Meet Annette Stiers Jones

We recently connected with Annette Stiers Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Annette, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

This was a tough one for me. As a kid I was very shy, very introverted. I spent a lot of time studying. I never felt much like I belonged. I achieved a lot: straight A’s, valedictorian in high school, top of my class in Chemical Engineering. And yet I still lacked confidence and felt pretty bad about myself a lot of the time. This continued on for most of my early career.

My first step in building confidence was in learning to take risks for myself. One big move I made was to find a new job and relocate to the Pacific Northwest. We really didn’t know many people out here, but we knew we loved the location. It was a big risk to start over in a new place and a new job, but it also was very freeing. I could see that I can chart my own path and make a new beginning. I began to appreciate that if I made it through all those obstacles in my past to get here, I can overcome what is before me.

My latest evolution has been to leave engineering altogether and pursue landscape photography. Like any new pursuit, it takes time and consistency to build excellence. I’ve definitely had days where I don’t get a single good photo, or where progress feels impossible. In these moments I try to recall the successes that I’ve had. It’s very easy for our brains to focus on the negative, the self-criticism; it’s part of how we evolved to survive. When I notice this thought pattern, I try to intentionally call to mind a moment of success from a similar moment in the past. Intentionally dwelling on these moments, rather than on the regrets of the pasts or the worries of what might be, has been instrumental in building confidence for me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a landscape photographer based in Washington state, specializing in landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

I started on my journey to become a landscape photographer in January 2023. I had just quit my job in engineering, in search of something that brought greater joy and meaning to my life. I spent a couple months looking for answers, and then it just came to me. Landscape photography seemed the perfect Venn diagram of my capabilities in math, science, and art, and of what I enjoy doing – being outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I am most proud of the diversity of subject matter I have photographed, including some of the most technically challenging subjects: the Milky Way, star trails, and moon and sun alignments.

I know people are missing the peace and beauty of nature in their everyday lives. I create works of art that capture fleeting moments of beauty in nature, allowing my clients to bring the great outdoors into their home. I’ve photographed countless iconic images of the mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and hiking trails of the entire Pacific Northwest. I take special care to make sure my product offerings present nature’s beauty in the most vibrant and authentic way. I offer fine art prints for archival quality, wall art for epic standout presentations, and keepsakes. I also offer greeting cards by request and calendars by special order.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three things that have been most impactful in my journey:

1) Willingness to take risks. It was a risk to move from my office job to landscape photography. Some of the photos I take require a certain amount of risk: hiking in remote locations, hiking in the wilderness at night. None of this could have happened if I was afraid to take that leap forward. I don’t really remember the risks that didn’t pay off, but I very much remember the ones that did.
2) Planning. A good photo takes planning. You have to pay attention to the weather; what are the clouds going to look like? Is the wind calm enough for a perfect reflection in that lake? Is the wind fierce enough to create some photo-worthy ocean waves? Is inclement weather headed for that hiking trail? Planning photos of the sun, moon, and Milky Way requires yet another level of planning. I use PhotoPills to determine when they will be in the right place for the composition I have in mind. You also need to plan what kind of lens you need for your composition: wide angle? telephoto? What focal length to you need? There are a lot of variables to account for. You cannot plan for everything, but you can choose when is the time you will most likely have success.
3) Willingness to learn. I’m only two years into this, but some of the best learnings have come from other photographers. Workshops, classes, popular locations to shoot are all great places to meet other photographers and learn from them. If you’re early in your journey, this is probably the best way to help gain these skills.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I would love to collaborate! I’m open to all sorts of collaborations. If there are other photographers that would like to collaborate on a landscape photo shoot in Washington or Oregon, I’m all for it. I’d love to cross promote on social media or on my blog. I’m even open to portraits, engagements, and dog photos in the great outdoors. I need to plan some events for this summer, so please reach out. You can find me on Instagram @annettesjphoto, or email annettesjphoto@gmail.com.

I’m also open to partnering with brands, such as camera and camera gear manufacturers and retailers. I’d be happy to do reviews of products or host seminars/workshops.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annettestiersjonesphotography.com
• Instagram: @annettesjphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annettesjphoto

Image Credits

Annette Stiers Jones