Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Espejo.
Hi Jocelyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I thought success would be achieved by attending college, getting a job, and working up the corporate ladder. I did that. I went to UCF, graduated with a Bachelor’s in Science, got a corporate job in dentistry, and worked my way up in business development and operations management to get my MBA – this is a Masters Degree, maybe it can be switched to a step after the got a corporate job in dentistry, got my Masters in Business Administration, and worked my way up…. I realized after 16 years I was working hard to build someone else’s enterprise; fear and lack of confidence held me back from pursuing my dream of running my own business full-time. Photography was a side hustle for about 10 years before I decided to go full-time and ditch my corporate career. I finally took a leap of faith late in 2019 to give it a shot, and I haven’t looked back! I’ve had a camera in hand ever since I can remember. One day, a college friend asked me to photograph her brother’s wedding. I said, I’m not a professional photographer, but I can. I posted these on social media, and the next thing I knew, two other people had asked me to photograph their weddings. And my journey with professional photography began. I was a wedding photographer for six years, eventually leading to family photography, ranging from newborns to seniors.
What’s funny is every new opportunity consisted of people reaching out to request something I hadn’t done before (like newborn or senior portraits), me saying I don’t do that, but I could try. The same thing happened with brand photography. People contacted me asking about headshots, and I don’t do headshots. And then I thought, but wait, maybe I can – I don’t do headshots with a backdrop – but I can – add in? do lifestyle headshots, so I started my journey with lifestyle branding photography. By 2022, I decided to niche into branding as it fuels my soul and aligns with my priorities in this phase of my life. My background is in business management, and I can mix that experience with the creative side of photography. I love helping people discover their confidence on camera and capture their authentic personalities and images full of emotion that tell their stories.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been relatively smooth so far?
Ha! Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. There have been and continue to be struggles – from needing help knowing where to start, how to get clients, how to price yourself, budgets, time management, knowing when to outsource, and navigating the ever-changing marketing landscape the never-ending to-do list and trying to figure out how to prioritize your time. Another struggle was how lonely it can feel. Switching from corporate, where there is a team, to handling everything independently is a major adjustment. – can you add a positive end? Something about the key to success is perserverance & finding a person or people who can become your business tribe.
As you know, we’re big fans of Branding by Jo. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Branding by Jo is a brand photography & videography agency for entrepreneurs and small business owners in Orlando & Central Florida. We specialize in helping business owners stop hiding behind their logos and create professional on-brand content that will allow them to elevate their visual presence, increase engagement, and build trust with their ideal clients. What sets us apart is that we can capture emotion and people authentically. People who have never loved photos of themselves before or hate being on camera – love the images and videos we capture. We also streamline the process to eliminate as many pain points as possible. Most of our sessions include an outfit board curated by a professional stylist, professional hair & makeup, a session plan with ideas on props, and guidance on locations. We aim to help our clients create images that align with their brand and remove the guessing on how to present their best selves. I am most proud that the business is growing and that I am building a business that truly helps other businesses thrive. I am my client’s biggest cheerleader, and now, I am hearing it reflected from my client’s client, not just a wish I am delivering on my mission. I want people to know that we are here to help them and we can help eliminate some of the hustle – we want to help people show up in their business. We do so by assisting them in creating a plan, eliminating stressors, helping them discover their confidence, and creating content.
We create a library of content that allows businesses to have fresh options when it comes to their marketing. No more using the same one or two photos over and over and over. We want them to Be able to show up consistently, professionally, on brand, and engage and connect with their ideal clients – we can help them do that. We have options for those looking to elevate their visual presence on their website, blogs, social media, email campaigns, marketing materials, Reels, #Shorts, TikTok, and YouTube channels. Whether they are just starting and need a Jump Start or Refresh to those who want more content. We offer Headshots, Lifestyle Brand Photos, Brand Story Videos, FAQ Videos, Reels, B-roll, Behind the Scenes, #Shorts, and YouTube videos. We have Quarterly Subscription packages that clients can set up for consistency all year and receive discounted services.
What matters most to you? Why?
My family is my why, my everything. I want to be present in their lives and build a legacy that allows them to live their best lives. Making memories matters more than things. I want to be known for being a positive influence in the world.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies based on services. Connect for details.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brandingbyjo.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandingbyjo
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/brandingbyjo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandingbyjo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brandingbyjo
Image Credits
Portfolio Images: Jocelyn Espejo, Main Image of Me: Kaley Lopez BTS, Image of Me: Amanda Chopiany
