Meet Jennifer Loomis

We recently connected with Jennifer Loomis and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jennifer with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

From Rags to Riches and Back Again: A Lesson in Resilience

I am the daughter of an immigrant who arrived in this country alone, without a high school degree. In the U.S., she met a well-off American man, and together they had two children. Then, life took a sad turn—he declared bankruptcy and left her with nothing but the responsibility of raising us. He barely paid child support, and she was unemployed.

I watched my mother go from rags to riches, back to rags, and then climb her way back up again. Now, as her 56-year-old daughter with a child of my own, I see just how incredibly hard life must have been for her. But she never gave up—because she didn’t have the luxury of quitting. She just kept going, always with a smile on her face.

She did it all. She worked full-time as an executive in a male-dominated world with zero flexibility. She was president of the PTA, volunteered at school, started my school’s Girl Scout troop, helped at church, and probably did even more that I never knew about. And she had two kids.

I don’t know how she managed it all. I’m a solo parent during the week with one ten-year-old while running my own business, and it is exhausting.

I realize now that my relentless work ethic comes from her. Anything she wanted, she had to work for—nothing was handed to her. I internalized that lesson. If I wanted something, I saved for it. I made smart investments. I put in the effort.

So when I hit a home run, it feels monumental—because I wasn’t born on third base.

It took me years to understand this. Growing up, I would compare myself to others and wonder why things seemed so much harder for me. Then, one day, it clicked: some people start with a leg up. And when I truly grasped that, my mindset shifted.

I became so grateful for what I’ve built.

Recently, I sold my last rental property and bought a house on this beautiful island I now call home. As I remodel it, I find myself smiling at the small joys—choosing my own tile, making a space that reflects my vision. I said to my contractor the other day, “This is such a treat, that I get to do this. How special this is to me.”

And I meant it.

I am deeply grateful for the hard work I’ve done, for the ability to create a beautiful home for my family. I see my mother’s strength in every decision I make, every risk I take, and every milestone I reach.

Her resilience shaped me. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Jennifer Loomis, a photographer with 35 years of experience and the founder of Signature Photo Organizing, a company built on the belief that photos are more than images—they are the heart of a family’s legacy. What excites me most about this work is the beginning and the end of the process—when a client trusts us and says, “Yes, let’s do it,” and then at the end, when we hand them back a beautifully organized collection, knowing their memories are preserved for generations.

My journey into photo organizing began seven years ago when one of my favorite photography clients came to me in a frenzy. She couldn’t find any of her photos—decades of memories scattered across devices, hard drives, and boxes. She asked if I could help, and at that time I was still photographing a lot, but something made me say yes. I really wanted to help her, and I knew the work would be meaningful. That experience opened my eyes to just how overwhelming photo organization had become in the digital age. I realized there was a huge need for a professional, photographer-led approach to organizing and curating family photo collections.

At my core, I love bringing order to chaos—taking something messy, overwhelming, and unmanageable and transforming it into something meaningful, beautiful, and accessible. I get excited seeing a client’s relief when they realize they no longer have to feel anxious about their photos. And I love that moment at the very end, when I get to hand them back their memories, now neat and safe, knowing that these photos will be cherished for generations.

For me, this work is about connection—connecting people to their stories, their family history, and the moments that shape them. That’s what keeps me passionate about what I do every day.

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?

Looking back, three qualities and skills have been most impactful in my journey:
1. Resilience & Adaptability

Life and business rarely follow a straight path, and being able to pivot and adapt has been crucial. When I transitioned from maternity photography to photo organizing, I had to embrace an entirely new skill set. My advice: be open to change and trust that new opportunities often come disguised as challenges. Learn to see obstacles as chances to grow.
2. Deep Listening & Empathy

Whether photographing someone or organizing their memories, truly understanding their story is essential. Clients often feel overwhelmed or emotional about their photos, and my ability to listen without judgment allows me to create something meaningful for them. For those early in their journey: practice active listening—ask thoughtful questions, and make people feel heard. It builds trust and leads to better outcomes.
3. Organizational & Storytelling Skills

At its core, my work is about bringing order to chaos and helping clients see the bigger picture. Organizing isn’t just about categorizing—it’s about storytelling, making sense of a lifetime of moments. If you’re developing this skill, start by practicing structure in everyday life—whether organizing your own photos or keeping a journal that tells a cohesive story.

For anyone starting out: stay curious, be adaptable, and keep refining your craft. What has helped me most is following what excites me, even when the path isn’t clear at first.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is **scaling** the business (Signature Photo Organizing). I believe this business of photo organizing is highly scalable—there is an enormous market of people overwhelmed by their digital and physical photo collections who need expert help. However, scaling without seed money is tricky. Unlike some entrepreneurs who start with financial backing, I’ve built this from the ground up. We are in the process of negotiating a very large contract and one of my considerations is will this burn out my small team, can I hire and put in place another team member to help cover things. Do we want to stay small or do we want to pivot into this larger arena.

I’m currently exploring how to grow strategically, including aligning with a local university’s business school to develop a sustainable scaling model. My goal is to expand my team of former photographers while maintaining the high-touch, responsive and expert-driven approach that sets us apart.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All photography by Jennifer Loomis Photography

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