Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Murrah.
Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
If you knew me from high school and found out I was a photographer, you’d be shocked! You probably thought for sure I was going to be an attorney, work in politics or run for office! Little did I know, while I may have been a member of Model UN, Stuco, mock trial & interning for law offices, I was also developing a passion for photography. When I would hang out with friends, I was the one capturing the moment. I remember that excitement of picking up my roll of film from the developer after and sharing them with all of my friends. We would laugh and be taken back to that moment of fun. Many years later, I had children. I loved chasing them around with my camera and freezing that fleeting moment. I, like my clients, loved to show off my photos. Friends started asking me to take photos for them, and I quickly realized I loved that part of photography. Capturing moments for others. So, I started a part-time business & I began classes at UTA for the photography certificate program. As my knowledge grew, so did my passion AND my business! It took seven years for me to find my specialty. I use to take photos of weddings, for book covers, families, events… anything that came my way! Now, I only offer Family & Children’s Photography and I took my part-time business, full time after eight years! Like every artist, I am always working on my craft. I take workshops, have mentorships and attend classes annually. I may not be the attorney I thought I would be, but something tells me, this is so much better!
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?
I started my business while working for Barnes & Noble as a business development manager. I never in my wildest dreams, even then, knew what Modern Studios Photography would become. About two years ago, my daughter got very ill. She was spending a lot of time in the hospital, at Dr’s appointments and was missing most days of school. My husband lost his job and became her caretaker. I had to step up my business in order for our family to pay our bills for the first time. My once side hustle became super real. I was able to double my business that year. The next year after my daughter’s Optic Nerve Sheath Decompression surgery, she started to get better and was back in school full time. I was on track to double my business again and it just made sense for our family to change up roles. My husband went back to work and I left my 13-year dream job to pursue an even bigger dream I never even knew I had!
Please tell us about Modern Studios Photography.
When we decided to focus solely on Children & Family as a company, we really came into our brand. For the first time, my work was being recognized, published & sought after. We are most known for our Animal Experiences. It started because of my daughters love for animals. I would travel all over the US with her to visit zoos, aquariums and have special animal encounters. We quickly realized my clients do these things too! So, we formed several partnerships with local farms, zoos & exotic animal sanctuary’s. We began by offering Unicorn Portraits. Then we added Reindeer portraits. Now, we offer everything from Kangaroo Portraits to Sloth Portraits and everything in between. We offer unique experiences for children (and their adults) to get up close to horses, pigs, monkeys, otters, alpacas, and so many other animals. We are creating an experience, but also a stunning portrait to remind you of this special day. Our photographs are not something you tuck in a drawer but rather display in your home. Our goal is to capture the moment while you and your family enjoy the experience.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is making memories. Going to the beach with my family, hanging at the mall with my friends, camping, playing in the marching band at Disney… all of those moments I felt connected to my friends and family. I think that’s why I love photography so much. It has the power to take me back to all of these memories and just by viewing a photo, I can instantly remember what it was like to be in the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.modernstudiosphotography.com
- Phone: 8172265755
- Email: modernstudiosphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: Modernstudiosphotography
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/modernstudiosphotography
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