Life and Work with Jordan Hutchison

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Hutchison.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I think I’ve typed and re-typed the answer to “my story” at least four times now. Such a simple question yields such a difficult answer. Why? As my brain overthinks, my hands continue to type. My story began in Las Vegas, NV, with my parents and my twin sister, Jess. My mom bought me my first film camera way before I ever stepped foot in a dark room.

If you asked me where my love for photography began, I don’t know if I would have a definite answer. Photography has always just kind of been there. Fast forward to my 20-year-old self as I enroll into the Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) in Minneapolis, MN, for a degree in photography and digital imagery. Throughout the year’s photography has weaved in and out of my life. A few years on a few years off. In 2018, I made the jump from the frigid North to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Denver was a chance to turn the tides and actually take the plunge in running my own business. Things haven’t quite gone as planned because life decided to happen but I’m proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished in the year and a half I’ve been lucky enough to call Colorado home.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh, do I wish it was. In 2008, my mom passed away from complications with diabetes which stemmed from pancreatitis. In 2019, my dad passed away from renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

There are no words that can describe the emptiness that remains when you’ve lost so deeply. My parents were my best friends. Both of them, together and individually, provided this world with so much passion, care, and adventure.

Before my dad, after my mom, it took me a long time to find myself and return to the things that brought me joy, like photography. I never really spoke about my grief, it was too painful. Swallowing it all up was the best way. The only way. So much so that my friends would comment on how I never really spoke about my mom. I convinced myself it was easier that way.

After my dad, my world wasn’t just shook, it was shattered.

My season was booked for wedding photography in 2019 and I had to cancel on quite a few of them. The thought of photographing the Dad-Daughter dance was enough to make me want to crawl into a hole and never come out. The expectation to maintain my social media presence was draining enough as it was. Cue the scrolling through Insta feed and comparing yourself to others because “I’m not doing enough.” And you know what, enough was ENOUGH.

I always knew there was this stigma with grief, don’t ask about it, don’t talk about it. Tip toe. Walk, don’t run. Well, f that. Grief was (is) my reality and I will share my story as it unfolds in the hopes that it might help someone going through similar pain. My advice to any woman would be to never silence yourself because you’re afraid no one wants to listen. Speak boldly and loudly even if only to yourself. Whisper it if you’d prefer. But speak. Talk about what troubles you, talk about your wants, your needs, your heartaches. I’ve spoken in great depths about my grief and my pains over the last year on my Insta and I’ve allowed myself to be vulnerable even when it’s downright terrifying. And the support that I’ve received from friends and strangers alike have truly brought me to tears. I’m not out of my grief, and I probably won’t be for a while, but for the time being, I’ve found comfort in it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hutchison Imagery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
My style has always been natural lighting and portraits, playing with the sun and natural shadows. Since moving to Denver, I’ve been drawn to Food + Beverage photography, even handled the in-house photography and social media for a few places around town. One of the things I’m most proud of is my ability to be transparent in my social media, to give my followers a true glimpse of who I am, grief and all. There are many profiles out there that keep things light and positive and spreading good vibes and that’s terrific, it really is, but that’s just not my jam. I’ve always been an open book and my social media is a reflection of that. I’m a pretty blunt person and wear my emotions on my sleeve. No negative vibes here but definitely honest vibes that sometimes are sad vibes and sometimes are funny vibes. My Dad always encouraged me to not take myself too seriously, and I certainly don’t.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
While we definitely aren’t where we were 10 to 20 years ago, HALLELUJAH, we still have work to do! As we continue to fight for equal pay we are still fighting the stigmas of women in the workforce. Emotional intelligence and gender culture. The preconceived notion that leadership is masculinized, resulting in stereotypical traits of assertiveness, dominance, and independence and the idea that women simply aren’t capable of demonstrating the same traits. Slowly the world’s opinion is changing and the stigmas are being broken but how long until women are truly considered equal? I read recently that women hold more than half of the positions in the workforce and have obtained more undergraduate and master’s degrees and PHDs then men have. We’re breaking those walls one brick at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hutchisonimagery.com
• Email: hi@hutchisonimagery.com
• Instagram: hutchisonimagery
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/hutchisonimagery

Image Credit:
Headshots by Julia VonDreele @juliasusannephoto

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.