Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Kunert.
Jess, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began my interest in photography while I was in high school in 2003. Stemmed from my drawings, I was in Comic Illustration throughout high school. I took video my senior year and lo and behold the video teacher was also the photography teacher. The dark room was attached to the classroom and before too long, I found myself spending more time in the darkroom than working on video projects.
I started out as an art major in college, and during my first semester, I took photography alongside my drawing classes.
My stepfather built a dark room in the walk-in closet in my room. I spent most of my summer that year in it. To this day, I still have some of the equipment.
It wasn’t too long before I started playing with digital cameras and gained my first DSLR camera, the Canon D30, from my cousin in a trade for a DVD camcorder. It was around this time that I also switched my major to history.
In summer 2009, I broke the D30 and fell off the photography bandwagon for a while.
August 2012, I managed to save up enough money to buy another DSLR. This time, it was a Canon Rebel T3.
By September 2013, I started doing free photo sessions to build a more organized portfolio, seeing as my pictures from the past decade are scattered… and were mostly taken with film.
In February 2014, I established my business and began bettering myself as a photographer – including the equipment I was using.
I am always looking for new ways to take my business to a new level…
In May 2016, I graduated from East Carolina University with my Master’s degree in American History. To me, photographs preserve history… a frozen moment in time… I think that is where my love for photography begins…
Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve definitely had my ups and downs, but I got through them and just came out a stronger person.
You have to stick to your guns and be firm sometimes. Just don’t ever give up, stick to what you love to do.
We’d love to hear more about Jess Kunert Photography.
I mainly photograph families and weddings. I take pride in all I do because I tend to meet some of the most wonderful people. I am personable, I like to get to know my clients before I take photos of them, so I do an in-person consultation. I believe that helps make their photographs more sincere and not as posed.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women are utility workers. They can be put into any position, whether blue collar or white collar work and excel – so long as they put their mind to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: jesskunertphotography.com
- Phone: 586-610-3309
- Email: jmkunert86@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jesskunertphotography
- Facebook: facebook.com/jkunertphotography
Image Credit:
Jess Kunert Photography
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