interview with Jessica Shae!

photo credit: Photography by SM
Hello friends! I'm featuring the lovely Jessica Shae here today! I'm a huge admirer of her work and am so excited to share her interview with you! She's a wedding photographer in Texas who's the oldest of seven...like me! ;) Her faith is such an encouragement and her work is truly amazing. Ohhhh, and she met a boy...and they're pretty cute together. ;) Read on and prepare to be majorly inspired!


photo credit: (left to right) Rachel Leigh, Kristen Leigh

Share a little about yourself!

Hi y’all!
My name is Jessica Shae and I’m a 22 year old wedding photographer who is obsessed with nail polish, cowboy boots, sweet tea, big trucks, and summertime, amongst a lot of other things.

I’ve lived in Texas for most of my life, with a few years in Denver and Chicago mixed in. I’m the oldest of 7 kidlets and therefore people are always telling me I’m from a big family—I just say it’s a party round the clock, there’s always something interesting going on! I love them all oh so much.

The boy I’ve liked for over 8 months made me his girlfriend this summer, therefore making it the most exciting and happy summer of my life. He’s the smart/funny/responsible/witty/wonderful half of the equation, and I’m the dramatic/fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants one. He very kindly lets me take a million and one pictures of us together…so obviously he’s perfect for me ;)

I like to read and cook (when I have the time), I’d rather be barefoot, I tend to procrastinate and I obsessively take pictures of e.vri.thing. around me with my iPhone. (let’s hear it for instagram!) I collect quotes, old books, and memories. And I love Jesus. My “…determined purpose is that I may know Him. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.” Phil 3:10a

How did you get into photography?

My story is not one that starts out explaining how I’ve been obsessed with photography since I was 3 and ½ and held a camera in my hands for the first time. I didn’t get my own camera until I was 15, and it was just a point and shoot digital camera. I bought it because we were living in Colorado at the time and wanted to be able to take pictures of the mountains and all the gorgeous scenery I was constantly surrounded by. I definitely had no thoughts of making it a business or becoming a wedding photographer. Slowly but surely I started taking more and more pictures of people along with all the landscape/nature pictures I was taking and then decided that people were actually a lot more fun to shoot.

Over a period of about 2 years I got a nicer camera, took a couple of classes, and started a portrait business. The last 2 and 1/2 years since then have been spent building up my business into a full time job and I’m in my second year of shooting weddings, which is my absolute fav. Photography is not my all-consuming passion, there are a lot of things in my life that are more important to me than my job and business. But, I do adore what I do. Documenting love and happiness is one of the greatest things ever--in my humble opinion.

What is your favorite part about photography/being a photographer?

The fact that I get to be a part of the most intimate, happy, and exciting days and moments of people’s lives never really gets old. I see their tears, their laughter, I get to catch the adoring looks a couple exchanges during an engagement shoot, and their ecstatic happy smiles as the fact that they’re REALLY MARRIED sinks in during those first few moments after the wedding ceremony. I get to take the pictures that they’re going to show their children and grandchildren someday as they tell the story of how they fell in love. Pretty special I think.

One lens you couldn't live (or at least shoot) without?

50mm 1.4, HANDS DOWN. It’s my baby and I sometimes shoot whole weddings with that one lens—that’s how much I seriously love it.

Five favorite images from your whole career are?

Oh dear, this feels a little bit like having to pick a favorite child or something, I could never pick absolute favorites, but I guess these are some top picks:

Your biggest inspirations?

Mmmm, not sure if we’re talking photography inspirations, or life in general inspirations, so I’ll give you a little of both.

Photography:
The Poser (he actually only lives about 15 minutes away from me, so I'm hoping that means that someday I'll run into him at the grocery store or something.)
Jonas Peterson
Jose Villa

Life:
Ann Voskamp: A Holy Experience: her blog A Holy Experience is a daily read for me, and her book “One Thousand Gifts” is one of the most challenging books I’ve ever read
Oswald Chambers – Favorite author of all time, hands down. I’ll never get tired of reading his words, and consequently being challenged by them.

Best tip for any aspiring photographer?

As cliché and boring as it may sound, take LOTS of pictures! There's really no better way to learn than to take hundreds and hundreds of pictures, every week if you can! And then critique those pictures, think about what you like and don't like about each one, and what you'd do different if you could take the picture again...and then apply what you've learned the next time you take pictures!

Find mentors in your area that you can take out for coffee or lunch and just pick their brain. Ask if you can go along with them on shoots and even just hold their bags or be their assistant so you can see them in action and learn how the "pros" do things.

And don’t ever let your equipment hold you back. Nice equipment can be helpful but it’s not absolutely essential to becoming a good photographer. Learn to work with what you have and then as you are able to buy nicer equipment your job will just become easier and easier!

Funniest (or most embarrassing story) from a shoot?

I’m sure I’ve had them…and blocked them from my memory :)

Anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks for reading, friends!

And thank you Hannah for interviewing me, I’m so honored to be featured on your blog!


Isn't she great? And don't you just love her photos? Thanks so much again, Jessica! Make sure to head to her blog and check out more of her wonderful work. Also, follow her on twitter and like her work on facebook! Make sure to leave some comment love as well!

On another note...I'm having surgery later today to remove an extra bone in my ankle that's causing impingement. It's what's been the source of the intense pain in my foot, so I'm definitely ready to have the surgery to get it fixed so it can begin to heal. However, to say that I'm a bit nervous would be an understatement. Would so appreciate prayers today!