Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Livingston.
Jessica, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
If there’s one thing I know about art, it’s that it is a love that evolves every single day throughout a lifetime. I’ve always loved taking pictures. My memory is based around photographs – I’ve noticed that if there’s a picture from an event, I remember it; if there’s no picture, I have a hard time recalling. I became that annoying sister and friend that always wanted a picture of every little thing. I fell in love with the art that goes into taking a picture.
Instagram opened up a whole world for me. Following photographers on social media gave me inspiration and lit a spark of interest for me. I bought my first DSLR camera just for fun. I quickly learned how much I loved to use it to take pictures of people in love, and began begging my friends to model for me for every small idea I had. I practiced and practiced and soon enough I started having people ask me to take their pictures professionally.
Like all photographers, I started shooting everything that came my way. I have more recently followed my heart and focused on shooting couples. There’s something absolutely magical about the way true love can light up a photograph. There is nothing comparable to the feeling of capturing love – one of the most beautiful aspects of this life. It came out of nowhere, but I love every second of it… it keeps me intrigued, passionate, and learning more and more every single day.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I capture life’s raw moments. Moments define us; the funny ones, the sad ones, the mundane ones, and the extraordinary ones. Life is emotional. If you get it right, a photograph has the power to show such raw emotion, so much so that anyone can feel it through a glimpse at the picture.
Maybe that’s why I fell in love with photography; I have felt this so many times, and now I want the whole world to be able to experience it. I work so that each and every one of my clients will be able to look back on this time in their lives and feel it as if it were just yesterday. I once heard that “photography is about capturing souls, not smiles”.
In our social-media-reliant world, we sometimes see “perfect” pictures of other people and wish that we were them. I want my clients to look at their pictures, see themselves in their raw beauty, and realize that their life becomes beautiful through its imperfections. I want my artwork to emanate the natural state of this magnificent life.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Conditions for photographers today are unlike any condition for any artist in the past.
The internet makes advertising and getting your work out there easier than ever before. Social media has changed the demand within the Photography market, creating enough business to go around – which is wonderful for us photographers who are now able to do what we are passionate about for a living. There are difficulties when it comes to market saturation, but we are all learning how to work around that and strive through it!
To help artists like me thrive, talk about it! Say something when you see something you love. Tell your friends about it.
Think about how you can use photography (or other art) as gifts. When choosing a photographer, really look at their work, look at their story, and remember that you’re not just choosing what kind of photos you’re going to get, but also who you’re supporting.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
If you like my work, or anyone’s work for that matter and want to support them, be involved! Like and comment on Instagram posts that inspire you. Talk about it with your friends. Share my website on your Facebook. When you hear someone saying they’re looking for a photographer, don’t be afraid to speak up and give your suggestions!
But most importantly, let us know! There’s nothing that fuels the drive of an artist more than hearing that somebody truly appreciates, loves, or is inspired by their work.
Contact Info:
- Website: jesslivingphoto.com
- Email: jesslivingphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: jesslivingphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesslivingphoto
Image Credit:
Mattie Geist
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
