Today we’d like to introduce you to Jody Mack
Hi Jody, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My photography journey began at the age of 10 with a toy film camera. I documented everything: vacations, parties and every day gatherings among my family and friends. I started formal photography classes 18 years ago in effort to capture the memories of my children while they were babies and all the fleeting moments as they grew before my eyes. After a year or so, I started getting requests for my services to photograph other babies and families and it grew into a part-time “gig” on the side of my journey in academia.
My first academic job in Charleston was a postdoctoral fellowship at MUSC conducting cancer research. I was off “chasing the dangling carrot” of a tenure track position in Charleston. Alongside my research hours in the lab, I would also teach at Trident Tech and the College of Charleston as an adjunct professor. My last “real job” was a 1-year visiting assistant professor position at C of C teaching Molecular Biology. After my contract ended, I decided to retire from academia and pursue photography full time. My then 4- and 2-year-old daughters were tugging at my heartstrings with so little time at home while I was away at the lab or in the office and my side photography business was booming, I knew that it was the right move and would provide more flexibility for my family. I am so grateful for all the experiences I had that led me to start Jody Mack Photography and am honored to have grown this business and served so many amazing clients for 12 years now.
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?
A month after I submitted my resignation at the College of Charleston, I found out we were expecting our third (surprise) baby. Navigating all of the balances of working at home, showing our house (which was too small so we had to move), and being pregnant while photographing several sessions a week was definitely a challenge. We also closed on our new house 3 days before our youngest was born and procure all of the newborn essentials (we had given away all of our baby items because we thought we were “done” having babies). The upside was that our youngest was the piece of our family we didn’t know was missing!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in maternity, newborn and family photography and capturing moments as they unfold naturally. I love being able to document the sweetness of each individual in front of my camera down to the eyelash or the newborn hair swirl. I’m known for a bright, airy, clean and classic look for the photographs I provide my clients. What sets me apart from most newborn and family photographers is that my favorite way to photograph people is on medium format film. I love the vintage look and how it combines art and science with the way the light impresses an image onto the film. I also photograph timeless heirloom portraits a few times a year. I am the only photographer in Charleston who shoots exclusively on film for heirloom portraits for a truly vintage image. My work was recently recognized by Mount Pleasant Magazine (2025 Best Portrait Photographer) and Expertise “Best Newborn Photographer in Charleston” (2020-2025). My work has also been published in Belle Lumiere, Click, and Pregnancy & Newborn Magazines.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
In life: God, Family, Framily (Friends who are like family). Without them I would be nothing!
In my work: 1. Telling the story of each person I photograph and their uniqueness. 2. Sending clients archival albums and prints that will be seen for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jodymackphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodymackphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodymackphotography/
