Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Showalter.
Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved taking photos – when I was young, I had a little film point-and-shoot camera and then a digital point-and-shoot throughout my teenage years. In high school, I studied video production and photography, and my father got me my first DSLR to document a family reunion.
I began school at Northern Arizona University as a film major with a photo minor but quickly realized the program was not directed at the type of production I was interested in. I ended up switching to Hotel & Restaurant Management but continued taking photos as a hobbyist, mostly of landscapes and some local events.
When I graduated with my bachelor’s in 2014, I was gifted a new DSLR from my parents. I moved to Utah to begin working in hospitality and realized how much of a passion I truly had for photography. I was out exploring and adventuring on my days off, always capturing the beautiful places I would visit. I began doing some freelance event photography at this time as well.
I was given the opportunity to combine photography and hospitality in 2017, as the onsite photographer at a guest ranch in Southern Utah. A few years later I was an Event Manager at a hotel in Park City, and a conversation between a colleague and I sparked the need for new hotel photos. At this point, I finally decided to start my own photography business, LuxPrism Photography. I had desired to do so for many years but never felt confident that I would know how to run a business. My time as an Event Manager gave me hands-on experience with client relations, contracts, invoicing, accounting, and general business structure.
I began pursuing the growth of my business while working full-time at the hotel. I attended the Salt Lake Parade of Homes to build my portfolio and began shooting Airbnbs across the city. A new relationship began with a friend I’d known for years that had recently moved to Texas. After a long six months of long-distance, I decided to join him in New Braunfels in the fall of 2021. He supported and inspired me to take on my business full-time upon moving to Texas. I am so grateful to him for this. Over the last seven months, I have been able to dive in completely and am now shooting interiors and architecture with local designers and builders.
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?
Any entrepreneur will tell you that starting a business isn’t always a simple task. I felt like I had a general idea of how to run things, but the actual logistics and details were a bit daunting in the beginning. Since my earnings were minimal, I had to figure out how to do a lot of things on my own, such as learning to build and design my website.
Learning to market and determine my pricing was a challenge as well. I had images to showcase my work, but how would I communicate my value in a way that others would want to work with me? I think creating value in your client experience and ultimately your product is something that always evolves.
I think it’s natural for us creatives to have a bit of a perfectionist side. This is useful in many ways but can also hold us back if we feel something isn’t quite perfect. Realizing that learning and improvement are constant parts of the journey has been rewarding. Each challenge I overcome roots me deeper into my business and I love that aspect.
As you know, we’re big fans of LuxPrism Photography. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
LuxPrism Photography is a Texas-based company specializing in interior design and architecture photography, serving the New Braunfels, San Antonio, and Austin areas. Through my creative eye and clean edits, I deliver quality, professional photos to my clients that present high business standards.
My time as an event planner has taught me to be an efficient photoshoot planner. Often there are multiple parties involved, and organizing those parties is very natural for me. Whether it’s just a client and I, or there are many on set, I treat each shoot the same and maintain consistency in my brand.
Aside from my determination and dedication, I am most proud of my brand identity. It took over a month to come up with the name LuxPrism. I knew I wanted to portray a luxury brand and relate it to the art of photography, so I began writing down words that matched both of those things. When I finally put ‘Lux’ and ‘Prism’ together, I knew I had found my brand. A close friend of mine is a graphic designer, and she created the perfect logo to represent LuxPrism Photography.
I love architecture and design photography because my work becomes capturing others’ work. I love that our styles get to blend in this way and that I get to show my clients’ projects at their best.
My packages range based on project size, and I am always happy to discuss your project and photo needs. I offer interior, details, exterior, twilights, and lifestyle images.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people probably don’t know that when I was a child I wanted to be an artist, and as a young teen I wanted to be an interior designer! When I learned just how important of a niche interior photography is, I knew I had found what I was meant to do. Working with interior designers now and capturing their projects through my favorite art form is extremely fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@luxprismphotography.com
- Website: https://luxprismphotography.com/
- Instagram: luxprism
- Facebook: luxprismphotography
- Twitter: luxprismphoto
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/luxprism
Image Credits
LuxPrism Photography
