Daily Inspiration: Meet Jenna Jones

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Jones.

Hi Jenna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story is a little all over the place, I feel like I’ve lived nine lives! But I wanted to be a filmmaker, still do, but I kept doing things that I thought I should do… like being an executive assistant somewhere and working my way up the ladder but NOTHING was happening. I interviewed for HBO, FX, Bob Odenkirks company… and I couldn’t land anything. So I took a hard left turn and went and worked at STRIIIKE in Beverly Hills. I had been following the Streicher Sisters for a while and I loved their sister business and their whole vibe so when my friend texted me that they were hiring for their front desk… I pulled over on the 101 and sent them a love letter and my resume. I ended up getting the job and working the front desk, which was a very strange turn for me, but I knew I had to do something different. At the time of working there, I bought my first film camera. I still wanted to be a filmmaker, but I couldn’t even imagine how to make a movie and I was impatient. So I thought the one way I could tell stories, was through photography.

So I taught myself. I taught myself how to shoot films, and then everything changed. My life changed. I was working at STRIIIKE, photographing on the side and then one day the Streicher Sisters were getting their client ready for the Golden Globes and I happen to be there closing up. They needed photos since they were so busy working, and I threw myself in. Those photos ended up in People Magazine and then everything really changed. I put myself out there as much as I could, photographing everything I could. And I’m a crazy hustler and hard worker and it’s led me to some of the most incredible people and places and I’ve completely fallen in love with photography. But I want my hands in everything. I still want to be a filmmaker… I’ve taught myself about marketing, branding, and web design. I just want to create, at all times. But my life has been crazy these last few years and I can’t wait to see where it goes!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road, but honestly I don’t think it could be any other way. I don’t feel like I would be where I’m at if there wasn’t. And that sounds so cliche, but it’s true. I struggle a lot with insecurity; I’m self-taught. I always struggle with worrying about not having the technical skills. I’ve messed up jobs because I didn’t know what I was doing. But I’ve learned so much, and any time there is something I don’t know… I will teach myself. I will find a way! I feel like most of the struggles I’ve had, have mostly been self-inflicted. Lack of confidence, not trusting myself. But the more I experience, the more I learn. The more mistakes, the more opportunity for me to grow.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional photographer + director. I think I’m most known for my portraiture and my candid photography style. I’m also starting my own very small, creative agency. I help a lot of clients, and small business owners with things like branding, photoshoots, marketing, and web design so I wanted to create a one-stop shop where clients can come and have really beautiful, curated content for their business. And hoping to expand that into commercial work and film.

I’m most proud of the relationships and collaborations that I’ve built over the last few years. I’ve worked with some of the most incredible and inspiring people, and I love that we continue to work together because of the close bond that we’ve built. It’s so important to me to create these personal relationships because at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.

I don’t know what sets me apart, but I just keep working and keep dreaming. I will say again, I’m a hustler. I make things happen. If something is in my head, I don’t stop till I make it happen.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My cat. I love her so much it’s insane. But movies make me happy. Nothing I love more to geek out over then great movies and television. My partner he’s amazing. My friends and my family. I’m VERY lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people. Saul Leiter’s photography. His work makes me happy, but also will make me cry because it’s so beautiful. The English countryside. I feel most relaxed and a peace when I’m there. Songs by John Prine, he’s the best songwriter of all time and will put the biggest smile on your face. He’s so clever. Accomplishing something I’ve set out to do. When people tell me “You see me” in my photographs of them. That means so much to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: photobyjennajones.com
• Instagram: @photobyjennajones

Image Credits
Photo by Jenna Jones