Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Brownlee.
Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from Georgia! I was born and raised around Atlanta, but I now call San Diego, CA, my home base where I live with my husband! However, I spend a good amount of time traveling, and as a military spouse, we are always ready for the next adventure.
So, home is where I can connect to wifi. I knew that I wanted to be behind the camera from a young age, which is why I decided to get a degree in photography. After graduation, I followed the path of photography production in the commercial photography industry because it seemed like the safer, more “adult” decision at the time.
But logistics and coordinating weren’t very creatively fulfilling, so I started second shooting weddings and finally asked myself… “why am I not doing this full time?” So I became a wedding photographer!
And I love it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feared freelancing for a long time. The fear of being a business owner and all that comes along with that (contracts, invoices, finances, insurance, etc.) and not knowing how much money I’d make or when I would work. I think I will always go through that rollercoaster of emotions. The biggest challenge has been getting started in a very saturated market.
There are many wedding photographers who have been awhile for years and are very established, which sets me back mentally. “Am I good enough?” “Will I even get clients?” etc. So, most of the challenges are mental and emotional. I’d say the number one frustration is that there isn’t a clear path to success as a freelance photographer.
A lot of other career paths have clear steps to get to a point you want to be in, but with creative jobs, it’s not a clear or consistent path, so I have to try new routes, and sometimes they are successful, sometimes they aren’t.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a wedding photographer based in San Diego, California. I personally get inspiration from all types of images, and I embrace diversity in my approach. When you work with me, you will get crisp frame-worthy photos for Mom, and you’ll get edgy photos for the gram. I like to play when I’m behind the camera, but if I had to categorize my work, this is how I do so to my clients:
Frame worthy: Everyone wants those timeless shots. The perfect family photo for the mantle or the classic cap and gown portrait to gift to the grandparents. AND THE DETAILS! Everyone wants gorgeous photos documenting the smallest creations from your day. You’ll get these images, and they will be beautiful.
The in-between: These images usually come right before or after we get “the shot.” These in-between moments are almost better than the staged ones. These images capture the raw emotion from your celebration. I am always snapping photos from the day to capture these types of documentary-style images.
For the gram: I love playing with grain, blur, motion, and focus to create unique images. And my favorite… GIFs! I’m always looking for a good GIF moment. These shots will look amazing on your feed but also make great statement pieces in your home. Do you have a specific idea in mind you want to make happen? We will collaborate before to make sure you get the artsy images of your dreams!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
I’d say my faith and my church community have been really helpful as I decided to take the leap of starting a business. An app that is helpful for posing that I often use during engagement shoots is Unscripted.
I also use Canva for a lot of my marketing materials!
Pricing:
- Wedding packages start at $1,999
- Engagements start at $300
- Elopements and small gatherings start at $300
- Custom packages are created for destination weddings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jessicapaigephoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicapaigephotoco/
Image Credits
Jessica Paige Photo
