About Jess

Jess, taken by 11 year old daughter Val SOOC
I'm Jess.  Yeah, I know, I'm Jessica, but everyone but my mom calls me Jess.  She thinks Jess is a guys name.  Whatever mom.  Anyway...I love photography!  We bought a cool camera in 2001, just before 9/11.  It had 2 megapixels.  It could digital zoom 2x.  LOL  DO NOT use digital zoom on your camera...it's really truly just cropping your picture for you...only use optical zoom.  I loved that little camera, for many years.  A few years go buy and we went camping with my BFF.  She had this camera that had optical zoom, oh boy was I jealous!  My DH said we could get a new camera, but only if it could have interchangeable lenses.  With barely any research we bought my first DSLR camera.  I fell in LOVE!  We took it to Yellowstone for a week and I took THOUSANDS of pictures.  Wowza!  DSLRs are so cool!

Then I became very ill.  We missed my BIL's wedding because I was in the hospital.  Royal bummer!  It took a few months, but I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.  Wanna find out about Crohn's Disease?  Visit www.ccfa.org, but only if you don't mind being grossed out.  Well, as is common with most chronic illnesses, I became depressed.

Shortly after being diagnosed, my mom asked me if we could take all the grand kids to the park and take their portraits.  I hate the school portraits and begrudgingly buy them and my sister can't always afford them.  So, I said yes.  Holy fun!  A couple months go by and my BFF asks if I'll take her family pictures.  I say yes, of course. I mean who doesn't say yes for their BFF?  I had so much fun.  I had been feeling so icky for so long and I was so bummed out about my health, but that day lifted my depression.  Photography has become my therapy.

So that started my journey to becoming a photographer.  I started out as a MWAC (Mom With A Camera), but I have been very determined to learn more, so that I can offer you more than just a cool camera.  I have spent countless hours studying portraiture, exposure, posing, lighting, and my favorite...Photoshop!  When you hire me to be your photographer, you get all the knowledge to go with a cool camera.

Thankfully my disease has gone into remission, and hopefully it will stay there.  If by chance it decides to mess with my body and puts me out of commission on the day of your session, I will reschedule with you and add a free 8x10 to your print order.  Heck, if I get a cold, or a tummy bug, or my car breaks down on the way to your session, or...you get the idea, I'll make it up to you by rescheduling and adding a free 8x10 to your print order. But the goal is to feel good, be safe and be to your session.

I have added Michelle Bailey (my BFF) to my team.  She usually accompanies me to sessions, but sometimes her RA gets in the way (or her kids) and she can't make it.  She's awesome at helping me get the right pose, smile, giggle, stray hair out of the way, etc.  She also helps me out a bit after the session with some of the administrative parts of the business.  I'm so grateful to have her on my team.

Want to know what a session with me is like?  Send me an email and I'll get you all the details!  Ready to book a session?  Call me at 801-556-9415.  If by chance I don't answer, which I won't if I'm busy taking pictures, leave me a message and I'll call you back as soon as I can.

Want to learn more about Jess?  Click here.