There is nothing we love more than having photographers reach out to us to inquire about being featured on our Behind the Lens series. In January we were honored to be contacted by Jessica Smith of Brigham & Co. and we were thrilled to feature her gorgeous work on our Behind the Lens series. In reading through Jessica's interview below, I was inspired by not only her beautiful, romantic images but also by the fact that she uses her telephoto lens to let personalities unfold naturally. It is a tip that I will definitely try.
Thank you Jessica, for sharing your story with us today. We look forward to seeing more of your work--especially from those destination weddings!
Thank you Jessica, for sharing your story with us today. We look forward to seeing more of your work--especially from those destination weddings!
Your Name: Jessica Smith
Your studio/business name: Brigham & Co.
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Website: www.brighamandco.com
Twitter: @brighamandco
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brighamandco
Your Style:
In 50 words or less, how would your clients describe your photography? Intuitive,
pure, heart-on-your-sleeve photography. My clients love the journalistic
influence in my images. They’ll say my photographs have a sweet softness,
romantic and rustic images of whimsical moments whether it’s an outdoor wedding
or a beachside portrait session. I love to use telephoto lenses as a means of
stepping back, to let my couples’ personalities unfold in naturally, usually at
a place they hold dear.
Are you self-taught or classroom trained? In 2007, I received a BFA in
Photography with a concentration in documentary work. I am always learning and
have continued my education with the great invention of Google, forums and the
like.
How many years have you been a professional photographer? My professional
photography career spans about seven years, but I’ve been teetering with
cameras since my first glorious one in 2000 – a Canon Rebel.
Where do you want to take your photography business in 5 years? Getting
to know more wonderful clients throughout the New England region! Jump aboard
the destination wedding circuit. ;) I’d also like to experiment with other
means of producing vintage-inspired imagery, maybe using my expired collegiate
film leftovers and that old, dirty Rebel!!
Is there a photographer who inspires your style? Who would that be?
Growing up I was always inspired by documentarians Garry Winogrand, Diane
Arbus, Mary Ellen Mark and Sally Mann.
Favorite location to take photos? Open fields
Favorite vacation spot? Porto, Portugal!!!
Your Business:
What was the pivotal moment when you decided to become a photographer? I
give a lot of credit to my high school art teacher, Mrs. P. She always let me
work on my own projects and one day suggested a continuing education workshop
at FIT in Manhattan. That’s when I got into the darkroom for the first time –
black and white film. Once I got my bare hands dirty and watched my own images
come to life in those trays, I knew: this is it for me.
What’s the best marketing tip that has worked for you? Word of mouth, great
SEO and vendor guides.
What’s the most surprising thing a customer has asked you? “Well, I feel
as though I own the images you’ll be taking because they’re all of me. So if
they’re of me, they’re technically mine. My photographer friends have always
led me to believe this, so maybe I should go find a student photographer.”
Favorite print lab? WHCC, hands down.
Your Gear:
Are you Canon or Nikon (or –other): Canon, baby!
If you could only have one lens on a photo shoot, what would it be? My
70-200mm – massive and totally worth it.
What brand bag do you carry your camera in? A pretty sweet Vivitar bag
from B&H.
What gear would we find in your camera bag? I’d say the important stuff
is Canon 5D Mark II, 24-70mm 2.8, 70-200mm 2.8, Speedlite 580EX II, 32’ E-TTL
Cord
Are you a natural light fan or strobe fan? Au natural, but also the right
light at night to produce such!
Are you PC or Mac? Mac
Your Tips and Tricks:
What post processing tools do you use? Photoshop and Lightroom
Do you shoot in Raw or Jpeg? RAW
Best advice you would give your 20-year old self? Don’t be afraid. If at
first you do not succeed, try and try and try again! Success is in the eye of
the beholder. Take risks and live it up, girl.
Best advice you would give a new photographer? Be unapologetically you!
What site do you use for your photography and why? My portfolio is BluDomain
because it’s darn sexy. Wordpress & ProPhoto for the blog.
What Else Should We Know?
What was your worst photography experience? It’s a bad situation saved by
a good Samaritan: while at a maternity shoot, I got the idea to photograph
among some pretty grasses – the prettiest there considering it was winter.
So there we are, shooting away when a kind gentleman yells out, “Did you know you’re
on a protected sand dune?!” Yeah, no! We soon learned the pummeled fence was
never repaired after Hurricane Sandy. I’m pretty sure we couldn’t have fled the
area faster as this same gentleman finally followed up with, “and unfortunately
if the wrong person saw ya, trespassing protected land is a 100,000 fine.” Save!!
;)
What would surprise people most about you, whether it is photography
related or not? I don’t kill bugs.
Tell us something else you’d like us to know. Until October 2012, I was newspaper
photographer at a weekly periodical in Connecticut for four years; a capacity
that has truly laid the foundation for how I approach photography today.
And just because we want to know you better, fill in the blanks
Three things I can’t live without…. My fiancé, my family, and pencils
I wish I had more….. Dogs … only two cats … no room yet …
The best thing about being a photographer is… the people and the works of
art that come.
The most important lesson I ever learned was…. Shoot from the hip! More
so figuratively, but sometimes literally.
My favorite time of day is… Morning
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