Meet Jessica Vallia

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

Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
First and foremost, I am a mom and wife to literally the best family a girl could ask for! I started out in photography shooting film and processing in a dark room which is a huge difference from where I am today. After years and years (we won’t discuss exactly how many ha!) of trying to shoot everything and anything I fell hard for family portraits. I studied Advertising at the Art Institute thinking that someday I’d love to make commercials and movie previews, which honestly seems so silly all these years later. I would say I’m self-taught but in reality, I have so many mentors who have guided me and given gentle pushes throughout the years that I can’t really say I did this alone. Today, I have a full-time career in photographing outdoor family portraits. I also design albums and custom wall art for grand displays in people’s homes. I sell these items because one day each client will have a treasure they can pass down to their children as well as the generation after. I adore hearing stories about people’s grandparents and when my own children try to figure out which grandparent they look like, with what I create it gives that experience to my families for generations to come!

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?
It hasn’t been smooth every step of the way. As with any business, there is a honeymoon period where you think everything is going fine and then you may face a humbling few months of trying to figure out what to do next. For me getting booked too often, having too many clients a month was a huge challenge. It sounds good in theory, more clients, more money. But in reality, I wasn’t able to give each client enough of my time to really ensure that they were having the experience they deserved so I had to adjust my pricing & scheduling to make sure each client had a wonderful experience.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Like I mentioned, I specialize in family portraits, what I like to call “Heirloom Portraiture.” This makes me unique in the industry because I don’t follow major photography trends and styles. I create fine art portraits unique to each family for their home and their personality. I don’t create cookie cutter images of a family after family, I really get to know each client often meeting with them several times before we ever take a single picture. I feel like my museum canvas & album selection really sets me apart from the photographer who takes a hundred pictures and hands over a CD. I do feel like there is a place for both in life, but I just love when my clients get their products and open them like kids on Christmas morning! My #1 goal at every session is to make someone cry tears of happiness, sometimes that’s a mom when she watches her preview video (YES! I shoot video in between poses!) and sometimes it’s a dad when he flips through their beautiful album for the first time.

My proudest moments are spent watching people fall in love with their own session in my office watching their highlight video. I just get teary thinking about that.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have started traveling out of town (and out of Colorado) for family sessions! Not everyone can find a photographer in their area and I’m happy to be introducing traveling sessions for family portraits. I love falling in love with new places and meeting people in different walks of life on this journey.

Pricing:

• Creative/Session Fee $200
• Albums w/ digital images included starting at $1099
• Custom Museum Canvas starting in the $400’s

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jessicavallia.com
• Phone: 719-232-4275
• Email: jessica@jessicavallia.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicavalliaphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessicavalliaphotography

Image Credit:
Jessica Vallia Photography

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