Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Elora.
Hi Jade, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always had a love for photography, but it was something I saw as a hobby for most of my life. I went to school for Journalism and I worked for a major magazine in New York, and I was certain that was what I was going to do with my life. I had what I thought was “the dream job”, but I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t happy.
At one point, I realized it just wasn’t the career for me, and I knew deep down that what I loved was photographing people. Getting to capture these important moments for people, making them feel beautiful and special—that’s where my passion is. Once I got that, I knew I had to do this as a career, so I took the leap and started my own business.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Getting that initial experience and building a portfolio was really challenging. I had to convince people to take a chance on me when I had almost no portfolio (aside from travel photos and nature shots).
Once I built that portfolio and started getting a foothold in the industry, I realized that was just the first big challenge, because a lot of the personal photography industry is about constantly selling yourself, and I am a terrible salesperson. I’ve spent a lot of time finding that sweet spot in communicating with clients in a way that feels like me and not like I’m pressuring them into buying my services. I’m never going to be someone who talks a blue streak and convinces you to walk away with something you don’t need. I don’t want to be a salesperson. It’s not something I’m good at. But I can be a source of honest information and guidance, and that’s what I aim to do instead. I have definitely lost out on clients because I’m not a great “closer”, but I think I’ve found a good happy medium where I can have real conversations with people and still connect on a level that addresses their needs as a customer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a photographer with a love for capturing vibrant, colorful moments—mostly weddings, engagements, and maternity, with some boudoir and personal portraits in the mix. I work with a lot of alternative and LGBTQ+ couples, and my specialty is helping people feel confident, relaxed, and like themselves in front of the lens.
A big part of what I do is accommodating people who are otherwise outside of the typical industry norm. There’s a lot of baggage that comes with photography for people. So much of what people see in media is white, straight, thin, young, able-bodied people, and a lot of photographers only know how to work with those people. It’s no wonder so many people have bad experiences and feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. They think, “This isn’t for me. I’m the problem here.” But it’s just bad messaging from an industry that is stuck inside this very narrow box.
The reality is, everyone can look great in a photo and everyone can have a good experience with having their photo taken. It doesn’t have to be miserable or awkward, it can actually be fun. That’s always my goal—to make that camera less scary and more fun.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck is always involved. A lot of discoverability—whether clients find you or not—comes down to luck. But there are other things that are out of your control when you run a business. The big one for me and a lot of wedding vendors was the pandemic. A lot of people went out of business, moved out of the area, or went into a different field because there were absolutely no weddings happening. You can’t always predict it, you just have to be as prepared as you can for the unexpected.
Pricing:
- Wedding coverage starts at just $2500. Couples typically spend $3200 – $3800.
- Engagement & Maternity Sessions start at $450
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jadeeloraphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeeloraphoto/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr5aY2tye4aPMLJFOKOPArw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jade-elora-photography-glendale
Image Credits
Portrait: Caitlin Alohilani Photography
Photo with Couple: J Squared Media
Other Photos: Jade Elora Photography
