Meet Jocelyn Woo | Storm Photographer &Underwriter Team Lead

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

Hi Jocelyn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
My life revolves around risk is a special way. I have always been a risk taker/seeker. From off-roading in Glamis since my toddler years to being a licensed insurance Underwriter Team Lead, to storm chasing. Being an underwriter in the insurance world I am constantly analyzing risk, looking at all contributing factors and making underwriting decisions based on data. This coincides a lot with storm chasing. I am analyzing the radar data, looking at models, looking at maps, looking at the beautiful Arizona sky to see where it leads me. In storm chasing, the risk is part of the fun OR sometimes it can be part of your nightmares if not careful. Unfortunately I have had both BUT that’s part of being a risk taker. I’ve gotten beautiful photos and then two minutes later get stuck in the middle of a microburst thinking “what in the world did I just do?!”. At the end of the day, I keep coming back for more. You can’t let risks get in your way of living, Although not always a positive outcome can come from taking a risks, lessons will always be learned from them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a kid my mom ALWAYS had a camera in hand, and I know doubt got this passion and creative ability from her. After having my youngest baby (8 years ago now) I was having a really hard time feeling like “Jocelyn” again. My doctor recommended I pick up a hobby that could make me feel like an individual and not just a mother. The very next day, I walked into Best Buy in Oceanside, CA, picked up a Canon rebel T6 and the rest is history. I started taking pictures of my kids, the sunset, plants, my dogs, etc. I fell in love. I started taking picture of friends and family. Then Covid happened (YUCK) and that all went to a stand still. During this time my husband and I really had started thinking about moving to Arizona, we took that jump, bought our house in a little town called Red Rock. I didn’t know it then, but that would change the trajectory of my life. MONSOON SEASON BABY! The first summer in AZ, I watched the storms roll through town with my phone from my back and front patios. I would have HOURS of video on my phone just capturing the thunder and lightning. One night in September of 2021 there was a beautiful storm coming from the north (I had no idea about radars, or really even how to track storms) and I hopped in my car and headed west to get a clear shot of Picacho Peak. No tripod, just my camera in hand, snapping photos over and over and over again trying to get a picture of lightning! I started getting frustrated because I couldn’t even get one! UNTIL, I did! I finally got it!!! I was jumping up and down and yelling by myself in the middle of the desert! I was STOKED! I look back now and crack up, it is the most blurry, out of focus, shaken photo I ever took BUT it’s my first lightning photo and I often look back it at for additional perseverance and motivation to KEEP GOING! Even when you think your failing, KEEP PUSHING! You’ll miss 100% of all opportunities you do not take.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love the outdoors! I would take them to eat breakfast at the Marana stockyards. Then we can go off-roading off of Park Link Rd or even back by the Silverbell mines. I love going on day trips so even head east towards Oracle or North towards the Salt River or maybe head down town and hear the history if Hotel Congress. That’s one thing I love about Arizona, you have so many diverse places to go in a day and so much to do outside!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom, dad, husband, and 3 sons. I know it may sound like a cliche answer, but I owe my life to them. My Parents are business owners themselves and own a vehicle fabrication business out of Oceanside, CA. Growing up in an entrepreneurial home taught me a lot about values and had shown me early on the strongest foundation to have when wanting success. They have always been my number one cheerleaders and have supported me in every crazy endeavor I have had. My mom is my best friend and has always had a love for lightning, as for me??? I HATED it as a child. I would cry and hide. (My ten year old self would not believe for a dang second that I actually go towards the lightning now) Fast forward 20 years and my kids LOVE it! When my parents visit me in AZ I get to drag them along for the chase and my kids come too depending on the storm! Seeing my children’s eyes light up when they see a rainbow and a bolt strike through it is one of my favorite memories. I reserve isolated, close to home, storms for them. With that being said, my husband I owe a lot of my storm chasing success to. When a storm hits at 5PM and I’m running out the door, he already has my camera and tripod waiting by the door and dinner in the oven for our children. Without this village around me supporting me, loving me, and cheering me on, I don’t know where I would be. I am very blessed!

Instagram: @its_arizona_time

Twitter: @JWooPhotography

Image Credits
Jocelyn Woo