Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Joseph.
Jenna, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
My journey into photography first began when I didn’t get my top choice for guitar as a high school elective and was placed in a photo class instead. I never knew how much I’d fall in love with it, but an opportunity came to shadow a wedding photographer during that time. After assisting on my first wedding as a seventeen-year-old, I came home and told everyone I was going to make it my career. Fast-forward about twelve years, college, several mentorships and workshops, and I’m still in awe to realize I’m living my dream!
Today I am working full time as a wedding photographer with an amazing team, and I volunteer with Rising Tide Society as a leader for my local chapter of Tuesday’s Together to help bring other creatives together in the spirit of #CommunityOverCompetition (check out that hashtag on Instagram to see our amazing community!).
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m a wedding photographer, and I believe a large part of my art and creativity comes before I even arrive to the wedding. My mission is to create such a comfortable and stress-free experience that authentically joyful imagery is a natural byproduct.
I wholeheartedly believe that incredible wedding photos happen more naturally when there are two important things involved: time and relationship. From the moment my clients first reach out to me I start building into this with them and by the time the wedding comes we all have the comfort of being in each other’s presence (we even have a lot of fun!) and the time for me to get creative without the usual rush and stress that often comes with wedding days.
When I am photographing I love to capture the joy and love that exudes from that first day of marriage. Life is full of ups and downs, darkness and beauty, and my art is about focusing on the good moments of life.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
If we look back at history, art has always been impacted by the difficult times that the world has faced. I absolutely believe the same is happening today. Art can be used to raise awareness of the ugliness in the world that we often try to turn a blind eye to, to create empathy, or to express feelings about the things we can or cannot change. It can be used as an emotional escape during dark times to focus on the joys of life or even a beacon of hope for the change we can create in the world together.
We all have different roles as artists, and I believe that mine is to remind people that there are still moments of joy and happiness even in a world of darkness and sadness. It doesn’t mean we need to ignore the troubles of today, but it’s important to recognize the good moments when they come too. It gets us through the hard times.
What can be a more beautiful or powerful source of joy in a dark world than recognizing a covenant of unconditional love?
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can find my work on my website at jennaphoto.com or on Instagram: @jenna_photo! I love to interact with new friends on Instagram, so if you give me a follow be sure to say hello!
Contact Info:
- Website: jennaphoto.com
- Phone: n/a
- Email: contact@jennaphoto.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/jenna_photo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennnajoseph/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/jenna_photo
Image Credit:
Jenna Joseph Photography
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.
