Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Crandall.
Hi Jenna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was in high school, my mom bought me a nice camera. I didn’t ask for it, but was excited to use it to take pictures of me and my friends. After only using it a handful of times I put it back in the box in my closet and forgot about it for years. Years passed before I thought about the camera again. My brother’s best friend was getting married and they didn’t have a videographer so they asked me to do it, simply because I had a nice camera and was willing to do it for free because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. At the end of their wedding, I had completely fallen in love with being involved in the moments of a wedding day. It was full of so much emotion and capturing it felt like such a privilege! But video didn’t feel like something I really enjoyed and being a wedding photographer sounded terrifying so I decided to put the camera away again. I found myself thinking about how fun it was to video that wedding often enough that I decided to start taking pictures of some of my friends to see how I liked it. I was instantly hooked on photography. I started taking pictures of anything and everything I could. Offering free sessions to all of my friends and their families until I got my first real wedding inquiry. The very first wedding I shot was featured in Utah Valley Bride’s online magazine and I felt like I was on top of the world. I have since spent the last 9 years building my wedding photography business. During those 9 years I have had 2 children, 8 surgeries, moved 6 times, coached high school and college volleyball and had a husband in school and working as a firefighter- all while trying to build my photography business. There were so many days that it felt like I couldn’t do it. My health alone was such a constant and huge battle. Being a mom of 2 little girls alone was enough to make me want to quit. Coaching college volleyball was time consuming enough to make me want to put photos on the back burner. Having a husband who’s gone for 48 hours at a time and in full time school was enough stress to make me feel like I couldn’t do it. Managing it all? Well, that felt absolutely impossible most of the time, but I never gave up! I pushed through and endured and never let go of that delusional thinking that I could be a successful wedding photographer! In 2025, I have now shot over 200 weddings all over Utah, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Idaho, I have been featured in multiple online magazines as well as printed features with Utah Valley Bride and Utah Weddings Magazine. I never gave up, no matter how hard it got, and now I have a successful business that helps me provide for my family and build us a beautiful life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I mentioned this previously but my health was a huge struggle. I had 8 surgeries in 8 years with over 30 emergency room visits. I also struggled with infertility and went through 2 and 1/2 years of hormones, shots, and surgeries to get our second daughter to the earth.
My husband being a firefighter/paramedic and working 48 shifts, while going to school (went to paramedic school. then got his bachelors, currently is in nursing school), coaching college volleyball is a crazy schedule with a lot of traveling, plus having 2 young kids who have school and activities to get to made out life and schedule constant crazy chaos. Keeping photography in that mix always felt like a crazy decision but I loved it so much I just couldn’t give up.
It has been a slow ride to get to where I want to be. I watched so many other photographers and videographers grow much larger followings much more quickly than I have and at times that was really hard on my mental health and it constantly made me feel like quitting.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer who specializes in wedding photography! I have been a photographer for over 9 years and have shot over 200 weddings. My goal in photography has always been to feel more like a best friend than a service provider. I am never just taking photos of couples, I am hyping them up, guiding them through the day, helping them feel beautiful, getting them water and snacks throughout the day to make sure that they are eating and getting something to drink, I am helping them set up their venues and make sure everything is perfect for their day. What sets me a part is that I GENUINELY CARE about every single one of my clients and their families. I don’t just do this for a paycheck, I do this because I think couple’s deserve to have a cheerleader by their side, helping them through their wedding day WHILE capturing their beautiful moments. I think everyone deserves to feel confident in front of the camera and that is what I thrive at doing- making everyone feel like their best self. I can also turn on my coaching voice and bark out orders at large groups of people to get photos done quickly and efficiently so that family members are having a better time and don’t dread that part of the day. I care about my couples, I love my couples, and I do whatever they need throughout their day.I deliver same day sneak peeks on all sessions so that they have a little something to keep riding the emotional high of their day and I don’t put a limit on how many photos I return so your gallery always represents every single moment. I love what I do and I love who I get to do it with. My couples and their love stories are my why. I love to capture love and to be a part of such beautiful, intimate, and special moments with such amazing people.
When you book with Jenzy Photos, you are not only getting refined experience behind the camera, you are getting a friend for life. A cheerleader for your big day and for all of the milestones that come after it.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Utah is the most beautiful state. I has some of the most stunning photography locations and fun filled places for families to explore and play. I couldn’t love living in this state more! Specifically, some of the nicest people I have every met are in St. George and even though we haven’t lived down here long, we have fallen in love with it. The views, the locations, the scenery, is magical!
I wish Utah had a culture less fixated on being perfect and fitting into a mold and was more focused on being the best YOU you can be. Because I firmly believe that YOU are always enough and I wish that was more prevalently felt in this state.
Pricing:
- Wedding packages start at $1995
- Wedding Day Coverage starts at $995
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenzyphotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenzyphotos/
