Life and Work with Jennifer Hogue

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hogue.

Jennifer, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Twelve years ago I was a special needs licensed child care provider, mother of two one being autistic and dabbling in photography. A passion my dad started in me at a very young age. Fast forward two years and I lost my dad to cancer and it was during that grief I realized life was so short and it was time to do what scared me most and I quit my job in child care and became a full time photographer. It’s been a crazy ride, I’ve seen the industry change so much and I’ve been blessed to have families that have grown with me my whole career. At the height of my business I was at a very low place in my life personally and left an abusive marriage after 18yrs, my photography page went quiet and I tried hard to just get through each day as I tried to heal from my trauma. Again at a low point in my life I realized I could use my pain to help others and I developed Body Love a journey of body acceptance through intimate photography (also known as Boudoir) and a Facebook group I run offering a community to women who are learning to love themselves again from trauma, abuse or just feeling stuck by society’s labels. Today I am living my best life in Arvada, with my guy and favorite dog pal. Focusing on women empowerment photography and Intimate Weddings.

Great, 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?
I feel like as a mother, especially a special needs mom there is always a feeling of guilt as you hustle to build a business in a mainly masculine minded industry (at the time). It was harder to get business loans at the time for an industry that was mainly looked upon as a luxurious hobby, but I was a go getter and I was incredibly passionate about connecting with my clients and telling their story. Especially when I started working with women who had been through trauma or divorce. I started to see this huge picture of how badly society had distorted a women’s image of herself and how badly we needed to start reminding the role models how important they were before we breed another generation of jaded women.

To young women starting out, I’d tell them to write down their goals/dreams put them up where you can see them often and whenever you are discouraged look at them, read them to yourself and remind yourself in the hard times why you’re working so hard! Read everything you can on time management and entrepreneurship. The biggest thing that crushes women in this industry is the business part. The more you’re educated the better you can protect yourself and feel confident dealing with business management. Also finding a mentor is a great way to get your feet wet in the industry and to have someone help bounce business issues off.

Please tell us about Jenn Hogue Photography.
I am an Elopement, Intimate Wedding and Boudoir Photographer. I specialize in capturing intimate and authentic connections for the adventurous couple on their biggest day. And Empower women through intimate photography helping them heal and to learn to love their bodies as they are in the now!

I am most proud of my authenticity, I am a very real and open photographer and I love the connections I build and the story telling I thus get to be privy to because of that level of connection I have built with my clients.

I believe what sets me apart from others is my heart. I don’t want to just take a photo and walk away, I want to truly know the people in front of me and to allow their story and emotions to pour from my lens. I also like to do it in really beautiful places, as I love to hike and travel!

Who have you been inspired by?
Probably my mom the most, she’d been through so much trauma as a child and obstacles in her life and she always had such a positive outlook on how she dealt with life and was my biggest cheerleader in my darkest times. She the strongest women I know and she’s had to be strong a really long time.

Deborah Grigsby was my mentor, a retired Military Journalist and intimate wedding photographer. She took me under her wing and taught me so much about the industry and just how to be confident in my own skin and skills.

And believe it or not, but PINK! I loved her I don’t give a crap, no bars positive understanding of who she was as women and oozed the total appreciation and understanding of loving herself and helping every other women in her path do the same for themselves!

Contact Info:

• Phone: (970) 631-7587
• Email: jennhoguephoto@gmail.com
• Instagram: jennhogue_boudoirphoto
• Facebook: Jenn Hogue Photography

Image Credit:
Head shot Photo Credit: Kate Edberg Portrait Art
All other Photography by me Jenn Hogue Photography

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