Today we’d like to introduce you to Janeva Peats
Hi JANEVA, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins back in my home state of California. I’m a true West Coast girl, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, along with roots in SoCal. Special shout-out to my cities: South Hayward and Oxnard, CA. Those two places have truly carried me and shaped me into who I am today. My love for cameras and photography was born around 8 years old. While visiting my great grandparents home in Oxnard, I spent much of my time in my great grandpa’s office where I would admire his cameras. He had the 1979 Olympus OM-10, 35mm film camera which I thought was the coolest! That time spent with him planted the seed of my love for film and analog. Little did I know, it was also the beginning of a fiery passion.
Fast forward to 2014, my Sophomore year of high school, I joined a program called “CMMA” (Community MultiMedia Academy) where I had one of the best teachers, Ms. Okolie, who taught me how to use Canon DSLRs. During my two years in CMMA, I learned about photography, videography and created various projects with Adobe software. Despite my joy for creating, photography wasn’t the original career path that I embarked upon. Honestly, I didn’t have crystal clarity of what I wanted to do. In college, I studied as a Communications major with a focus of Organizational Communication. As a young “20-something,” I went through a period of time, feeling lost and unfulfilled. Photography had been put on the back burner, but my passion was reignited in summer of 2019. My cousin Jai (@jailynandrea.visuals) and I would collaborate on passion projects for fun. I was reminded of just how much I loved being behind the camera, documenting everything around me. Lifestyle, fashion, the beauty of my surroundings and all the details in between.
At the top of 2020 and Covid, I did some deep reflection; I asked myself “What sets Janeva’s heart and soul on fire? What brings me joy? When do I feel the most alive and fulfilled?” Digging for that answer inside of me felt like an epiphany once I finally figured it out. I remember smiling to myself and saying, “Photography.” From that moment, I decided that I wanted to be a photographer and that was the birth of JHoney Visuals. It has taken much hard work and dedication to get to where I am today. Lots of trial and error, believing in myself, early mornings, long nights, working for free on projects but the most important of all that has gotten me to this point – God and community. Without my faith, the love and support of my loved ones and community, this would not be possible. I strongly value the collectivism; power of the people and building genuine connections with one another. Community over competition, always and all ways. I value remaining accessible for my people in marginalized communities. Staying true to my roots, who I am and remaining authentic has gotten me this far and will continue to push me further. All praises to the most high, and a special thank you to my people who continue to support and inspire me everyday.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been a smooth one. However, I am a firm believer that facing challenges head on builds character and endurance. I come from a family that does not have much financial literacy or business knowledge, so I have been learning how to navigate all of that on my own, which can feel a bit lonely at times. The mentors and creative community I have gained over the past five years has been incredibly meaningful and helpful because it is a learning curve.
Just as many creatives, I have also had my fair share of battling self-doubt. In this era of heightened social media presence and the hustle culture, it’s easy to fall into the doom-scrolling and comparing ourselves to one another. When I first started my business, I was only 22. Now turning 27 in a couple weeks, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that I have a beautifully unique journey of my own. It’s okay to go at my own pace and allow everything to fall into place just as it is meant to. I’ve worked on reframing my mindset around failure because just as light cannot exist without darkness, success cannot exist without failure. I may fall down, but as many times as I fall, I get back up.
I’ve also learned that it is okay to take a break sometimes. This past year, I went on a hiatus after relocating to Dallas from California. It was my first time truly moving away from home and family. What was originally supposed to be a three month hiatus, ended up lasting all of 2024 (aside from the few projects I decided to take on). For some time, I felt guilty about it. I questioned if people would continue to support me once I made my comeback. 2024 taught me that it’s crucial to extend grace to myself through every season because it’s not always a walk in the park. I had to remind myself that it was only a break, I wasn’t quitting or giving up and that it is okay to take my time to become reacclimated. Whomever is meant to be around, will still be there. Self-love and confidence are essential pillars to making it as an entrepreneur and strengthening our minds can help us achieve anything we set our minds to. It’s 2025, I feel rejuvenated and now more than ever, I am ready to hit the ground running after my dreams.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a portrait and lifestyle photographer who specializes in storytelling and documenting the fleeting moments. There are many details that we often overlook, especially when we’re caught up in the moment. As a photographer, I value capturing the special moments and freezing them to last a lifetime for future generations to hold and cherish. I am known for my authenticity which is what I am most proud of with the JHoney Visuals brand. I think that’s what sets me apart from others because I show up as my true self, not how others want me to. My personal brand and photography brand are one in the same. I find that it is important to remain true to my roots and stand for what I believe in. Uplifting and inclusive, I hold pride representing the underrepresented, especially my Black, brown and LGBTQ community. My ultimate goal is to always provide a safe space where people feel comfortable and seen. We all have an important, special story to tell.
I think what also sets me apart is that I refuse to niche down. As creatives, especially photographers, we’re pressured to choose a niche and stick to it. However, I am a multi-faceted artist who wears various hats. That’s the beauty of being your own unique self. We don’t have to do what others are doing. Lifestyle, fashion/beauty, branding for entrepreneurs, graduates, engagements, families, maternity, boudoir, portraits for all – the list goes on. You name it, I do it and I genuinely love all of it. The joy is in the creating. I cannot be put into one singular box.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The characteristic I feel is the most important to my success is integrity. For me, no matter how successful I become, whether personally or professionally, it’s important to me that I stay aligned with my morals, values and principles. When I’m in alignment, I know that I’m functioning with intentionality. With that, I build trust. I create strong rapport and positive relationships with others. I make ethical decisions in a selfless manner, rather than thinking of myself. To be successful in business, building upon a foundation of integrity is vital and what matters most to me. I believe that is the key to longevity and stability.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjanevapeats
- Other: https://pin.it/2ayIl30OM
Image Credits
Janeva Peats, JHoney Visuals (@iamjanevapeats)
