We recently connected with Judith Hill Levenson and have shared our conversation below.

Judith , appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have been doing a 40 Over 40 project that has now translated into the Beyond 40 Revolution where I have been photographing women who are 40-70+ years old and giving them the Judith Hill Photography (JHP) experience.

I have set out to empower each of these women to see in them what I see and celebrate the confidence and self-discovery which occurs when you find your own power and grace staring back at you.

I turned 40 last year and I wanted to celebrate other women my age and beyond because we need to start a conversation around the beauty of aging and change the way the world sees and hears us. I want to tell their stories so that we can lift each other up by sharing our life experiences.

This has been an exciting exploration of who we have become with the heart of the project being:

To hold space and serve these beautiful women giving them the experience that empowers them to do great things.
To show these women standing in their own personal power; strong, and confident.
To help other women realize their potential by stepping out of the shadows and sharing their stories.
To learn to love the reflection looking back at you in the mirror.
To acknowledge that self-love isn’t selfish.
To honor what makes you beautiful and unique.
To honor your body and embrace it no matter the age, shape or size.

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?

I am a person who always strives to be the best version of myself and to help others do the same. My tool to do that is my camera, and I created a business around that because, photography transformed my life. I found my value by showing others theirs. I’m a portrait photographer and owner of my studio, Judith Hill Photography (JHP).

At JHP, we celebrate lives and build confidence every day. We do that through a makeover and a photoshoot experience like a celebrity in a magazine.

We guide from start to finish. We have a pre-shoot consultation to go over wardrobe and mood boards with everyone before they come in so that we are prepared and show up ready to have fun! We offer professional hair and makeup and multiple outfit changes. Then I guide you through the entire photoshoot; capturing the different outfits on different backdrops and lighting scenarios to give a variety so that we capture all the facets of who the person is.

I believe a portrait session is more than taking pretty pictures of my clients. It is a place to feel seen and heard; a place of self discovery, reclamation, and transformation. A session with me has the power to awaken your confidence and transform the way you see yourself. I’ve seen people discover parts of themselves by seeing it reflected back to them. There is a self realization that happens for almost everyone. Helping people reconnect and love who they are is my purpose. The photoshoot experience coupled with my enthusiasm creates this ripple effect that people take with them long after they leave, and that is the greatest gift I can give another human being.

What sets me apart from a lot of other photographers is providing the full service from start to finish and this deep rooted purpose and vision for my mission.

I take individual bookings (glamour, boudoir, maternity, etc), groups (mother/daughter, generations, girls day out) and personal branding to elevate your brand in the market place.

I’m most proud of the brand I’ve built and continue to grow and build upon. It is our job to help regular, everyday people to realize their own light & be empowered by their own self.

I capture the best a person has to offer and I show it back to them. That causes a positive ripple affect in that person’s life, in their family and communities. This is why we exist.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest pivot I made was when I left a 14 year career to open my portrait studio full time. I had been building it on the side and out of my home for 5 years before I made the leap. I wanted to make sure I was financially secure with a lot of savings. I wanted to have my business model, pricing set and a studio leased so that I could just walk into my business full time prepared. And as prepared as I was, I still had a lot of fear and a lot to learn and navigate. I am the first entrepreneur in my family.

The fear never goes away. Doubt doesn’t go away. Just be mindful of what you are giving your power too. The only way to combat those two things is by taking action. The only way taking action moves the needle is when you are in alignment with your vision and you take inspired action. Your alignment comes from a lot of soul searching plus a good amount of planning, intuition, vision, opportunity and timing.

We have have to take chances on ourselves. I was afraid I was going to fail and end up on the street but the reality is that I would never allow that to happen to myself. So we need to build a little more confidence and know that the fear never goes away no matter how successful you become.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I built my business up while working full time and was committed to taking the leap. I priced professional standards even though I was not full time. I also took a HELOC out on my home in case I needed it but I never did. I also had savings that helped me in my first year. I did not start taking outside money until PPP during the pandemic. I’ve also applied for grant opportunities through places like Pathway Lending.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.judithhillphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judithhillphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudithHillPhotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judith-hill-4270637/

Image Credits
I took all the photos