by Liz LaBianca
Wow! This intimate and enlightening interview with Jenny Watts is a great addition to our Photographers Who Inspire series as she reveals what many of us feel and aspire to as professionals. Thanks to Jenny for sharing her ideas, inspirations, successes and humility. The images included with this interview are simply amazing and showcase some unique poses, compositions and presentation possibilities. Please enjoy, share and leave your feedback below!
Who was your original inspiration when you started your business? Who inspires you now?
I guess I’d have to say Beth Jansen. I was extremely drawn to her use of color, texture etc. Although my style is nothing like hers now – there was something that intensely drew my eye to her work. I’ve also always been a fan of the clean look of Andie Hamilton - an amazing local photog in dallas that i’ve had the opportunity to work with and more importantly become friends with. She’s tremendous and has a great eye for portraits and a great mind for business.
Currently, I’d have to say that I’m inspired by some of the following artists most are polar opposite from what I do but that’s why I can appreciate them – Stephanie Piscitelli with Bellini Portraits (love her clean playful imagery); Deb Schwedhelm (adore her raw honest view from behind the lens) ; Ann He (a young artist in Dallas – simply amazing); Brooke Shaden (wow – her vision for each shot blows me away everytime. her ability to create something in her mind and then excecute it flawlessly is amazing – on top of that they are self portraits! i genuinely appreciate her process); Stephanie Rausser - really does that need any explanation?? I could keep going as there are bits and pieces of so many artists that i love.
What was the hardest part of starting your own business? What do you wish you would have known?
Time management for sure! Balancing it all is still difficult for me – i’m in awe of those people that can do this and have a family. Secondly I had a hard time being ME – it’s so easy in the beginning to want to be like all the people you admire. What do I wish I would have known -?? Well that it’s a lot harder than it looks. Owning your own business, being an artist and a business person, having the backbone to know who you are and not apologize for it, stick to your guns, price without apology, really LOOK at life through the camera – don’t just take a photo. so so so much – but you simply learn that as you go along.
Tell us about your favorite lens and why it is #1 in your camera bag over your other lenses
Well I only have 3 – so I allow myself to love them all. (All Nikkor: 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4 ) Right now – I’m LOVING my 35mm. I really enjoy being super close to my subject – especially smaller kids so it allows me that luxury with still a bit of room and shooting at 1.4 with it is amazing when i nail it.
