We recently had the chance to connect with Jaclyn Liberator and have shared our conversation below.
Jaclyn, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now a normal day for me starts with waking up and getting ready for work. I am a Customer Service Manager at and architectural lighting manufacturer as well as a photography business owner.
My days consist of an 8-5 job with photography work at night. When I come home I greet my sweet kitties and then change into something comfortable, make dinner and get to work on anything photography related. Whether that’s editing photos, doing admin work, doing social media work – I am constantly working on something for that business.
Its a busy day every day, for sure, but I absolutely love it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jaclyn Liberator and I am the owner of The Jaclyn Photo, a photography business that specializes in weddings and couples.
A little bit about my story: I have always loved art in every form – but photography called to me the most. I LOVED my high school photography class and hoped to pursue it as a career. However, that was not the case. I went to college and got a degree in Art History and started a customer service job shortly after graduation. It wasn’t until a few years ago that decided to take a leap of picking up my camera again.
I started second shooting for other wedding photographers and I was learning fast. Next thing I know, I am booking up my own weddings left and right. It has been SO exciting and I truly love everything about this job and life. I adore all of my couples I work with and strive to make their experience with me an absolute blast. My goal is for them to want to come back to me for all of their life milestones. That would be the greatest achievement because I WANT to see their next milestone! I want to photograph and support them in all that they do!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I think one thing I believed as a child was that I couldn’t do something (could be anything). And I’m not talking about something where your parents tell you no. Its your internal self telling you no.
When it came to art – while I craved to be amazing, that wasn’t how it was. Especially as a child. That’s where I learned to keep practicing. Keep trying and eventually its not a “I can’t do it” its a “Look what I did” or “Look how much I have improved”.
That naturally progressed into my job now. Starting out in photography, I had a learning curve like most people. I kept experimenting, trying and learning and eventually it clicked. But you have to put in the work to get there. I know it can be defeating at times but once you accomplish what you have been trying to achieve, its so worth it.
When I finally understood ‘manual mode’ on a camera, its changed my whole game. But it took a lot of hard work, experimenting, studying little cheat sheets to understand and remember how it works.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I would tell her that she is beautiful, smart and kind and to never give up on her dreams. She has a passion for art in all forms and to never let that passion die.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my best friend for her character. She deals with tough situations all day, every day with her profession. Even though she deals with these – she still is kind, and caring to everyone around her. She genuinely wants the best for everyone she encounters and is there for them no matter what is going on in her own life. When she is at odds with another person, she always takes the high road. Now that she is a new mother, watching her become this new version of herself with such grace has been inspiring.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I only had 10 years left to live, I would honestly stop dedicating so much time to my work – as much as I love it. I would want to travel the world. See everything I’ve always dreamed of seeing. I have so many places on my bucket list I want to visit and experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thejaclynphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejaclynphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070064327373
Image Credits
All photos are my own.
