DWF – Let’s start off with a little bio, tell us a little bit about yourself.

JESSICA – Even though the business is called ‘Jessica Jones Photography’, there’s actually two of us, myself and Paul. It’s just that I am the more vocal of the two!

Paul and I were best friends in our teens, fell madly in love, and got married really young. It wasn’t long before the babies started to arrive, and at last count we had six. Yes, you did read that right, there’s six of them. They just keep coming out so gorgeous, and, well, I suppose we’re a bit greedy.

Like a lot of photographers, our business grew out of our enthusiasm for taking photos. People just kept asking us to shoot for them. Family and friends, then friends of friends and then, well, you get the drift. A couple of years ago Paul started shooting Real Estate, which paid enough bills for him to drop his full time job making jewellery, and we just leapt into photography and haven’t looked back since! I still wake up some mornings and think “Far out! I’m a photographer!” (this is usually followed by “I must get that washing done today…”)

DWF – How did you become a photographer?

JESSICA - I don’t have any formal training and I never wanted to shoot weddings. I mean, that’s HUGE! Imagine messing up one of the biggest days in someone’s life? But people kept asking me, and I kept saying no. One day a friend asked me to shoot her mother’s wedding, and of course I said no, so she said that she had a good camera so she’d just do it herself. Well, I knew I could do better than her, so I gave it a shot! Somehow it worked, and the phone started ringing and the emails started coming in.

Our area is a beautiful vineyard district in New Zealand, and most of my brides come from out of town or overseas to get married in such a picturesque setting. It’s always a challenge to get vineyards looking different and interesting! Maybe one day when the kiddies are a bit more grown, we’ll do some destination weddings. I would LOVE to shoot in Egypt or some little cobblestoned town in France.

DWF- Who or what inspires you as an artist?

JESSICA – People. Everyone has a story, and every wedding has a different dynamic within the friends and family. I really think the best shots are those images that capture the essence of who a person is. When the moment in front of you is so powerful, you can actually see the emotion and the story that’s unfolding. They’re the images that people cry over when they see them, because they’re real. I’m no longer surprised about the photos a client will pick, they’re not always the arty ones, they’re the real ones.

I’ve done a few commerical shoots, and to be honest, they bore me to tears. It’s just not me. Paul is really good at it though, and he actually prefers the structure of commercial and architectural photography. He loves working with multiple strobes, and the challenge of getting something looking as good as it possibly can be.

DWF- If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?

JESSICA – I suppose it would be because of everything I’ve said above. Capturing those moments, seeing them and collecting them before they’re gone. We’re pretty easy going, which I think is important when you’re dealing with a nervous bride or a highly strung mother. I’m pretty good at multitasking too, this is a must in our house! I’m no good at ironing though, which is fine in our line of work, because people don’t usually ask me to do that.

I think one of my biggest strengths is having Paul by my side. Not only is he an awesome shooter, he’s the one that is constantly pushing our work to the next level. He’s great with anything that plugs into the wall, or takes batteries. This means that our gear is always the best we can afford and it’s always ready.

DWF- If you had to pick a favorite “Tool of the Trade” what would it be? and why?

JESSICA – Just one? That’s hardly fair. Well, I’d have to say my camera, because without it I’d be an utterly useless photographer. I am totally besotted with my 50mm 1.2, it’s such a joy to shoot with. I thought Paul was being a bit hasty spending that much on a lens, but as usual, he was right. Definitely worth it!

DWF – Care to share your favorite photographs?

JESSICA – Gosh, it’s been difficult choosing my favorite photos! Every wedding is so different! Ok, here goes…

I love having the opportunity to do an engagement shoot with couples. It really helps break the ice! I’m always looking for different things to do, for my own sake as much as the client’s!

Here are some of those ‘moments’ I love!

And while I’m at it, here are some others I like as well!

(see the gallery below for larger version)

DWF – How about some final words to live by?

JESSICA - Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. It’s in the Bible, and I think God knew what he was talking about when He said it. They’re fantastic words to live by, but also to shoot by. If we treat a wedding as if it were our own daughter’s, how much more will we be able to FEEL it? This is someone’s baby getting married, it’s a really big deal. It’s just so easy to do weddings every weekend, and forget how special they really are to the people experiencing them. The Golden Rule, if you want words to live by, I’d say choose those. They keep you honest, and always doing your best.

Location – Blenheim, New Zealand

Business Name – Jessica Jones

Websites - www.jessicajones.co.nz

Blog - www.jessicajones.co.nz/blog

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