Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Jensen.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I got into photography after my second baby was born in 2019. At the time, we couldn’t really afford traditional family photos, and I started realizing something that honestly bothered me more than I expected — I was never in the pictures. And when I was, it was because I had to ask someone to take one, and the angle would be… not great. The quality would be off. It sounds a little vain saying it out loud, but I just wanted one photo where I felt beautiful with my kids.
So I bought my first camera with the intention of putting it on a tripod and taking photos of my own family. That was it. No big business plan. Just a mom who wanted to exist in her family’s memories in a way that felt good.
Somewhere along the way, it shifted. I became obsessed with making women feel beautiful behind the lens — especially moms. I knew I couldn’t be the only one who didn’t always feel confident or who was constantly the one taking the photo instead of being in it. I wanted to give women the kind of images their husbands and kids already had with them, but in a way that felt natural.
I never wanted stiff, forced smiles where everyone looks perfect but it doesn’t feel real. I wanted raw. I wanted authentic. I wanted the in-between moments and the softness and the strength. I wanted beauty that felt honest.
And that’s really how it all started and how I ended up here.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. I started this business while raising babies, and I’ve basically been pregnant or postpartum every year since 2019. Building something while also being in the thick of motherhood is beautiful but it’s also exhausting.
There were seasons where I questioned if I was good enough. Seasons where bookings were slow. Seasons where I was editing at midnight after getting kids to bed, wondering if I was crazy for trying to do both. There’s also the mental side of it — putting your art out there for people to judge is vulnerable. Photography is personal. You’re not just selling a product; you’re selling how you see people.
Financially, it was scary at times too. Investing in gear, education, wardrobe for my client closet, all before knowing if it would pay off. And recently, even making decisions about scaling back or shifting priorities because of family needs has been hard. When you build something from scratch, it becomes part of you.
But every struggle shaped the way I serve my clients now. It made me more empathetic. It made me better at what I do. It made me care deeply about creating an experience that feels easy and worth it for busy moms.
So no, it hasn’t been perfectly smooth – but I wouldn’t change the road that got me here.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a family, maternity, and lifestyle newborn photographer. I specialize in capturing connection and raw emotion – especially the kind that doesn’t always get documented. The way a mom holds her babies. The way kids melt into their parents. The quiet in-between moments that feel ordinary now but won’t be later.
I’m probably most known for how I photograph women and mothers. A lot of my clients tell me they’re nervous to be in front of the camera, and by the end of the session they feel confident, beautiful, and seen. That means everything to me. I care just as much about how someone feels during their session as I do about the final gallery.
I’m also really proud of the experience I’ve built. From my client closet (which has grown a lot over the years) to how I guide posing in a way that still feels natural, everything is intentional. I don’t do stiff, overly posed images. I direct when needed, but I leave room for movement, emotion, and authenticity. I want images that feel like you – just elevated.
What sets me apart is that I truly understand the season my clients are in because I’m in it too. I’m a mom of five. I know what it feels like to not always feel your best. I know how fast it goes. So when I photograph a family, I’m not just taking pictures. I’m preserving something I know is fleeting.
And that responsibility is something I don’t take lightly.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always really observant. I paid attention to people and how they interacted, how they felt, the little things most people didn’t notice. I was sensitive in a good way. I felt things deeply. I think that’s a big part of why I do what I do now.
Personality wise, I was kinda the loudest person in the room, but I could also be very shy. I was independent. Creative. A little stubborn when I believed in something. I’ve always been the type who, if I want something, I’ll figure it out on my own.
I’ve always loved anything creative – writing, aesthetics, putting outfits together, rearranging spaces, cooking, you name it. I cared a lot about beauty, but not in a surface-level way. More in a “how does this make someone feel?” kind of way. I didn’t know that would translate into photography one day, but looking back, it makes sense.
I also always valued connection. Friendships were important to me. Family was important to me. I think I’ve always been drawn to moments even before I had a camera in my hand.
Pricing:
- The Short Story – $350
- The Novel – $499
- The Voyage – $599
- Bump to Baby – $650
- The Bundled Joy – $1299
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stjensenphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephaniejensenphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjensenphotography
