Daily Inspiration: Meet Jessica Craig

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Craig.

Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I first picked up a camera in June of 2020, and as a result, a lot has changed for me in just a little over two years. Things were already changing even before I picked up that camera. 2020 was a very chaotic year. My husband and I welcomed twins into our family in the middle of a pandemic. I decided to leave my career in education to stay home and care for them, and we also moved to a new city.

I felt lost in the new responsibilities of motherhood and uncomfortable with not knowing where I stood in terms of a career in the years to come. I also needed a hobby, a passion – something to do for myself. I purchased a camera as a way to document my twins and our new, totally different life. I dove into some self-learning, and as I did, I found photography to be a form of therapy for me. It helped me adapt to the recent changes and find a passion and artist within myself.

Soon I began taking photos for friends and eventually word got around about my work. I loved the creativity and flexibility of photography, so I decided to pursue it as a source of income. Two years later, I now have an LLC and a career that better fits my lifestyle.

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?
I didn’t expect my business to take off the way it has. I never had a chance (or rather, never took the chance- that’s on me) to pause, evaluate, and do some of the back-end work. I’ve had to build the behind-the-scenes of my business while shooting and editing almost daily. That’s been tough.

If I could do it over again, I’d move a little slower, take fewer shoots, and find more balance from the very beginning by setting limits for myself. However, I don’t regret the way things have worked out, and through these challenges, I’ve learned to set better boundaries with work and life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in motherhood photography, which includes maternity, birth, and newborn photography. Rather than portraits and poses, I prefer to have mothers and families interact with one another the way they typically do, and I take the approach of “fly on the wall”. I might give a few prompts or tell them where in their home to go “interact” for the best light, but that’s about as far as I go with posing.

We just spend time together- it’s as easy as that. I feel like this method captures the true essence of my clients and their families. My most popular sessions are in-home newborn sessions, and if I had to choose, I’d say it’s also my favorite type of photography that I offer. I love documenting a family’s first few weeks with their new baby, in their environment.

Those early weeks are so easy to forget, and I think everyone should have photos of that chapter of life. I added birth photography to my services a little over a year ago, and it’s become another huge passion of mine. Birth photography just made sense with my love for authentic moments and artistic documentation.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Dedication. Starting a photography business, or any small business for that matter, requires a lot of hard work and dedication. I dedicate time to my business every day and I’m constantly reflecting on how to grow my passion and career not just for the benefit of myself and my family, but also for the gift it can provide to others.

Pricing:

• Sessions local to Northern Colorado begin at $550
• Sessions for the Denver Metro Area begin at $650

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jessicacraigphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicacraigphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesscraigphotography