Today we’d like to introduce you to Jena McJunkin.
Hi Jena, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself and how you got starter.
Photography has been a constant throughout my life even from a young age. When I was little I would take my parents old video camera and create short videos that I would make my family sit through a watch after. As I got older I became increasingly drawn to the way that photography allowed a moment to live long past when the moment took place. Photography has an ability to connect far away people and showcase destinations beyond our reach. Through high school I took several photography/ videography classes and was lucky enough to have some phenomenal teachers that inspired and pushed me to continue growing and following my passions. In college, I started doing paid family and senior portraits. I was also taking my camera on all of the camping and backpacking trips I took with my friends. We went on some pretty spectacular trips through Sequoia National Forest, Yosemite, and Sawtooth National Forest. Those were the images that I loved the most. They were raw, candid, and full of life. The images helped keep the stories and moments alive. The images allowed me to bring others into the moment and show them the scenes I had experienced. It was during this time that I realized I wanted to make a career out of photography. My dad has always been an advocate for making money through something you enjoy rather than making money simply for money’s sake. His argument was that if you are doing to dedicate that much of your life to anything you might as well enjoy doing so. Not to mention that if you are passionate about the work you do, you are going to be far more willing to put in the extra hours working hard. After I graduated in 2020 I quickly started at the first place that would hire me. With 2020 being what it was and there being a short list of jobs I figured it best that I take what I can get and put my passions on the back burner for a little while. Not too long after I started at the Marketing Agency, budget cuts from COVID forced them to put my position to part time. I took this as a sign to give freelance commercial photography a try. I knew that it was my long term goal for my career and it seemed like it now or never. So I started cold emailing dozens of companies a day to try and get my first client. The beginning was rough, I didn’t really know what I was doing but soon enough I got my first client. Then I got a second and a third and before I knew it I was doing several paid gigs a month and booking others for future months. It was equally exhausting as it was exciting. Fast forward almost two years and I am so thankful that the Marketing Agency put me to part time. I love what I do and I am so thankful to be able to spent a large portion of my time creating content in the outdoors with great brands that I believe in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting something new is always challenging, especially when there aren’t clear instructions on how to do it. I was thankful that when I first started doing freelance I had a great mentor in the industry who could give me feedback on my work, help me with my proposals, and be a sounding board for all of the questions and concerns I had. The freelance world can be incredibly overwhelming and at times and the imposter syndrome can be very real. Having a close group of friends or family that remind you that you have a place in the field makes a world of difference during the times when you start to question it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a freelance commercial photographer based out of Seattle, WA. I specialize in showing the beauty of candid moments in the great outdoors. I work with outdoor goods and apparel brands to create unique and captivating stories of their products. I strive to convey the heart and ethos of every company that I work with. I believe that all imagery tells a story and it is my passion to create timeless and meaningful content that inspires and engages people through that story. One of the projects that I am most proud of was one that was done in Snowdonia, Wales. It took months of prep but it was a phenomenal experience. I got to work with friends of mine from London. I collaborated with a friend that does videography and had our other good friends as the talent. It was a beautiful but intense location that look a lot of determination from everyone on the team. The content that came out of the project is some of my favorite to date.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Chris Burkard’s work was a driving force that inspired me to get into the field. I’ve been following his work for years and still look to his projects for inspiration and advice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jenaruth.com/
- Instagram: @jenaruth.photos
- Twitter: JenaRuth_photos
