Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica McGehee.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jessica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m simple yet complicated. Aren’t we all? I’m a mother of 3 and active-duty military wife, turned lifestyle photographer. Besides shooting, my fav past time is letting my mind wander and finger tips dance on the keyboard.
Occasionally something worth reading comes out. A warm setting sun or a child’s laughter makes my fingers twitch — wishing I had camera in hand every second of every day. I grasp at life’s moments, to savor them sweetly and remember them forever. I love deep and wide. I’ll hug anyone who needs it — and I’ll cry with a random stranger needed a shoulder. I’m sensitive & creative. I can be a little rigid and a very type-A. My God is first. My family is second. And spreading & reflecting love is my life’s work.
Stolen moments, whispered I Love You’s, secret giggles, and silent tears get my shutter clicking faster than I can keep up. I love to capture love, raw and pure, in its many manifestations. Whether it’s a big tough and buff Navy Seal delicately holding his just days old firstborn, a mom tickled pink by her girls’ snuggles, or a dad’s last hug with his son for some time to come… I aim to capture those moments in life that are priceless and precious. I consider it an honor and privilege to steal away my clients and freeze these moments for them to revisit for many years to come. I want to give little ones a tangible memory to hold on to when daddy’s gone for a long time. I want teary-eyed moms to smile when they peek back to savor the newborn moments we snapped. I want two lovebirds, crowned in graying hair to see that 50 years later, they’re still sweet on each other. These sums of moments define a life lived full of love, and I desire ever so eagerly, to reflect that love to my clients & the world.
I’ve spent hours upon hours pondering the reasons behind why I enjoy clicking the shutter. The crisp click sends chills up my arm and the corners of my mouth crack a smile when I know I’ve captured exactly what I’m after. My children are usually on the other side of the camera. I can’t imagine missing a second. I realized after my first daughter was born that it was my most desperate longing desire to breathe in and remember every moment of each day of her childhood. Then my son came along. And my littlest munchkin, another girl. I spend each day trying to grasp time and freeze it for just a moment so I could savor it a little longer. My lens does this, for my family, and many others. My goal is to grab those precious moments, those priceless giggles, those mended boo boo’s, those dreamy embraces, raw and authentic, pure and unrehearsed and give them to clients so they can truly see the love they have in their life. Reflecting Grace focuses on capturing your life’s most precious moments of love… authentic and imperfect, to show you just how fiercely God loves you and how generously He has poured out His grace in your life.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles yes! Building a business when you can literally move at any moment without notice to anywhere in the world is no easy task. It has, however, taught me the art of flexibility. There is a vulnerableness to being flexible. It requires me to let go, give up some of the control, and just enjoy the ride. That’s what I’ve learned most about my business! I strive to work hard and set goals and shatter ceilings. And I have! My third year in business boasted just under $100,000 in client sales for my brand.
Within that year, I also opened and executed a successful associate photographer program to allow my brand to serve more areas. There were days we were literally shooting weddings in 3 different cities in multiple states. And as cool as all that sounds, there’s no way to definitely PREDICT that type of success. Sure, I have strategic marketing plans and all sorts of short and long term goals with quantifiable benchmarks. But at the end of the day, it’s a journey and I’m just along for the ride. That’s the biggest lesson I’d tell anyone pursuing photography — enjoy the ride. Find joy in the joy you give others. Let that be enough.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Reflecting Grace Photography – what should we know?
I specialize in glittering my client’s walls with laughter. I’m a natural light lifestyle photographer serving Southern California and Arizona capturing natural moments of love and joy. Beyond the shooting, I walk with my clients through the experience of decorating the walls of their homes with their smiles. So that each room becomes a memory, a moment to pause and reflect and realize just how incredibly loved we truly are! In addition to photography, I train and mentor other photographers through The Learning Institute. I offer courses and workshops for novice to professionals to sharpen their skills and get serious in this business. I strive to be set apart by the level of service I provide.
If you read through my client reviews on my website and my Facebook page, you can get a feel of what it’s like to work with me. I don’t put up a facade with my clients. I treat them as I would want to be treated. I like to get to know them personally. When my clients hire me, they’re inviting me into their lives and that’s a true honor. I treat my clients with honesty, kindness, and I go above and beyond to make sure they’re relaxed and at ease the day of their shoot. From weddings to family sessions, my goal is for them to forget I’m there most of the time and crack up laughing with me any other times. It’s an amazing experience to meet the people photography brings into my life.
They are truly some of the most awe-inspiring people. I have the BEST clients!!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Persistence. Work ethic. Integrity.
Pricing:
- Family collections starting at $429
- Wedding collections starting at $1795
Contact Info:
- Website: www.reflectinggracephotography.com
- Phone: 512-547-7495
- Email: jess@reflectinggracephotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/reflecting_grace_photography
- Facebook: facebook.com/rgpbyjess
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.
