Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Boone.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jessica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started taking pictures when I was 15. It wasn’t just something that I thought was cool and fun to do. It was truly love at first sight. I declared to my parents at that tender age that I was going to be a professional photographer. Of course they laughed and told me that I’d have to get a real job, but as fate would have it, they would only say that to me that one time, for quietly lurking inside of that rebellious, misunderstood and unconventional teenager lied a destiny to a now almost 20 year career riddled with ongoing success. In 1997, just 4 years after I graduated from high school, I was accepted to Art Center College of Design with an almost $20,ooo scholarship. Needless, to say I had been extremely hard at work on my photography over those 4 years. By the time I graduated from Art Center in 2000, I had amassed 8 more scholarships, fully funding the total of my tuition. I was already taking some professional gigs while I was in school, but when I graduated, I planned to assist other photographers until my career really got started. That lasted less than a month, when the editorial world came knocking. Twenty years later, I’ve shot for more than 30 magazines, several advertising agencies, and book publishers. I’ve spend nearly all of that time as a food photographer. A little over 4 years ago, when I booked an on-going gig with Jamba Juice, I started developing myself as a food stylist. Styling was something that I was always drawn to but never took any initiative with until a job required it of me. Once again, and maybe even harder than the first time, I was falling in love again. In the just 4 years I’ve been at it, I’ve already worked for over 40 companies. Even though food styling has really become my main focus, I still shoot, still gain new clients and probably always will. Photography is like a marriage to me and as long as it works to have my fun, exciting and passionate love affair with styling, we will all be very happy together 🙂 I wrote a book, not related to photography, or being an artist at all and published it in 2016. But that is really a whole other story for another time.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For years, it was not only smooth but almost too good to be true. Yes, I’m a work-aholic but only because I love what I do so much that I just don’t care to do much of anything else. I seem to go from one thing to the next with almost effortless progression. Almost all of my clients pursue me. It’s rarely the other way around.
I had a couple of very dark years that even though unrelated to my career, changed the course of it for sure. I think that’s how styling found its way to me. But hardship is not the norm for me, so once those years passed, it’s all been smooth sailing once again.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jessica Boone – what should we know?
I’m a freelance photographer and food stylist.
I’m most proud of the fact that I have been able to maintain my career, completely on my own for as long as I have.
I think what sets me apart from others is just how easy it all comes to me. I really believe that I’m in alignment with something special in the universe 🙂
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Love, passion, loyalty, commitment, honor, perseverance. All of the important cornerstones of any successful relationship 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessicaboone.com
- Email: info.jessicaboone@gmail.com
- Instagram: fromphototophood
Image Credit:
Alicia Cho
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