Meet Jesslyn Eiben

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jesslyn Eiben a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jesslyn, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?

My risk-taking started as a kid, being the youngest of three. Whatever my older siblings were doing, I wanted to do, too – riding a bike, reading and writing, learning Spanish – it didn’t matter that I was smaller or younger, or whether or not I was in school yet, I just wanted to keep up. My mother has always said that I was (and still am) strong-willed and stubborn and if I was going to put my mind to something, I was going to do it come hell or high water regardless of what anyone said (and perhaps even more so if you were to tell me I couldn’t). As an adult, I can see that a lot of this hyperfocus and determination stems from ADHD, which went undiagnosed for decades, but I think that’s where my superpower of simply diving into something new really shines because change is exciting to me.

Delving into the unknown, learning how to do something new, experiencing something for the first time, traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language … It’s one of the greatest educators out there and I have my parents to thank for a lot of that. I was allowed the time and space to be my weird little self who loved to explore, test boundaries, and get her hands dirty, staying out all day and coming home with fresh scrapes and bruises from whatever imaginary adventure I just went on. Naturally, having a supportive upbringing in this way gave me the kind of confidence that made the transition into adulthood and all the uncertainties that come with it a little easier. I’ve moved across the country twice, lived in another country, uprooted a stable career to attend university and pursue my passion, go hiking and backpacking alone, and cold turkey quit all my jobs to become fully self-employed when I didn’t have a safety net to fall back on. All of these life experiences were scary for one reason or another, but the excitement of what was possible and what could come of it was more alluring than simply staying put. After all, if nothing changes, then nothing changes.

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?

When I first discovered photography, I instantly knew that this was the path I wanted to follow even though I had no idea what it was that I wanted to do with it. While attending university, I sort of fell into weddings through friends getting married and it only grew from there. I had a lot of fun with it over the years but it just didn’t feel right – everything felt overly orchestrated and each wedding started to blend together – the same timelines, the same rehashed traditions, dances, and songs, just with a different color scheme and floral facade. I’m very much the rough and tumble kind of gal who would rather be sleeping amongst the trees in a tent than in a five star hotel, the one who never cared about nails and hair and makeup, and I was finally starting to realize that the pomp and circumstance of traditional weddings wasn’t something I personally connected with. That was about the time I discovered adventure weddings and elopements.

It combined everything I’m passionate about and more; being outside with people who admire and appreciate nature, celebrating one of the most joyous days in someone’s life, making it unique to each couple, and being able to capture it all through the medium I love most. It is certainly a lot more work, as I’m so much more than just a photographer when it comes to elopements (location scouting, planning and permits, timelines and backup plans, etc) but it’s somehow much less stressful. There is so much freedom to be had when a couple truly takes the reins on their wedding and crafts a day that speaks to who they are at their core, whatever that may look like for them. From overlanding in Alaska and mountain biking in the Tetons, to hiking in Glacier or site-seeing on a road trip, there is no right or wrong way to have an intimate wedding experience. Much of my love for what I do stems from a deeply rooted personal belief that everyone deserves to have a say in how they live and experience their lives and if I can help someone do that, even if only for a day, I’ve succeeded.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Patience has got to be way up there! None of this happened overnight and has taken a lot of intentional choices, risky moves, and many years of figuring it all out. I never went to college right out of high school and instead went in my mid- to late-twenties after I found my love of photography. Even then, it took until after graduating and years of traditional weddings to find my way to where I am now. I’m sure there are more paths life will take me down that I can’t even begin to imagine yet but will make sense in hindsight, and that’s honestly kind of exciting. It’s easy to feel defeated when things don’t happen all at once or in quite the way that you want them to but trusting the process and following your instincts are some of the best guides. Likewise, don’t forget to look back and appreciate all that you have accomplished; it might not feel like much in the present moment, but to look back at where you were in comparison to where you are now can be an amazing perspective shift to keep you going.

Remain open and flexible. Not every step you take towards your goals will be forward. Some might be lateral, some may feel like you’re taking a step backwards, but they are all a part of your own unique journey. I never thought that taking on a night shift job of cleaning commercial buildings as a janitor would get me to my goal of being a full-time photographer, but it did (and, arguably, one of the most important factors in realizing my dream)! It doesn’t always make sense in the moment; we just do what needs to be done in the moment that it needs doing.

Lastly, be unapologetically you. I cannot stress this one enough. Share your niche love of fancy fountain pens. Talk about the movies and books you could consume over and over again. Post about the strange way in which you eat Skittles. Nerd out about your latest obsession with sci-fi horrormance novelas. Boldly speak up about your support for the LGBTQ+ community. People want to connect with a person, not a perfectly curated, sterile string of highlights. Just be real. The people who would love you as a person and a business will be drawn to it.

How would you describe your ideal client?

There is no “one size fits all” but first and foremost are folks who love being outside. Given that I specialize in outdoor weddings, this is pretty much the only requirement. But a top characteristic I see in those I work with are couples who are fairly laid back. When you’re choosing to get married outside, you have to be a bit more flexible about what could or could not happen, and in which order, because plans rarely go exactly as intended, thanks to Mother Nature. Those I work with also care deeply about two things: their experience and the images that will ultimately tell the story of their day. I am not the budget option who simply shows up to snap a few photos and calls it a day. I work very closely with my couples to home in on what it is they want from their wedding and then do everything in my power to bring that vision to life for them. If all someone is wanting is an hour for photos, there are other photographers out there for that; I’m here to help create a unique experience and to document it in such a way that brings them back to each moment in vivid detail.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jesslynmarie.com/
• Instagram: @jesslynmariephoto

Image Credits

Jesslyn Marie Photography
Katie Z Photography