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

Jordan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

At the start of my photography business, I was scrolling through tik tok; and came across the Tilly Project. Photographers take photos of pets that are ill or at the end of their life. If anyone knows me, they know that I love all animals and would do anything for them. When I came across this I decided I could help with this project. Photographers sign up on the website so that people can contact them when they are in need of end of life photography for their pets. Most of the clients I have don’t realize that I don’t charge for this type of session. It’s my way of giving back and helping in a way I know how. 1/3 of the photography sessions I do are end of life pet photography. I find a lot of my other clients love the work/photos that come from these sessions. I love being creative with these sessions and creating a lasting memory for my clients to have of their beloved pets.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Jordan Reifschneider, I grew up in North St. Louis County Missouri. I currently reside in Metro- East Illinois, with my wife Taylor and our 4 pets. My passion for photography started at an early age, probably about the time when I was 11. My dad gave me my first camera a Pentax K-1000 film camera. Over the years I took photos for fun, fun fact in my high school photography class I actually got a D (shout out to Mrs. B). I didn’t take photography really seriously as a career until I decided to be more creative and buy a professional camera. My wife encouraged me to take photos professionally in 2021. My current service include couples/engagement sessions, pet photography, individual photography, and landscape photography.
Many of my clients are unsure of where they want their photos or the style of they photos they desire. I help my clients decide by guiding them in what they picture in their head. I spend a lot of time visiting sites for potential sessions before I suggest any places for clients to take photos. That way clients can trust that the site they choose will turn out beautiful. I also offer a lot of guidance to those who are nervous about surprise engagements. I also travel for these sessions. The farthest I’ve gone thus far is Yellow springs, Ohio. I was able to create a package for this client for the ultimate surprise with a small picnic with flowers and champagne. I pride myself in ensuring my client feels prepared and ready for their surprise proposal.
I’m most proud of the photos that come from the end of life sessions. I love being able to provide a sense of comfort and understanding the difficulty of going through the end stages of losing a pet.
I want my clients/followers to know that I treat every session as if I were the customer. I treat everyone how I would want to be treated and ensure my photos show that. When my wife and I got married we had a terrible experience with our photographer and didn’t end up with any photos that we liked. I NEVER want any of my clients to have an experience like that and try my best to make them happy.

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 people don’t understand the symbolism or the meaning behind a picture sometimes. For example the photo included of the bird on a sunflower. In this photo the bird is an indigo bunting sitting atop a wilted sunflower. The indigo bunting represents beauty and strength, while sitting atop a dying and weakening flower. Taking the time to look at things with a different perspective or clearer lens allows you to see thing more creatively and see that everything may not appear as it seems. People also may not realize the patience and time it takes to allow a photo such as this to occur. Even the slightest of movements scare off many animals. Timing is everything, if I were not in place at the time the indigo bunting had landed; I never would’ve captured this image.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that every session is like going to a blank canvas. You create a photo using lighting, the client, and your skills to obtain a unique photo. No two sessions are the same, depending on the interaction with the clients photos can have a different attitude or demeanor to them. I tend to have a moody style to my photography. Every photographer has their own style and clients should choose a photographer with the style that most fits them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jmrphotography_
• Facebook: JMR Photography