Meet Jessica Gladhart: Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Gladhart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I really wanted to have a platform on social media for people to be able to reach out to me to take photos. I hadn’t put much thought into it as a “business” until it started to take off and people I didn’t even know were reaching out to me! Starting a business when I did was really out of the ordinary so it seemed scary and unheard of. But I am so glad that I did. I love my job and I love being able to meet new people and create some amazing memories

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think something that I try to do with every single client is make them feel like family. I love taking photos but I know sometimes it can be a bit scary with someone you don’t know pointing a giant honkin camera in their face. So I try to be goofy myself to make my clients feel like they can be comfortable with me. I think I am most proud of how far I have come. I had a lot of people doubt that I would go anywhere with this business and tell me I couldn’t or shouldn’t because it was a waste of time. I have always had a huge passion with cameras and how they work and what the can do as well as how well they could take pictures. I didn’t care what others said because I knew that this was something I was doing for me, that all changed when I started meeting some amazing people with amazing stories and then it became all about my clients and sharing beautiful moments wherever we were. I am so proud of the family I’ve created and life long friends because of my business and I’ll never be able to thank my clients enough they truly brought the best out of me. Creating this business has had its ups and downs, some many frustrating things have happened and money lost but I try not to look at those things because I cherish all the good moments because they are ones I get to look back on and cry tears of joy over again because I remember how much fun we all had and the connections I created. I have learned that it’s not just about taking pictures or pressing a button it’s all about 1. Creating something visually pleasing and 2. Capturing the real emotion behind the photo. I just want to remind people that when you choose me as your photographer, I want to keep you in my family too and learn about your good moments and all the things that make you you!! I absolutely adore following my photography family through ALL of their big steps in life and I hope to share that with all of you too!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh! This is a hard one! Most of the time I’m hiding away at home editing pictures. But! I love mexican food so anytime I can find a super yummy taco stand or get a good hand crafted margarita you can count me in! I love to be outside so anytime I get the chance to do that it’s a go for me as well! I love hiking too so that would be on the list of things to do in the white tanks or up in Sedona for a day trip!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d have to say my mom deserves a little credit, and it’s so funny because we were just talking about this a few nights ago that our family was on vacation and I really wanted to take pictures with her camera so she let me and I went around taking pictures of flowers. She was amazed at how great the photos had turned out which jump started my obsession with cameras and taking photos. had she not done that I might not be where I am today

Website: Www.portraitsbyjesslauren.com
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