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

Alright, STEPHANIE thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind my business is motherhood. As a mom of soon-to-be four, we’re sometimes forgotten and left in the dust. Sometimes we forget our worthiness, our beauty, our journey to self-discovery. That is something I hope to change.

Dads are always the ones in the photos with our children. When we go to a family event, it’s always mom (us) or family members taking pictures of dad with the kids. Although those memories are important to capture, Mom is just as important. We often forget to ask, or are scared to ask for someone to take our picture with our families. And when we do remember or muster up the courage to ask, then the photos of us come out blurry or are extremely unflattering. Leaving us disappointed, feeling in some way envious, our self-esteem and self-worth dwindling. It’s not always fair. Especially for the mamas who have self-confidence issues already. What photos will my kids have of me when I’m gone?

That is why in all my photoshoot packages my focus isn’t just on telling your family’s story, it’s also on mom. Making her feel beautiful, and heard, and showcasing the love your family truly has for each other without looking at the camera. Because although everyone is so used to looking at the camera and mustering up a smile, you don’t truly know how much pain is behind that smile. The insincerity. It’s there and she (and everyone else) could just be holding it back. It’s forced. I’m here to change that.

STEPHANIE, 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?

For those who haven’t met me before (or heard of me), that’s okay. My name is Stephanie Jensen, but everyone calls me Steph. I’m a devoted wife, mama, and dog mama. I’m expecting my fourth child this weekend! We are blessed, excited, nervous, and every emotion in between. If you were to tell me 5 years ago that I’d have four kids, I would have called your bluff. Now here we are!

I’ve always had a love for photography. I just didn’t decide to pursue it until 2019 – after the birth of my second child. Being young in our 20s, my husband and I still establishing our careers, Having two kids and mountains of bills, we couldn’t afford super expensive family photos. And that’s okay! So instead of skipping out on these precious memories, I purchased my first camera. I learned how to use my camera, my tripod, and my remote, and we took family photos all the time. I took pictures of my kids at home and birthday parties. One day when I was breastfeeding my infant on the couch I thought about turning this into a business. I was still working a full-time job and my dream was to eventually become a stay-at-home mom (or work from home). So I decided to take the plunge and take model calls until I felt confident enough to start taking paid clients.

But then COVID hit. I was only in ‘business’ for three months. I used the time ‘off’ to educate myself. Find my specialty. Because at the time, I didn’t know what type of photography I wanted to do. I didn’t have a passion yet. Taking my own family photos was so stressful because I had an unruly toddlers, a husband who didn’t want to do this, and myself trying to force a smile in a rush to get the ‘perfect Christmas card’. Family photos were not enjoyable, in fact, we dreaded them. So I imagine that’s how my clients felt. But then I started working with expecting mamas and taking emotive photos of myself, and I found my fire. I found what I wanted to do. So from 2020 – present day I continue to educate myself. I don’t believe that your education ends. You must continue to exceed. There is no such thing as perfect.

I now specialize in families, maternity, motherhood, and lifestyle newborns with an emphasis on capturing raw emotion and storytelling. Emotive imagery if you want to call it that. I want moms to see their family photos and cry. I want you to feel the love through your images. Your images will tell a story, but you have to let go of the reins and let me tell it.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That you ‘have to stay with the trends’. When I first started out in the business, I was RIDICULED by other photographers for adding grain to my photos. Some of that was because I was still new and learning the camera basics. Some of that was also I truly liked the ‘grainy’ retro feel of the timeless effect.

But at the time, having grain was BAD and you sucked at your job if you had grain. I listened to all the negativity and let it get to me. Even today I still have anxiety of having grain in my images because of that experience. And grain is ‘in’ now.

So don’t hop on bandwagons just because they’re in style. Do what you love no matter anyone else’s opinion.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Yes! Online photography education. You don’t have to go to college or school to become a professional photographer. A lot of great creators are self-taught.

But INVEST in good education. You can find amazing content on Youtube, sure. But great education must be invested in. I have invested over $5000 into my education to get me where I am today. And I still have some work to do!

Because perfection does not exist. Everyone has room to improve.     

Contact Info:

• Website: stjensenphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/stephaniejensenphotography
• Facebook: Facebook.com/stjensenphotography