Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer London.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born on… Nah jk, that’s too far back lol. Prior to harnessing my inner creative, I was in school to be an X-ray Tech and planning to go to college to be a Radiologist. After my internship I asked myself, “Is this something I really want to do for the rest of my life?” and my response was, “Nope!” So, I sat down with my mom, scared as hell, because the story I was telling myself was that I should pursue a career in medicine, I thought that’s what my mom would want because that’s what she had wanted for herself and it would make her proud. Safe to say, I was wrong.
My mother ended up telling me that I didn’t have to follow a career like everyone else. All I had to do was pursue what I loved, and that she will always support me. Her response was a reminder of how truly supportive she was of me.
It’s tough to think outside of traditional jobs when society has always taught you to pursue what is safe. This especially hits hard as a kid of immigrant parents, with a single mom, and being the eldest of three kids. I felt like a career in medicine is what I was supposed to do, you know? Growing up, I had witnessed my family not pursue their creativity and dreams, and I did not want to follow down that same path. I wanted to do something different.
Shout out to my mom for telling me it’s ok to follow a different path and to all the other single moms for having faith in us creative kids and showing us their support within the creative world.
In 2012, I picked up my first camera and fell in love; the rest is a wave of awesome human experiences. That same year, I also decided that I wanted to go to the school of my dreams, which I had hesitated in the past to pursue and apply because my mentality was filled with societal narratives saying “it’s too expensive, you won’t have time, it’s not worth it, there’s no career in the arts, you’ve never even opened a Mac or an Adobe program” In the end, I had finalized my decision and decided to apply!
Shifting forward, here I was a couple weeks later at Full Sail University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Digital Arts and Design, went in thinking I would love motion graphics, and graduated in love with brand development, typography, and graphic design, not to mention my love for grungy street photography had flourished.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth road? As a creative? Lol, more like a ride on a horse carriage down an old brick road… fun ride though! I’ve had plenty of ups and downs. When I had begun at Full Sail, I ended up leaving the program one year later. One of my teachers challenged me and asked me to define the meaning of one of my design projects, and my response was, “it looks cool,” and that wasn’t enough for her; she then said, “there’s always a why an emotion or a reason for design decisions.” My ego was ready to rage, and it did.
I ended up failing her class and had to retake it. I was still running into the same issues, so I quit and left school. Around the same time I lost my job, my family was going through a rough time and I lost my relationship. I lost pretty much everything, even my apartment. This is where my search for my “why” began.
Luckily my photography was slowly picking up. I was getting gigs at events, having my own photoshoots, and met some great people. I knew the basics of design from my previous classes, so I did some graphic design gigs here and there as well. The money coming in wasn’t that great at the time. Most of the time, I had 5 bucks in my account (if that) and lived in an apartment with roommates where the only thing I had in my room was a twin mattress on the floor, but I was surrounded by supportive, creative, and kind people just living and enjoying life to the fullest, and I discovered you can’t put a price on that.
Then I moved to NY… where I failed miserably. In my interviews, I kept getting asked the “what’s your why?” question or what about design did I specifically love. Even when I thought about street photography, I still had surface answers. One night hanging out in the living room of my cousin’s apartment in New York, I saw a car commercial, and all I heard at the end was, “sometimes you have to go back in order to move forward.” I said, “really, universe?” I took that as a sign.
A couple weeks later, I was back in Orlando and re-enrolled at Full Sail. The first class I ended up having was with the same teacher that first asked me about my “why” behind my work. I had recognized that although a whole year had passed and I was back at Full Sail, I was a different person. During that year, I explored who I was without the influence of any societal, relationships, or familial narratives. I was then able to find my “why” behind my work and still be open to receiving information that would expand my knowledge even further. Funny enough, I ended up passing the class that caused a shift within me., and soon thereafter, that teacher ended up being my favorite.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What am I proud of?
Above all, I am a proud Lesbian Latina Woman of Color. Society was built to shatter people like me, and although I did break many times, I was raised by a warrior, so I never shattered.
What do I specialize in?
I am a street photographer, who specializes in brand development and graphic design. In photography, I am known for my grungy street style. In design, I have evolved my ability to assist businesses in bringing their brands to life from concept to finish with technique, intention, essence, and authenticity.
I like to bring out the greatest potential of not just my projects but the people I work with as well. I fully believe that their brand is only as great as their own greatness.
I also have a passion for writing poetry. I’ve published my own book called “Enlightened.” Finishing this book was a huge accomplishment. Writing a book was something I had told myself years ago that I would do someday, and I did thanks to the support of my wife for being the editor and my sister for her encouragement. In writing “Enlightened,” I was able to use all of my skills in one — perspective about human growth, photography, design, and writing.
What sets me apart from others?
My experiences. When people ask me what my greatest passion is, I’ll always say “experiences.” For me, passion is not about anything I’ve done or a specific career. My experiences of people, places, moments, and different chapters within my own life have gifted me with the ability of developing a broad perspective about humanity as a whole.
I tend to place myself in areas outside of myself or try things that I don’t particularly find interesting at the moment. I read up on topics such as and not limited to history, philosophy, psychology, metaphysics, spirituality, runes, different religions, poetry, and architecture. I don’t just limit myself to the studies of what I am good at such as design, photography, or poetry. I expand so then my craft can expand.
This way of thinking has allowed me to see the relationships between potential in projects and people, connecting the dots and being able to think 10 steps ahead, all while being able to hone it back to begin the foundation. My diversity is my greatest strength; it is because of my experiences that I can think outside of the triangle for my clients and myself.
Technique can be taught, but to figure out how your mind works individually — that takes time and patience. The formula to be able to expand and grow is having curiosity towards your own experiences, providing yourself with the opportunity to reflect on your experiences, as well as learning how to honor your failures and triumphs. Creativity is limitless, and so are we. This is the mentality I bring to all of my projects.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
Books that have changed my life: Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers, The Game of Life and How to Play it by Florence Scovel Shinn, and Brene Brown’s TEDx Talk on Vulnerability changed my existence. Brene Brown’s podcast is a must-listen – all of them. The show Abstract on Netflix is a must-watch for inspiration, to see how the minds of different designers work, or to just see the potential of a specific creative field.
As a creative, I encourage reading about philosophy, poetry, and Psychology. It will bode well for internal and external growth. I firmly believe that expansion of the heart expands the mind, expansion of the mind expands the heart, and the expansion of both expands the soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://londonjennifer.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londoncrtve/
