Jenn DeFIlippis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jenn, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, integrity is everything. It tells you more about a person than their intelligence or energy ever could. Intelligence can be learned and energy can be fueled, but integrity is rooted in character. It’s how you show up when no one is watching and the standard you hold yourself to, even when it’s not convenient. You can teach someone skills, but you can’t teach them to be honest, trustworthy, or ethical at their core. In business, and in life, integrity is what builds lasting relationships, credibility, and respect; qualities that intelligence and energy alone can’t sustain.
In my business, integrity is at the core of every client relationship. Couples are trusting me with some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives, and that’s not something I take lightly. It’s about delivering what I promise, being honest and transparent throughout the process, and treating their memories with the same care I would my own. You can’t fake that. Skills and creativity matter, of course, but without integrity, they don’t build the kind of trust that makes clients feel truly taken care of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jenn, the owner of Jennifer Nicole Photography & Films, where my husband, Mike, and I work together as a wedding photography and videography team. We specialize in creating timeless, joyful, and intentional imagery for couples who want their love stories preserved for generations to come.
What makes our brand unique is the way we combine artistry with genuine connection. For us, it’s never just about pretty photos; it’s about creating an experience where couples feel comfortable, celebrated, and truly seen. I believe that your wedding day deserves more than documentation; it deserves to be told with intention, heart, and integrity.
We’ve built our business around relationships and trust, and I think that’s what sets us apart. We take the time to really get to know our couples, so when the wedding day arrives, it feels more like celebrating with friends than working with vendors. Right now, I’m also expanding into the creative space with web and graphic design work and being a board member on the CFWA, hosting events for fellow wedding professionals, which has been such an exciting way to build community and help others grow alongside us.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that my family circumstances defined me. Coming from an untraditional family dynamic, I often lacked confidence and truly didn’t see myself as someone who could be successful. I thought that meant I was destined for limitations and that I wasn’t cut out for building something meaningful, impactful, or being able to thrive on my own. Within that experience, I was forced to “grow up” a little quicker than most, and get put into the situation of balancing college (which I thought I HAD to do) and working full-time to survive. I think that during those years that experience didn’t allow me to enjoy my teenage years, but it prepared me at a young age to be resilient, strong, and hard working. While my classmates were partying and having fun, I was hustling to prove that I was capable of something beyond the cards dealt to me.
What I’ve learned is that our past doesn’t have to dictate our future. In fact, those experiences gave me resilience, empathy, and the drive to create a different kind of story for myself. I never imagined I would one day run a successful photography and videography business with my husband, serving couples and preserving their most important memories. Now I know success isn’t about where you come from; it’s about what you choose to do with the cards you’ve been dealt to create success moving forward.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most is simply not believing that I’m good enough. In the creative industry, imposter syndrome is almost unavoidable. You’re constantly surrounded by incredibly talented people doing the same work, and it’s easy to compare yourself and feel like you’re falling short. That self-doubt can be paralyzing, especially in the early stages of building a business or putting your work out into the world. Over time, I’ve learned that the key is to focus on my own growth, trust my voice and vision, and remember that comparison doesn’t define my worth or my impact. There are things about me that are different; there are ways I set myself apart. And that someone else succeeding doesn’t mean that I can’t. Once you realize someone’s success doesn’t take away from your own, you start believing in what you do a little more.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
Honestly? Lately, I rely on ChatGPT more than I ever thought I would….haha!
But in all seriousness, I also lean heavily on my husband and a few close industry friends. Collaboration is such a huge part of my creative process, and I’ve learned that bouncing ideas off others, whether it’s about a photoshoot, a client experience, or growing my business, always leads to better, more thoughtful results than going it alone.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I truly believe I am doing what I was born to do. A camera has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I lost my grandparents within weeks of each other, I found comfort in the photos I had been annoyingly taking of them over the years. Those images weren’t perfectly composed or professional by any means, but the memories and the people they preserved were priceless.
That experience made me realize that preserving moments for others is far more important than technical perfection. It’s about capturing connection, love, and memory. Now, at every wedding, I make it a point to spend a few minutes with grandparents (time permitting, haha), creating images I know my couples will cherish one day, just as I did with my own family. It’s that realization that continues to fuel my passion and reminds me every day why I do what I do. My grandparents aren’t here anymore, but I do what I do because of the images that honor their memory.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jennifernicolephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifernicolephotoandfilms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifernicolephotofl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXN7da3F9UX-kv9HYtbXkA/
Image Credits
The headshot of us was taken by Angela Lucht Photography. The rest were all taken by me.
