Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazz Moe.
Hi Jazz, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved capturing memories, both the big celebratory moments and the small, funny, everyday ones. In high school (and even earlier), I was constantly borrowing my mom’s old Canon camera to take photos of friends. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I just knew I loved documenting life as it happened. That camera stayed with me through college, where I continued shooting casually whenever I could.
After college, once I started my career in UX design and was finally making my own money, I saved up and bought a new mirrorless Canon camera. At the time, I imagined I’d mostly use it for travel or maybe one day to take high-quality photos of my future kids. Photography was still just something personal and fun.
Less than six months after buying that camera, I asked a friend if she’d like some graduation photos. It felt like a good excuse to practice with my new gear and start experimenting with editing. After that shoot, something clicked—I realized how much I genuinely enjoyed the process, from shooting to editing to delivering the final images. That was the moment I thought, “Maybe this could be something.”
I began offering very affordable graduation sessions through my Instagram stories, and to my surprise, quite a few people were interested. I even did some sessions for free so I could continue building my skills. During this time, I focused heavily on developing my editing style, learning how to pose people naturally, and understanding what types of photography I was most drawn to. I listened to podcasts, watched countless YouTube videos, and even used ChatGPT as a learning tool—uploading images I admired alongside my own work and refining edits through trial, feedback, and experimentation. Over time, my confidence and technical ability grew quickly.
One of my biggest strengths became helping people feel comfortable in front of the camera. I learned how to guide couples, families, and individuals with prompts that brought out genuine expressions and natural moments, rather than stiff poses. Most of my early clients came through word of mouth, Instagram, or TikTok, friends telling friends, or people stumbling across my work online.
Everything changed in May 2025, when a video I posted went viral across platforms and reached over 10 million views. Almost overnight, inquiries increased dramatically. I had to quickly figure out how to scale, setting up a client management system, refining contracts, and improving my website and overall digital experience. Fortunately, my background as a UX designer allowed me to apply those skills directly to my photography business, from web design and branding to video editing and client flow.
Today, I primarily photograph couples, engagements, proposals, and families, though I also shoot weddings, elopements, maternity sessions, graduates, and other meaningful milestones. I love delivering galleries and adding my own artistic touches and seeing clients’ reactions when they receive their photos. Being trusted to capture such joyful, emotional moments is so special. It is genuinely SO exciting for me to get to help plan a proposal, or capture the cutest smiles from little kids, or to see two people get married who are so in love.
It’s been just about a year since I started working with paid clients, but it has been an incredibly rewarding year filled with beautiful stories and unforgettable moments. I’m deeply grateful for the growth and success I experienced in 2025, and I’m so excited to see where 2026 takes me.
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?
It hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge pushed me forward. Learning the technical side of photography, developing a consistent style, and building confidence behind the camera all took time. When my work suddenly gained a lot of attention online, I also had to quickly figure out the business side—contracts, systems, and workflows—while still delivering a great experience to every client. Overall it is still a passion of mine, and so that excitement has kept me going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is really about capturing people as they are and letting moments unfold naturally. I don’t want photos to feel stiff or overly posed—I want them to feel real, comfortable, and full of emotion. I give just enough guidance to help people relax, but a lot of the magic comes from the in-between moments.
People often describe my photos as clean, timeless, and romantic, with a warm, cinematic feel. I’m especially drawn to the little things—the laughs, the glances, the way people interact when they forget the camera is there.
What I’m most proud of are the sessions where people leave saying they genuinely had fun. I care a lot about making the hour we spend together feel easy, relaxed, and actually enjoyable—not awkward or stressful. I’m constantly talking, moving, joking, and giving simple prompts so it feels more like hanging out than being photographed. When people are having a good time, it always shows in the photos.
What sets me apart is how much I care about the experience, not just the final images. I’m very intentional about creating a calm, comfortable vibe so people can show up as they are. The goal is for the photos to feel natural, meaningful, and something people genuinely connect with—not just something that looks good on Instagram.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I would say some things I’ve learned would be:
Growth comes from doing
You don’t have to have everything figured out to start. Most of my growth came from saying yes, practicing a lot, and learning as I went instead of waiting until I felt “ready.”
The in-between moments are the real ones
The quick glances, laughter, and small gestures often matter more than the big planned moments. That’s true on and off camera.
Progress beats perfection
You don’t need to be amazing right away. Showing up consistently and improving little by little matters more than waiting until everything feels “perfect.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jazzmoe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzmoe.photo/
