesw
- Other: https://vimeo.com/jessicalewiscreative
Image Credits
Image Credits for all photos: myself :)