Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Ochenash.
Hi Jane, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to the US with my family in 2020, during a time when the world suddenly became unpredictable. We had always traveled a lot and dreamed of giving our daughter more opportunities, a bigger horizon, a better life. 2020 made it very clear: nothing is guaranteed. It felt like a “now or never” moment.
So we left everything behind and chose to start from zero in a new country.
Before photography, I lived many different lives. I was a professional dancer until I was 18 — performing, competing, loving the stage and the energy of movement. Later, life pushed me toward finding a “serious job,” so I went to work in a bank. I got married, had my daughter, and realized almost immediately that I couldn’t imagine spending my life inside an office anymore. Becoming a parent opened my eyes to how multifaceted and exciting life can be.
I launched my own small business selling developmental toys. It allowed me to spend more time with my daughter — filming reviews, attending countless kids’ events, creating photos and videos of children playing and learning. Because I made a lot of lively, engaging content, a modeling agency reached out to me one day and suggested promoting my charismatic daughter. I knew nothing about the industry at the time, but I was curious and open. I started learning how children’s modeling works, how portfolios are built, how castings operate.
Soon I was creating so much content for my daughter’s Instagram that her agent began sending other parents to me for high-quality photos and videos. Without noticing it, I was already walking toward a new profession.
When we moved to the U.S., the beginning was extremely difficult. I didn’t know who I was going to be here. I lost my salesperson confidence because of the language barrier, and it took time to find my direction. Eventually I made a bold decision: I bought my first pro camera and invested everything I had into learning photography and retouching — all while continuing to build my daughter’s modeling and acting career in a new country.
Slowly, through conversations and collaborations, I realized that in my city there weren’t many photographers who specialized in children’s fashion. I began building my portfolio through friends and local creative families. Then I took my biggest leap: I reached out directly to top talent and modeling agencies across California.
And when industry professionals started replying with:
“You are so talented — we would love to work with you,”
I was honestly shocked at first. But deeply inspired. It made me believe that maybe this wasn’t just a hobby — maybe this was something I was meant to do.
Four years later, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible people in the industry, shooting campaigns and catalogs, growing from small creative projects to being included on the recommended-photographer lists of top agencies in Southern California, Northern California, and New York.
Today, I photograph e-commerce, lookbooks, and brand campaigns for children’s fashion labels — from boutique to bigger names. My portfolio work has directly helped kids book real jobs with Disney, Netflix, Marvel, Nickelodeon, GAP Kids, Abercrombie, Walmart, Target, Apple, and more. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child’s talent recognized through images that reflect who they truly are.
What inspires me most is the energy of children — their honesty, their humor, their raw personality. I love being playful with them, learning new little things from them every day. Through my lens, I try to capture their individuality and create visual stories that help them shine in this industry.
Outside of photography, I still dance and perform here in California. Movement always brings me back to myself. Being part of a creative community of dancers, actors, models, and artists feels like living a full life — a life where art, childhood, and storytelling all come together.
I’m proud of the path I’ve built from absolutely nothing. Proud that my daughter sees her parent living a creative, independent, brave life. And grateful that my vision helps young talent be seen, be celebrated, and step into rooms they once only dreamed about.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely not been smooth. Starting over in a new country during a global crisis was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I arrived in the U.S. with no professional network, no understanding of the local industry, and with a language barrier that made me feel like I had lost a part of myself — especially the confidence I once had as a salesperson and communicator.
There were moments when I felt completely invisible in a new culture. I didn’t know who I could become here, or whether I would ever find my place. Buying my first professional camera felt like taking a leap into the unknown — I invested money I didn’t really have and spent countless hours learning retouching and rebuilding my skills from scratch, often late at night while my daughter was asleep.
I also had to navigate raising a child in a completely new environment while supporting her journey in modeling and acting. Balancing her auditions, my growth, and the emotional adaptation of starting life over again was overwhelming at times.
Breaking into the children’s fashion industry was far from easy. It took hundreds of emails, rejections, unanswered messages, and a lot of self-doubt. It took time to build trust with agencies, parents, and brands.
But every challenge pushed me to grow — creatively, emotionally, and professionally. Looking back, I’m grateful for the difficult parts. They made me resilient. They taught me to create my own opportunities instead of waiting for them. And they helped me become the artist I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a children’s fashion and portrait photographer based in California, specializing in creating expressive, high-end imagery for young talent, agencies, and kids’ clothing brands. My work blends clean fashion aesthetics with real personality — I focus on capturing the honesty, humor, softness, and confidence that make each child truly unique.
I’m known for helping young models and actors build strong portfolios that actually book real jobs. Kids I’ve photographed have been cast in projects for Disney, Marvel, Netflix, Apple, Target, GAP, Abercrombie, Walmart and more. Supporting their growth and being part of their creative journey is something I’m incredibly proud of.
What sets my work apart is my ability to connect with children on their level — to play, to observe, to let their individuality lead the session. My background in dance helps me create movement-driven, dynamic images, while my experience as a parent gives me the intuition to make kids feel safe, seen, and confident on set.
Today, I work with top modeling and talent agencies across Southern California, Northern California, and New York, shooting campaigns, lookbooks, e-commerce, and magazine-style editorial portraits. My goal is always the same: to create images that feel alive, artistic, and meaningful — visuals that open doors for young talent and tell their story with heart.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve been incredibly lucky to have a mentor who deeply influenced my creative path — photographer Olga Polunina (https://iampoluna.ru).
Long before I became a photographer myself, I was simply a huge admirer of her work. I would travel across Russia just to give my daughter the opportunity to shoot with her, because I believed so much in her artistic eye.
Over time we became close friends, and when I moved to a new country and was starting from zero, Olga became the person who guided me into the world of children’s fashion photography. She helped me understand the industry, shared her knowledge generously, and encouraged me at moments when I doubted myself the most.
To this day, I continue to learn from her — not only creatively, but also in how she builds relationships, how she treats her clients, and how she stays true to her artistic vision. I’m grateful for her support, her honesty, and her belief in me. Having someone who sees your potential before you fully see it yourself is an incredible gift, and she has played a big role in the photographer I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://janeoart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeokids.photo
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evgenia-ochenash-753060210
