Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Barr.
Hi Jessie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Before starting my photography business I was a teacher for about 6 years. Once I had my daughter, Madeline, in 2020, I decided to be a stay at home mom and raise my daughter. Well, a couple months in, I knew I needed to do something for myself, get myself into the community, have adult conversations. I have always loved taking photos and my husband bought me my first “good” camera and I just self taught! During nap times I would be on Youtube learning how to shoot manually and found free courses I could take that would teach manual shooting. Learning how to shoot manual was just the first step, actually taking it out and practicing was another! Then there is the editing aspect! I watched so many tutorials on how to edit in Lightroom, what all of the words meant and how each slider can change something in the photo. I think it was one of my favorite parts about learning because I was able to take the photo and enhance it to make it my style. Over the past 5 years of starting I feel like I have finally come into my own editing style, although I am sure it will keep evolving over time! I am so thankful for friends and family who let me test out my skills in the very beginning! Still today with every session I do I am still learning and growing which is something I love about this profession! There is always room for growth.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overall I have loved the journey every step of the way! But since starting in 2020 I have had another baby, Graham, in 2022 and never thought I would be as busy as I am with shoots and new clients. I am no where near as busy as some of the more seasoned or popular photographers in the area, but I always saw this as just a small side job to make a little money and get out in the community. I love where it has taken me so far. With that being said, I still struggle with using my weekends or weeknights to leave to go shoot, I sometimes feel like I am missing out on spending quality time with my husband and kiddos. Thankfully my husband who works full time, is so supportive of this journey. I wouldn’t be able to do with without him!
In 2022 I was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma, which is a benign tumor that sits on your hearing and balance nerve. I realized over time my hearing was not as it used to be so I got my hearing checked and then an MRI and sure enough a tiny little tumor was causing me to lose my hearing in one ear. After a lot of reflection and research, we decided to go ahead with surgery and in 2023 I had my tumor removed. The removal of my tumor resulted in full hearing loss on my left side. However, it could have been much worse considering the other possible side effects. I had to stop photography for awhile as I recovered. After surgery my balance was effected and obviously my hearing so after a couple months of recovery and learning how to walk without getting dizzy, I was able to get back to doing what I loved! Now I just have to tell clients if I accidently ignore them while they talk to me, that I am not being rude, I just can’t hear them! All in all, I am so thankful for the journey I have been on and where it is taking me!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I first started, I specialized mostly in families, couples, and maternity photos. I always said I wouldn’t venture into weddings, but after 5 years I finally dipped my toes in and I love it! I am still learning because, lets be real, weddings are hard! You can’t miss anything. The couple is putting all of their trust in you to capture their once in a lifetime day! I always shied away from weddings but as I have grown as a photographer over the years I have started gaining the courage to shoot the weddings and big events! I am so thankful to the clients who have trusted me to be the one to capture their big day!
I think I am most proud of my growth from the beginning to where I am now. I feel like photography is a pretty saturated field in my area and it still makes me so proud that each of my clients chooses me to shoot their moments big or small. I have clients that have been with me from the beginning and are continuously supporting and cheering me on.
How do you define success?
That is a really good question because I feel like normally success = money and in some cases it does but I think for me success is getting those booking inquires in my email, or the dm’s on instagram, or having people sharing the photos I took to their personal pages. That is success to me. When clients and friends show their support by sharing, tagging, commenting or just saying they love those photos!
Pricing:
- Family Sessions start at $400
- Couples/Maternity $300
- Proposal/Engagement $350
- Weddings start at 2k
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.madiemaephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madiemae.photo/
Image Credits
All photos included taken by me.
