Something You May Not Know About Me
As you’ve probably guessed, my true calling lies in helping passionate business owners like yourself tell the stories of their brands through photography. But did you know that, for over a decade, I’ve worked for a studio in New York City photographing jewelry?
It’s true! For more than 10 years, I’ve worked alongside some of the most incredible people photographing fine jewelry for JCPenney’s, Kay’s and Jared’s. So, if you’ve flipped through one of their catalogues lately, it’s likely that you’ve seen my work!
When I got my start in fine jewelry photography, I spent my days toiling away in a dark studio with nothing but rings, necklaces, and a good audiobook for company. And while I always worked as hard as I could to turn out my best work, I never thought too much about where my images would end up. That is until one evening, when I was walking down a blustery New York City street, my foot caught a piece of newsprint beneath it. I looked down and saw one of my photos! It was my first realization that my humble work was seen by millions of people, and it totally blew my mind!
By specializing in jewelry photography, I gathered some crazy tricks of the trade that I think few photographers ever need to dive into. For example, I learned how to make shiny, reflective objects like engagement rings and dangly earrings look like a million bucks (which, let me assure you, is WAY harder than you’d think) equipping me for some of the more difficult product photography work I do now. I learned to love the challenge of taking an “unphotographable” object and making it look beautiful thanks to interesting angles, styling tricks and some of the weirdest tools you could possibly imagine (dentist picks, lighters, hot glue guns and rubbing alcohol, etc.). There are always fresh, new ways to make something pop in a photo, and I’m ever-ready to give them a try!
I also learned how to work in a team, collaborating with others to create something stunning. By working with and taking direction from various art directors, we’ve created some incredible images that I never could have achieved alone.
But more than anything, I learned -- thanks to hours spent untangling necklace chains and trying to get rings to stand at exactly the right angle -- the value of patience. Good things really do take time, and I’m so grateful to my career in jewelry photography for helping me to embrace the value of a patient hand.
I feel like every hour I spent in that dark room with that strange 4x5 camera (think the modern version of the camera you see in old timey photos) prepared me for the work I am fortunate to do today. So, whether you need help photographing wine bottles or orthopedic shoes, roofing tiles or nail polish, jewelry or just you on your couch at home, I’ve got you covered!
And while I dive more fully into this adventure as a branding photographer in Atlanta, I still have the joy of flying up to NYC occasionally and getting back to my jewelry photographing roots! So, if you have any questions about this wild and wonderful decade I’ve spent in product photography, I’d love to answer them!