Meet Jenny Graham of Jenny Graham Photography

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Jenny. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I got pregnant at twenty-two. I was a young, just figuring things out, lesbian, a college student. I had no money, no partner, and only a slight sense of self. But I knew I wanted this fateful child… this – I am only going to have sex with a boy one time in my life, so let’s make something of it – child.

I got my first camera at 19. I named it ‘Walt’ after my grandpa…my photographic Dumbledore. The gift giver of my new essential tool. I was infatuated and flirted with ‘artsy’ black and white photos of my friends. Our relationship deepened to love and dependency when I entered the darkroom. I fell deeply and spiritually in love. I had found my church and abandoned my pagan, earthly studies of classes I needed to graduate.

I was a theatre kid. My pregnancy encouraged a stable career path, and my mistress photography encouraged heart following and creative thinking around career choices. I was working as an usher at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a large repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, when I started following the Staff Photographer around like a puppy. She took me under her wing, allowed me to learn from her, and then she suddenly quit, leaving an unorganized marketing department open to hiring an inexperienced, but enthusiastic, young photographer.

And so began my career. I spent 12 years at OSF as their Staff photographer. I raised my daughter. I had a stable, creative job that I loved and that I grew in. I lived in a small town that had nurtured me since I was 15. I was surrounded by a close-knit family and dear friends. It was safe. It was fulfilling.

And then my anchor graduated.

Suddenly, the world looked huge…thrilling.

And I knew. I knew I had to go. Somewhere. Everywhere.

A friend in the film industry suggested I shoot stills on movie sets. The idea resounded loudly. So, I moved to LA. I was on my own for the first time. No job. No family to look after. No community. No stability. I made a leap because I knew that somewhere below me was a beautiful, just the right temperature, body of water to delve into… but I am still falling. I am learning to live in a city. I am learning to trust my skill and walk into situations where there is much to learn. My canvas has been painted white. Nobody knows me. It’s scary. It’s lonely. It’s worth it. I am learning. I am growing.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In looking back on my career, it’s pretty astonishing how lucky I have been. Even what seemed like challenges at the time, I can look back and see that they just made my work better. A difficult shoot taught me how to deal with certain things; difficult people helped develop my people skills, and so on. I just keep learning along the way. Moving down to LA, leaving my secure job and friends and family behind has definitely been challenging. I am way more insecure financially than I have ever been. Making connections takes time, and so getting a good amount of work takes time. Building community also takes time. I moved from a small town, so figuring out the city takes time. Some days feel great; I feel excited about the challenge and about the newness of everything, other days can feel harder. It can be exhausting learning all the time… sometimes I just want to know. But, really, I guess I never will, which is the most interesting thing about this job.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jenny Graham Photography – what should we know?
I am a freelance photographer. I have spent my career shooting theatre, primarily. I came down to LA to continue shooting theatre and also to try and shoot on movie and TV sets as a stills photographer. I am proud of the work I do. It’s hard for me to say what sets me apart from other photographers. We each have our own eye, our own style… and especially when you get to a certain level of experience, a certain level of work, everybody is good. It’s just different takes and different personalities.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have had so many people help me along the way. My grandpa was the first. He introduced me to photography. Talked to me about it when I was just a kid. Bought me my first camera. My parents always encouraged me to do what I love. My mom still dotes on my work and tells me she knows I am going to make it in LA. My daughter is all about me following my dreams. It really helps keep me going.

I have had so many kind people help me through doors. Jennifer Reiley, the Staff Photographer at OSF, took me under her wing. Janine Olsen, the Marketing Director, said yes when I asked if I could shoot my first show. David Cooper and T. Charles Erikson, two incredible theatre photographers, were my patient teachers. My dear friend Alison gave me confidence in myself and my work. My extraordinary girlfriend Mary keeps me feeling like I can do it even when things feel rough and scary. So many, too many to count…all these people have kept me going and kept me feeling like I am going down the right path.