Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Brower.
Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always been the one with a camera, making everyone get together for a group picture. I can’t tell you how many disposable cameras I had developed in my adolescent years! I only gained the confidence to start taking paid opportunities after reading Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. Perfectionism and creativity do not mix! I said yes to every single opportunity at first, but now I have really found my sweet spot with families and newborns. I love love love working with moms. I love being their cheerleader and making them feel special and beautiful. So many mamas are walking around with a phone full of pictures of their children, and they are not in any of them. It brings me so much joy to take photos they will frame, display, and treasure forever.
Alright, 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?
The biggest challenge for me has been the idea that photography is a completely flooded market, with no room for new artists. Between Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, it is easy to get discouraged and feel like there is not enough business to go around. I have found this scarcity mindset to be more limiting than the actual number of opportunities out there! I have chosen to adopt the mindset that “there is room for me at this table” and that “there is always room for awesome!” Sometimes I still have to give myself a little pep talk to remind myself I have something special and unique to offer, and that there is enough out there for me. I have amazing clients who feel like friends, and I get the opportunity to connect with other moms in such a significant way. I get to take photos of mamas who are pregnant with a rainbow baby, or a miracle baby they thought they would never have. I get to spend time with moms who have just given birth and make sure they know they are doing a great job. I get to hear incredible stories about foster care and adoption. My life is so rich and full because of the beautiful families I am privileged enough to capture.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My passion is photographing mamas and their babies! My goal (obsession) is for women to LOVE the way they look in their pictures and feel truly special throughout the whole experience. Moms often put their own needs last, so I try to make sure the women I work with prioritize themselves for their family portraits. Mom usually cares the most about these photos, so why shouldn’t she be the priority? I also know from experience as a photographer, and from my own life as a woman and mother, that it can be so vulnerable to have your photos taken. It can really bring out all your insecurities and worst self-criticisms. The heart behind everything I do is to make sure that my mamas feel confident while we take photos and genuinely love how they look in the final product. I have created a thick Style Guide for my clients with every tip and trick I know. Additionally, I offer a client closet, with dozens of beautiful and flattering pieces I have hand-selected based on how they will photograph. I also strive to capture joyful and authentic photos of the children I work with, not just posed “cheese” smiles. I know what kinds of photos I want of my own children, and I try to create those kinds of portraits for the families I work with.
At the end of the day, parenting and motherhood usually looks messy and chaotic, even when it feels magical and joyful. My goal is to capture portraits that look the way motherhood feels on the best days.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Call it luck, fate, or blessings, but I can see how so many aspects of my life have come together in my favor. I am a firm believer that nothing is wasted. All of my experiences have given me the unique perspective I bring to my art and my relationships with clients.
Pricing:
- Portrait & newborn sessions start at $375
- Mama Minis Subscriptions start at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennybrowerphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenny__brower
Image Credits
Brittnie Renee Photography
