We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Bradley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jessica 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?
I’ve been lucky to enter field(s) of work that I have such passion for and genuinely love, that keep me energized and inspired to stay busy.
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?
While I’ve been around the camera for close to 20 years, I forever struggled finding my place in calling myself a photographer. I’ve always been drawn to beauty/fashion photography, but having lived in WI all my life it always felt as a non-existent category. Throughout highschool I worked in a hair salon, and would shoot as often as I could- usually doing the hair/makeup styling myself to create the look I wanted. I eventually went to school at UW-Milwaukee to receive my bachelor in fine arts, but set photography on the back burner to pursue an obtainable career.
After working a few years in apparel retail and HR, I found myself back in the salon spa management while moving to Green Bay, and went back to school to receive my aesthetician’s license. I was lucky to have found success early on in my lash artistry career, and in January 2020, I opened my lash studio (@ Vici Collective) with intentions of being able to utilize my background in photography within my own business as a lash artist.
I’m now delving into photography – but offering it to peers in the beauty/fashion industry to highlight and capture what they do best.
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?
I highly believe in continuous education in the field you’re in and I don’t necessarily believe that means the traditional view of college.
While I have my BA in Fine Arts, and a licensure as an Aesthetician, I found that majority of my success was through staying curious as a creative. I’m continuously seeking out education through creatives in the industry I admire.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Throughout my career, I’ve faced a lot of challenges defining who I am as a photographer. I’ve always been drawn to beauty/fashion photography, but could never pin point how to make that work in the area I live in.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessicasunbradley.com
- Instagram: jessicasunbradley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicasunbradley
Image Credits
Elyse Tappy (wardrobe styling by Laurel Janisse) Danielle Hazelquist Keverlyn Ullmer (makeup by Lauren Pagel) Carissa Ertman
