Daily Inspiration: Meet Jacqueline

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
“Pics or it didn’t happen” is a phrase I like to use often to justify my obsession for taking photos. Whether it was a million still shots of my sleeping pets or action shots of my friends and I just living our crazy lives, I was there to document it all. Receiving my first DSLR in the early 2010s kicked off my professional journey, leading to the equipment I use today. Initially, supportive friends and family became my first subjects, encouraging me to explore professional opportunities. As a self-taught photographer, the evolution of my work is definitely humbling to put it nicely but hey, we all start somewhere, right? Around 2015, my focus expanded to include real estate photography for agents in the KC Metro, while I continued to embrace portrait sessions. The introduction of High School Senior sessions in 2020 ignited a particular passion. In 2021, I added studio headshots to my portfolio, even integrating this service into my role at a real estate brokerage until recently. For me, photography is about giving others the timeless gift of captured memories, a process I value from the initial shot to the final edit. There’s a unique satisfaction in hearing a hesitant client – someone who claims to dislike having their photo taken – ultimately express genuine love for their images.

I ended up rebranding my company from “JLB Photography” to Jax Leon Imagery around 2020 to open my services up to offer a variety of graphic design services that include;
Branding (logo creation, branding guides, business cards, email signatures, signage)
Content Creation (social media images)
Marketing Materials (flyers, post cards, social media content)
Website Creation
as these are things I am also passionate about. Seeing my work in public always puts a smile on my face!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’d say the only “struggle” I’ve encountered is the learning process of being self taught. I’ve had to learn capturing and editing strategies solely from trial and error. I look back on my early work and can honestly say “if I knew then what I know now, this could have been a better image”. But I can also say that those trials and errors gave me the knowledge to create things I never thought I could create.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I offer photography services for;
Portraits (families, pets, high school seniors etc.)
Real Estate Listings (Interior, exterior, virtual walk throughs, 2d floorplans and drone)
Professionals (headshots, product promotion)
Events (engagements, weddings, etc.)

I also offer a variety of graphic design services that include;
Branding (logo creation, branding guides, business cards, email signatures, signage)
Content Creation (social media images)
Marketing Materials (flyers, post cards, social media content)
Website Creation

I don’t think can pick one single thing that I am most proud of. I recently was challenged with the creation of a “box” shoot where the end product is a single image that consists of 9 separate images of the same people in a different box and I was OBSESSED. Years ago I helped a local business owner create their logo that is now displayed on the outside of their building, neither of these were conceivable to me when I started this journey.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think the connection you make with your client and the ability to understand and bring to life THEIR vision is what I would say is most important.

Pricing:

• Portraits – $200 to $300 depending on selected package
• Real Estate Listing Photos – Starting at $175* price varies based on location and size of home
• Professional Headshots – $100 for 3 images
• Branding Package – Starting at $300 for 1 logo and 3 marketing templates
• Event Photography / Other Graphic Design Services based on specified needs

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jaxleon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jl_imagery_kc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlimagerykc