Introducing Jan Pelton, Denver Portrait photographer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Pelton.

Hi Jan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I got started in photography in Show Low Arizona when I was a sophomore in High School. I was on the newspaper and yearbook staff and had a great photography teacher-Mr. Craig. That was the first year that the school had a photography class, so we got to work with Pentax k-1000 35mm cameras. Our teacher was a pretty cool guy, and he somehow was able to get us the special edition model, which came with brown skin instead of the standard black skin. I loved it! Mr. Craig encouraged me to attend photography classes at the local community college after I graduated high school, where I had another great teacher who taught me a lot about composition, getting assignments with the local newspaper and shared his deep love of photography. He encouraged me to continue my education at the Colorado Institute of Art here in Colorado. I majored in photojournalism and minored in portraiture. After I graduated, I worked for a production company traveling to a lot of US states taking photos of businesses, the people in them and what product or service they provided. They went out of business, and I started working for a custom black and white lab. I eventually started my own business in 1988, doing custom black and white printing for local photographers and portraits and weddings on my own.

Eventually, I closed the printing portion and concentrated on portraits and weddings. Several of my black and white printing clients, who were professional portrait photographers, mentored me along the way. In 1995 I moved my business to 39th and Tennyson St. . I purchased the building a couple of years later from the man I was renting from and built an outdoor portrait park there. He carried the down payment and the loan for me for a few years and I’m eternally grateful for his help and generosity. In 2007, I sold my building and had been working out of my home since then. I work on location usually but do have a small studio at my home for professional headshots and photos of children.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road. Is there ever a smooth road? When I started my business, I worked there in the day time and then worked for another portrait photographer on evenings and weekends in order to make ends meet. Photography and new technology go hand in hand, so when everything went digital, it was a huge learning curve for me, learning not only how to use the digital equipment but all of the software that goes along with being a portrait photographer. I went into business for myself with very little knowledge of how to run a business and how to promote myself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in Families, High School Seniors, and branding photos. I’m most proud of my ability to put my subjects at ease and helping them to have fun during a photo session. It makes me happy to give my clients a finished artwork that they will hang on their walls and cherish for years to come. I strive to give my clients the best client experience—helping my clients choose the right time of day, location, and wardrobe for their photoshoot. I hold their hand through the whole process, even down to helping them choose which images will make the best wall art.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve been very lucky to have crossed paths with so many talented photographers who were more than willing to mentor me. I don’t think of it as “bad luck,” just challenges that I need to overcome.

Contact Info:

• Email: janpelton@msn.com
• Website: https://janpeltonphotography.com/

Image Credits
Jan Pelton Photography