Hi Jenna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Back in 2011, I made the decision to leave the military but never wanted to take orders from anyone else ever again. Spontaneously, I decided to start a business, despite having zero knowledge of how to run a company!! True entrepreneurial style, I suppose. Cannonball in, ask questions later. It’s been a wild ride since. I started my company in Hawaii, where I simultaneously finished an advertising degree. After a decade in Hawaii though, I grew tired of it. It’s hard living on an expensive island in the middle of the ocean! In 2016, I decided to move to Austin for a fresher pace of life. While I miss the beauty of Hawaii, moving to Austin was the best choice possible. While chasing my masters in creative writing, I began throwing myself into this market, sometimes working 60-70 hours a week for months on end. It was/is exhausting but everything worth it always is.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My main struggle has always been myself. Often, I’ve functioned from a place of fear. I’ll book people that otherwise wouldn’t be a good fit because of a scarcity mindset. I’d raise my prices and panic, quickly lowering them. It’s taken a long time to get where I’m at, knowing I’m really good at what I do and I’m worth it. Took a decade and a few hundred publications later, but I’m here!
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?
The most major thing that sets me apart is the cornerstone of my business—inclusivity. From the beginning, I’ve always been known for working with and seeking out the “other.” In different periods of the industry, this looks like working with *gasp* LGBT couples, bi-racial couples (yes, this is still unusual), polyamory, being political about anything that concerns minorities, as well as openly acknowledging mental health, physical, and trauma aspects of life. I’m the only photographer I know of with a mental health-specific part of my blog. Representation matters and often, you’ll find me on some invisible soundbox, telling white people how racist they are and educating businesses on how to make representation/inclusivity the forefront of their company.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
Depending on what side of the fence you hang out on, I would be considered a huge risk-taker. I don’t engage in what I call being “facade-forward.” Who I am is what you get. Pretense is for scared people. I’m open about everything, painfully so at times. The irony is that my biggest flaw, at least what I consider it to be, is that I care WAY too much about what other people think. Which is odd, considering I approach most things like a sledgehammer. However, I’m of the mindset that big risks often lead to big rewards. Not always, but part of the risk is accepting failure. Which is also ironic because I’m a perfectionist. It’s odd to be in my head at times.
Pricing:
- Pricing starting at $2500
Contact Info:
- Email: creatrixphotography@gmail.com
- Website: https://creatrixphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatrixphotography/
