Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Lindberg.
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey began behind the lens as a photojournalist, documenting raw stories with film that found their way into the pages of The New York Times and Marie Claire. I documented everything from teen birth mothers to Death Row inmates with profound developmental disabilities—learning along the way that every photograph is more than just a moment. It’s proof of presence. Visibility. What I didn’t realize then was how this idea of visibility would become the foundation of my own studio. But it did.
In 2018, after fifteen years of photographing weddings in Austin, my husband and partner, Jim, and I took a leap of faith and co-founded Jennifer Lindberg Studio—dedicated exclusively to black-and-white portraits. What began as a small “mom and pop” operation quickly grew into something far greater than we ever imagined. Today, we have a team of seven remarkable portraitists and three dedicated assistants, all united by one purpose: to make women visible in their own photographs. Women, by far, are the keepers of memories. They’re the ones behind the camera, capturing birthdays, holidays, family vacations, their dogs. Yet when you look back through those memories, they’re the ones missing. We’ve become the invisible historians of our own lives. I want to change that. I want women to step back into the frame—not just as mothers, wives, or caretakers—but as the central characters in their own life stories, with “main character energy.”
Our studio, built in 1898, is nestled in a historic arts hub in Lockhart. We’re historic home and building nerds. We remodeled and restored the space from top to bottom, with Jim hand scraping the long leaf pine floors upstairs and refinishing them all by hand. It’s a really special space–like an oasis within the oasis of Lockhart–and we’re honored to host people here. Each year, around 600 families and women with their beloved dogs travel to our destination studio in Lockhart for portraits. Most are traveling anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours to come here, and they tend to make a day of it, strolling through historic downtown, exploring artisan shops, art galleries and cafes. It becomes an experience that goes far beyond the photos—it’s about slowing down, being present, and truly enjoying the moment.
What we offer isn’t your average photoshoot. It’s more akin to commissioning a work of art—something made for gallery walls. These portraits are museum-quality, created to transcend a scroll (though it’s always fun to share them on social too!). Our clients don’t just leave with photographs; they leave with proof—proof they lived, proof they loved—captured in a way that is timeless and that feels very “them.”
As our studio grew, I began to see another profound relationship I wanted to document: the bond between women and their dogs. It started with a single session, but the stories I heard were undeniable. These dogs weren’t just pets; they were companions through cancer treatments, heartbreak, new cities, and fresh starts. They were family. So, we decided to make that bond visible too. That choice has led to our next exhibition which opens on November 7th on Lockhart’s First Friday. The “By Her Side” exhibition and opening will feature black-and-white portraits that celebrate the unbreakable bond between women and their dogs. We’re actively searching for women and their dogs to be part of this exhibition, and we’re also hosting several pop-ups across Texas to widen the circle and gather even more powerful stories. It’s an open invitation to step into the frame and be part of something bigger.
And we’re not stopping there. This year, we’re turning our lens toward one of the most powerful relationships there is: mothers and daughters. We’re creating an editorial-style printed magazine that serves as living evidence of what it means to mother and be mothered. Within its pages, we are featuring reflections from mothers on what matters most as they raise their daughters, alongside unfiltered thoughts from daughters about the qualities they most admire in their moms. It’s part storytelling, part celebration, and entirely dedicated to preserving what we call “Proof of Mom—” because women’s visibility matters.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When we opened Jennifer Lindberg Studio in 2018, many of our friends and colleagues in Austin thought we were crazy. No one is going to drive all the way to Lockhart, they said. Back then, Lockhart was mostly known for its BBQ. We had fallen in love with the town. Today, Lockhart a vibrant hotspot for all things creative.
We also took another leap of faith to specialize exclusively in black-and-white portraits. It was our dream that it would work, but we honestly had no idea if it would. We committed to it anyway, building out a studio that focused entirely on that timeless aesthetic. Five years later, that decision still defines us.
