Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Jolley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jenny, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been a lot of work! I felt like I was always chasing the next task before I would feel like I really belonged in the wedding industry. I would always think “once I do ______, I will be a real professional wedding photographer” and insert the next thing on the to-do list. The truth is, while I was constantly looking ahead to the next task, it took me too long to look back to see how far I’ve come. There’s not a specific day that wedding photographers officially become professional – it happens gradually. Once I learned that and I learned that it is not necessary to be a full-time photographer to be considered a professional, I began to overcome imposter syndrome. It’s been a process and there’s still days I feel imposter syndrome, but thanks to reframing thoughts and seeing how far I’ve come, I feel more confident than ever!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a Lawrence and Kansas City area wedding photographer! I have the best job! Being a wedding photographer is so exciting because I get to document the most beautiful love stories and get to know the coolest couples! I’m a gushy romantic and get so invested in each couple’s love story that I photograph. I love everything about a wedding day – you’ll find me cracking jokes with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, getting emotional during the ceremony, and shaking my hips while taking photos on the dance floor at the reception. No two weddings are alike and I am always there for my couples with a personalized, in-depth experience from the planning process all the way to the gallery delivery. Recently, I have gone part-time with my teaching career to focus more on my business and couples! I am so excited for this new journey and couldn’t do it without my amazing clients!
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?
For wedding photography, I am so grateful for my first year of business which was purely focused on second shooting. If you don’t know, second shooters are hired by wedding photographers as a second pair of hands to take photos, help with gear, and make sure the day runs smoothly. My business did not take on it’s own weddings until I was very confident with my wedding photography skills from second shooting many weddings. Weddings are very different from other types of photography and one of the few types of photography that cannot be redone! I am thankful I have only booked weddings as a professional, experienced wedding photographer.
Secondly, a quality I believe is invaluable as a business owner is perseverance. I know it sounds cliche, but owning a small business is a lonely, difficult process. I would be lying if I said I never thought about quitting, especially in my first couple years of business. I remember reading a statistic that about half of business owners fail within five years. Owning a business is definitely a tough battle and I wouldn’t have made it this far without perseverance!
Lastly, my drive to learn and grow has been incredibly impactful in my business! I know I will never reach a point in my business where I am done learning and feel like there’s nothing more for me to know. Wedding photography education, both free education and paid education, has not only made my business more successful year after year, but has made a big difference in my confidence, professionalism, and given me a leg up to new opportunities.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
The short answer – it depends! I believe it depends on the situation.
As a wedding photographer, I definitely want to be more well rounded and work on improving my weak points. Wedding photography is a mix of product photography, sports/action photography, family photography, and event photography all wrapped into one. I have seen success with reflecting on my past weddings and finding the pain points. For example, this past summer I invested in a flatlay course so I could take better detail shots (invites, rings, jewelry, perfume, etc) for my couples. Now, not only do I take better detailed photos, but I also feel less stressed on wedding days when I take photos of details! I think wedding photography has so many aspects that it’s important to be well rounded.
On the contrary, sometimes it’s better that I go all in on my strengths. For instance, I know my strongest type of photography is wedding photography. Instead of focusing on all types of photography, I have specialized in weddings. I occasionally book family, senior, and maternity sessions, but it’s not my main focus. I don’t believe I would be the wedding photographer I am today if I didn’t niche down. In this case, I went all in on my strengths!
Contact Info:
- Website: jennyjolleyphotography.com
- Instagram: @jennyjolleyphotography
- Facebook: facebook.com/jennyjolleyphotography
- Youtube: youtube.com/jennyjolleyphotography
