Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer DeFilippis.
Hi Jennifer, 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?
As cliche as it might sound, I’ve had a love for photography for as long as I can remember. I went through point and shoot cameras often because I would use them so much they would break. I was the yearbook editor in High School and nothing made me happier my senior year than to go to football games and events to take photos for the yearbook. That year when I graduated, my Dad bought me my first Nikon and the rest was kind of history. I took photos of literally anything I could, whether it had a pulse or not lol! Right before my wedding, I decided to invest in a full-frame camera, I had no intentions of starting a business or doing anything official, but I knew I wanted a good camera for my honeymoon and for all my future traveling.
Every time I would post a photo, I would get comments like “wow! that belongs on a postcard!” or something sweet that would come from a family member or Grandma, haha! I also had a really poor experience with my own wedding photographer and I think that is what pushed me over the edge. I didn’t want someone else to have to experience another person jeopardizing the best day of their lives or the memories of it like I experienced. Granted, I wasn’t knowledgeable about wedding photography when we hired our photographer, but the overall experience, the quality of the photos and the customer service was absolutely horrifying. I felt like I had a mission to make sure brides were overjoyed with their photo experience, loved their images, especially 10, 20, 30+ years later. We wound up moving down to Florida after the wedding, where I was still dealing with this nightmare that was my photographer.
My husband knew I loved photography so much and kept putting it in my head that I had the talent and the drive to go for it, so… I did! That’s when Jennifer Nicole Photography & Films was born with extreme care, love and precision. Since 2017, I have worked myself day and night to get where I am today. I absolutely have a long way to go, but I’ve come so far and I’ve stayed true to myself and my values. I don’t think I would have had the courage to go for it without my husband (who is now my second photographer and lead filmmaker!!) or without moving across the country where I knew no one. You would think that would be scarier than starting a business where you grew up, went to school and know everyone but for some reason, a clean slate in life made it less scary for me. I’ve done a ton of networking and I absolutely adore meeting new wedding professionals in my area. I got really lucky here in Orlando because there are so many supportive and encouraging “friendors,” as we call them that I don’t think I’d be half as successful without!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything that is rewarding is ever smooth. The long dirt road makes the success so much more worth it in my opinion! I’ve had tons of struggles, both professionally and personally. Dealing with my own personal anxiety has definitely made me doubt myself so much, and still to this day. I think that as creatives, we have this imposter constantly feeling where we feel as though we aren’t as good as someone else in the same profession as us. That mindset can get many people down and discourage them and sometimes even cause them to quit. I’d be lying if I said there’s never been a time where I wanted to quit and stop photographing weddings and portraits. My advice to others who may feel like this sometimes is to keep the reasons “why” you do this, somewhere you can always see it. If I look at a photo that means a lot to me, I remember why I’ve worked so hard and it motivates me to keep going and to keep doing what I love, even when it’s a struggle.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in wedding, portrait and branding photography and my husband, who is a part of my brand, has also added a video to our specialties! We are known for being a published husband and wife photo and video team (which I think sets us apart in some ways). I think another way we stand out is our editing style. I have a very bright, bold and vibrant style, which stays true to my goal of capturing timeless, joyful and authentic photos. I don’t want my couples to look back on their photos in 30 years and see images that aren’t timeless and wish they had someone else take them. I want them to look back at their photos and still love them and still feel the happiness they felt on their wedding day. I’m most proud that I’ve been able to stay true to myself in that regard, and I’ve stuck with my own style and not a style I think others want me to have or a style that is just popular now and will eventually fade away. (Do you remember selective coloring hahahaha?!) We’ve also been featured over 40 times online and in print and I am super proud of that too. We’ve worked really hard to make sure our couples get the best possible experience they can with us and I’m proud that we will always stay true to those core values I had when I started JNP.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I really love the wedding industry in Orlando. We have some of the best professionals in the country and I truly believe that. They are supportive, encouraging, motivating, and the type of people that are down for anything! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a crazy idea for an inspirational shoot and these crazy people hyped me up and went along for the ride!! I’m truly grateful for the vendors I’ve met in the Orlando area who have become very good friends.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@jennifernicolephotography.com
- Website: www.jennifernicolephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennifernicolephotoandfilms
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennifernicolephotofl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXN7da3F9UX-kv9HYtbXkA/