Another challenge for us as photographers was stepping away from the iconic Austin backdrops and locations that had always been a signature of our work—the Congress Avenue Bridge, the dock and grounds of the Four Seasons, Commodore Perry Estate, the Driskill, Pennybacker Bridge. These were the landscapes where we had photographed so many beautiful stories. Shifting to a studio setting was a risk. We were inspired by the timeless, minimalist black-and-white work of masters like Irving Penn, August Sander, Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, and Gordon Parks—photographers who captured the essence of their subjects with honesty and depth. But we didn’t know if that vision–in a studio–would resonate with our clients. Would people be willing to trade the iconic backdrops of Austin for the clean simplicity of a studio?
The answer came slowly, but steadily—yes. Clients understood that what we were offering was something different…A piece of art. Something timeless. Proof of presence.
The road was bumpy, but the risks have been worth it. Lockhart has become home, and the portraits we create here are proof that sometimes the best stories are told off the beaten path.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Part of what sets us apart is that we moved away from the familiar outdoor backdrops and embraced the clean simplicity of a studio aesthetic. It was an intentional choice—to create portraits that are timeless, museum-quality and deeply personal.
We’re incredibly proud of the team we’ve built. Our studio is made up of seven talented photographers—each an artist in their own right—along with three dedicated assistants who drive into Lockhart from Austin, San Marcos, Georgetown, Leander and Buda, every single session day. Between us, we have over 200 years of collective experience photographing people. Among us are a college professor, passionate historic preservationists, animal lovers, photojournalists, and many of us have degrees in photography or film. This isn’t just what we do; it’s who we are. Our portraits aren’t created from a checklist. They’re crafted with intention and real gratitude for the families and the dogs who drive to the Studio from Austin, San Antonio and beyond to sit in front of our cameras.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to visibility—especially for women. Women are the ones behind the camera, capturing birthdays, holidays, family moments…but when you look back, they’re often the ones missing from the record. At our studio, we change that. We invite women to step back into the frame—not just as mothers or caretakers, but as the main characters in their own families and narratives, whether that family is human or canine. For us, it’s about more than a photograph—it’s about proof. Proof that you lived, proof that you loved.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
While AI is making it possible to do fantastical things that are wildly fun—like putting ourselves in front of the Taj Mahal with the click of a button—I’m seeing a shift in the opposite direction when it comes to portraits at our studio. People are growing tired of over-edited filters and hyper-stylized images. They want to be themselves, to see themselves, to look like themselves. There’s a craving for authenticity—for portraits that reflect back who they really are, not a version polished to perfection.
That’s where the clean simplicity of black-and-white photography, and our approach, really works. Stripping away the distractions, the heavy edits, the over-the-top effects—it lets the person and their relationships shine through. I think as technology becomes more capable of altering reality, the desire for genuine, unfiltered photography—and the experience of actually making memories together—is only going to grow stronger.
We want to continue to be part of that shift, creating portraits that reflect back a person’s real and powerful presence. Not just an image, but a true experience that’s felt, shared, and remembered.
Pricing:
- Our portrait session commissions begin at $750, with clients typically investing $2,000 and up for bespoke Italian matted prints and stunning acrylic wall art—pieces that wouldn’t look out of place on gallery walls.
- When clients come into our studio, there’s this really special moment when they first see their portraits in person. It’s different. You can see it in their faces—the way they take in the unreal level of detail. It’s one thing to view an image on a screen; it’s another to watch the light hit the print and actually feel its presence.
- We also offer digitals as curated collections starting at $1,995. These aren’t just quick downloads; they’re meticulously prepared and edited with the same attention to detail as our physical prints. It’s important to us that our digital portraits are artwork too—ready to be shared with the same level of artistry and intention as our printed pieces.
- We love working alongside interior designers to create custom displays that turn these portraits into true conversation pieces. It’s one thing to hang a photograph; it’s another to have it become part of your home’s aesthetic and vibe—something people sense the moment they walk through the door. Each of these projects is custom-quoted to reflect the specific vision and space of our clients.
- Throughout the year, we run a handful of Artist Projects. For these, we waive the commission fee in exchange for participating in our social media and studio campaigns. It’s a chance to step behind the scenes with us and be part of a creative project that’s deeply personal. We only open up applications a few times a year, and we’re always looking for people whose experiences and perspectives resonate with our work.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.jenniferlindbergstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferlindbergphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLindbergStudio/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlindberg/
- Other: https://bit.ly/4cJ3pwY
Image Credits
Jennifer Lindberg Studio
