We were lucky to catch up with Jewell Archie recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jewell, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

In case no one has said it (I know they have), photography is EXPENSIVE. Or it can be very expensive if you go about it the wrong way. I would have taken a different approach by not thinking the only way I can create beautiful images that would make people want to work it me and not seek out the latest and greatest equipment.

I guess I can say that I’m lucky I didn’t have the funds to purchase the camera gear I desired so it wasn’t possible for me to go out and buy everything. That doesn’t mean I didn’t dream about it. I’d spend hours on the internet looking at top of the line cameras and lenses and in turn feel completely defeated because I couldn’t afford them. It didn’t help that I spoke with certain people that fueled those desires.

It really sucked all the life and fun out of photography. What I could have been doing during those times was focusing more on what I had and confidently gone out there to shoot! I feared that if potential clients saw that I wasn’t using a high dollar camera, they would be less likely to work with me. It was a never ending cycle of fear and doubt!

What I would have done was spend the maximum amount of time truly learning about what I did have. There are tons of photographers that started with limited equipment. I would have looked from those individuals and learned from their journey.

I would have also spent more time focusing on my love for photography. Taking pictures was about about my love for the art. I’ve always been a creative person and I allowed the technical side distract me from what I loved about doing this.

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?

How did I get into this industry? Well to be honest, I’ve always loved photography. My dad used to travel a lot for work and he has albums full of photos from different locations across the US that I simply loved! When I was about 11 or 12 he gave me my first digital camera. The screen was about the side of an iPod nano (that’s for all you early 2000 folks lol).

Over the years I obsessed about cameras and in 2012 my dad came to the rescue again! It was black Friday and Fry’s was having a sale on Canon dlsr. They had a Rebel T3 for $350 I think. He said if I really wanted it he would pay for half. Talk about overjoyed!!!

From there I decided I wanted to jump further in this and turn it into a business. I’m embarrassed to say that the first name I went with was Bad Photography by Jewell. I actually still have that website up on wix. I like to use it as a reminder of where I’ve come from!

I mainly focus on family, wedding, and portrait photography. This year I’d like to change things up and focus more on micro weddings!

I’m a one man show with my business. I handle the finances, answering emails, editing the photos, and answering whatever questions my clients may have. Because I do work a full-time job and back in school for a degree in accounting, I only take on a certain amount of gigs.

I’m always proud when I work with a client that hasn’t taken professional photos before and when they see the results they are in love! No matter what, I will always have some nervousness when delivering final images because I want them to love it as much as I do.

I can talk….a lot. But I’m also very shy and introverted. It’s an odd combination. I will usually warn clients that I tend to get very excited when I see them unintentionally falling into the perfect pose! By the end of every shoot, I want them to feel as if I’m not a stranger, but a woman that loves what she does and will do whatever it takes so that they have a great time as well.

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

Honestly, just having the ability to create beautiful work! It doesn’t matter if it’s a portrait of someone, a beautiful wedding. or simply taking a quick road trip and taking some landscape shots. It brings me so much joy!!

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

At one point I wanted to make this a full time thing, but then covid happened. It made me see things a bit different. So many businesses had to shut down because of it. For my own sense of security, I knew that I had to keep a full time job other than photography. Doing this has also helped my sense of balance. Sometimes, I’m not in the mood for photography and will take month breaks, but I still have an income coming in because of my main job.

I never want the love of photography to leave me and doing this has helped greatly!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jewellphotographytx.com
• Instagram: @jaephotog