Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Jolley.
Hi Jenny, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I remember getting a text that my dad found a secondhand camera in late 2017 – we both share a love for photography. The camera was nothing fancy and what I refer to as a “soccer mom camera”. I paid it off in payments and used any moment outside of teaching (I was in my first year of teaching at the time) to learn the craft. I was watching YouTube videos, downloading all the free resources I could, and going out with my camera to practice my skills. I started upgrading and adding to my gear only when I felt I was outgrowing my current set up. In 2018, I started shadowing other wedding photographers as a second shooter on wedding days, and in 2019 I launched Jenny Jolley Photography and took on my own weddings for the first time! Flash forward to last year, I finished out my 8th year of teaching in May and left the classroom to photograph weddings full-time! Over the last 8 years I have photographed over 130 weddings, so I’ve seen and learned a lot! The plan in the beginning did not include going full-time with my business, but later in recent years I started to see the possibility of making a livable income solely from my business. Instead of “jumping ship” and quitting early to get started full-time when I first caught the vision, I continued to work two jobs that took up most of my time in order to build a strong foundation. Talk about burnout! I definitely had to put other “life” things low on the priority list at this time in my career, I was just too busy to focus on anything else. When I FINALLY went full-time. I was more than ready and here I am, over 6 months later, still running the business full-time! I have to mention that support from my family, friends, and clients over the years got me here today too – running a business is incredibly daunting and can feel lonely, but luckily I’ve always felt supported!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe anyone who has started their own business is actively choosing the route that is NOT smooth, ha! When I started my photography business, I quickly learned that 10% of the time working on the business is actually spent taking photos. The rest of the time is spent not being a creative, but being a businesswoman instead. I’m thankful that I enjoy looking at numbers (the math degree comes in handy) but there is a very steep learning curve to building a business and there are so many aspects of running a successful business that of course I didn’t know about until I was knee-deep in it. I had so much trial and error with marketing, networking, website building, file organizing, tax preparation, and client experience. I would do things I thought would build my business but learned the hard way was a waste of time and money. Not every dollar invested into my business came back profitable, but when I pictured building my business in a “crockpot” vs. a “microwave”, I knew careful mistakes were contributing to the long-term success of my business. There are still a few choices I made over the years that made me want to face palm, though. For example, I purchased personalized packing tape logo. It’s still sitting in my closet, years later, unused.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a wedding photographer serving the Kansas City area, Lawrence area, and beyond! I am known for my bright, joyful style of photography, capturing posed and candid moments from the beginning to end of a wedding day, and providing professional assistance from booking to the big day. I believe I am set apart from the others because, at the risk of sounding arrogant, there’s no other Jenny Jolley! I don’t mean that I’m the best overall, but I am the best for my clients. I create connection with my engaged couples and their families and friends. I am invested in the wedding planning process, and I go beyond my role as a photographer to make the day as stress-free as possible for my couples. I’m not for everyone, but I am for the couples who want their love captured authentically and to be at ease knowing they have a wedding vendor who has them in their best interest.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I want to give credit to my husband, Chance Jolley. When I worked two jobs and used my free-time to build my business as much as I can, that meant sacrificing time with him. Over the years he’s been the most supportive of my goals and knows WAY more about photography and running a business than necessary through helping me run Jenny Jolley Photography. He has always been my sounding board for my ideas, goals, and insecurities when it comes to being a wedding photographer. He’s been my assistant at weddings, done my business taxes, posed for me as a test subject, and in the beginning even rode with me to sessions to sit in the car and be my emotional support human.
I always have to shoutout my best friend since 4th grade, Jessie Evans, too! Since day one is either of us has a silly idea, the other is down, and doing different shoots with my camera before I had consistent paid clients was no different. Jess has always been down for my ideas and so incredibly supported. She has been my biggest cheerleader out on social media and in the beginning I always ran things by her first before sharing with the public. I truly am so blessed to have her, everyone could use a Jessie in their life!
And of course I want to shoutout my photographer friends who are always cheering me on as well! I’ve found such a beautiful community in the wedding vendor industry and I am so happy to be a part of it. I am also thankful for my teacher friends who supported me through the years of being burnout and then eventually leaving the classroom, When I found myself down and needing help (as much as I hate to admit needing it), they were there.
I also can’t move on to the next question before thanking my clients! I honestly feel like “client” doesn’t accurately describe what these people mean to me but I’m so thankful they not only booked me for their wedding or session, but shared my name with their loved ones! Even people who haven’t booked me but refer me, thank you!
Pricing:
- All Day Coverage with Second Photographer: $3,800
- Add an Engagement Session: +$500
- Add Rehearsal Dinner Coverage: +$500
- 1 Hour Session: $400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jennyjolleyphotography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jennyjolleyphotography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jennyjolleyphotography
