Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Jones.
Jocelyn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello!!!! My name is Jocelyn Jones; I am the owner of Jocelyn Janel Portraits and co-owner of Studio 1885, located in Spartanburg, SC. I am a portrait, branding, and high school senior photographer. Photography was never my dream or goal; it just happened. The more I shoot, the more I fall in love with a craft I never knew I needed. Photography is therapy; it allows me to create and bring visions to life. I definitely didn’t get here overnight and know there are levels to this!
Level 1
I started taking pictures at church just for fun. I enjoyed it so much that my pastor loaned me his Canon DSLR. At this point, it was just a hobby, and I wasn’t interested in doing more. Then I had a not-so-great experience with a photographer who still lives rent-free in my head. That experience led to my husband buying me my first DSLR camera. He handed me the camera on my 28th birthday and said, “here, do something with it .”It was definitely a learning experience. I Youtubed a lot of “how to” videos.
Level 2
One day I stumbled upon a photography group for women of color called “Queen Photographers .”Little did I know that this group would change my life. It was a safe haven for women of color to collaborate, learn and grow. I joined the Facebook group and started some one-on-one with one of the founders, Latoya Dixon. I met my first mentor in this group, Stacey Gardin, who taught me much about natural light and posing. After a few group met up and mentor sessions, I could fully grasp the idea of what it takes to be a professional photographer.
Level 3
So around 2016/2017, I decided I wanted to do photography as a side business. That’s when Ladibugg Photography was born. I went through this 14-week business training program called StartMe. This program gave me the tools and connections necessary to build and grow my business. I worked on my business plan and goals for those 14 weeks, and by the end, I saw my baby (business) blossom. I used the next couple of years to grow and execute those plans.
Level 4
At this point, I was actually booking gigs and portrait appointments. One opportunity I was afforded was to take pictures at SpiritFest, an annual gospel concert featuring the best gospel Grammy & Stellar award winners. I worked alongside and formally met a phenomenal photographer named Chris Kelly in the second year of being a part of it. I had been following his photography business on social media and was a fan of his work. After that night, I reached out to him to see if he was open to me shadowing him or helping me grow. He was available and willing to mentor me on studio lighting. We had a couple of sessions, and I could tell him about my aspiration and dreams with photography. During this time, I was looking for a photography studio because I was currently using my best friend’s dance studio as my photography studio.
Level 5
I got this call one day from Chris asking how I felt about doing a partnership with him. I’m like sure, give me more information. He went on to say that a place he was on the waiting list for just offered him a space for rent, and this just happened to be the same place I inquired about a month earlier. So this was a no-brainer, I talked it over with my husband, and he was okay with it. From that point, we became business partners, and all of this happened in the middle of the pandemic.
Level 6
That brings us to today. Celebrating two years of partnership in July has been an exceptional learning experience. I have grown a lot in business and definitely in photography. For the last year, I have been a part of this Momentum Mastermind course taught by Dr. Tomayia Colvin, which has helped me understand and charge my worth. With that, I was able to rebrand to what is now Jocelyn Janel Portraits. The ride has been wild, but it has been worth it, and I’m excited about my future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. There were and still are days I wanted to quit. But I hear my aunt- a vital part of me starting my business who passed away in 2017- saying, “YOU GOT THIS.” Starting the biggest struggle was finding someone willing to help and teach. If I’m being honest, Now my biggest struggle is me. Sometimes I get in my way, thinking I’m not good enough or don’t belong because of various things. Being an entrepreneur isn’t for the weak.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love being creative and creating different sets! My goal is to always bring my client’s vision to life.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My fondest childhood memory is growing up at my grandmother’s house; it was my three cousins (who are more like my brothers), my sister, and myself. Our street, “Pooline,” was the place to be in the summer. We had the biggest yard with a creek behind the house. We had a basketball goal and the field for a good ole football game. I think my grandmother was the babysitter for everyone in Woodruff. Her house in the summer was a daycare. She fed you if you were around when it was time to eat. When my cousin and I used to argue with each other, she would make us sit down and read either the bible or a newspaper article. After you read it, you had to write a summary of what you read. (Man, I miss the old days)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jocelynjanelportraits.com
- Instagram: jocelynjanelportraits
- Facebook: Jocelyn Janel Portraits
