Jessica Blaine Smith
Jessica Blaine Smith has been capturing your magic moments for more than 8 years since graduating from Ryerson with a BFA in Photography Studies. Since graduating, she’s launched her own studio, Jessica Blaine Smith Photography, and made a name for herself as one of Toronto’s go-to photographers for weddings, portraits, editorial, boudoir…you name it. Jessica’s ability to capture the personality of her subjects and the essence of a fleeting moment, leaves her clients with memories that they can touch and feel. We’re happy to introduce Jessica Blaine Smith as a featured TalkTGN guest blogger. We caught up with Jessica and she was nice enough to tell us a little more about herself and what to expect from her in the new year. Enjoy!
What inspired you to become a professional photographer?
I have always been a creative person. As a kid I loved to draw but was always frustrated that I could never make my pictures realistic enough. As soon as I picked up my first camera, I was in love. Here was reality. Photography just instantly became second nature to me and I quickly realized that this was something that I had to pursue in life.
When did you start taking your photography seriously and realize you could make a living doing what you love?
I think that my biggest turning point was in my last year of studying photography at Ryerson University when I won a contest and had a two-page spread published in Flare. When that happened, I thought, “hey, I could really do this” and from that point on, I never looked back.
How did you get started in the industry and build a name for yourself as a go-to photographer?
A lot of hard and continuous work. In the beginning I photographed everyone that I knew to build up a good portfolio and to also get the word out that I was now shooting professionally. Your greatest asset when starting out is to have a network of people talking about you.
What aspects of shooting weddings give you the most satisfaction?
When photographing a wedding I love it when you know that you got the shot. The shot is an image that truly captures the moment and that you know will bring tears to the bride’s eye when she sees it. As the photographer at a wedding, you are almost in charge of choosing what the couple will remember through your photographs. It is an important job that I do not take lightly.
What would be an average day for Jessica Blaine Smith?
There is no such thing as an average day which is also one of the reason that I chose this profession. During the week I spend a lot of time at my studio working on post-production, blogging and marketing. I also spend time networking with other wedding vendors and other industry people that I would like to work with. Then the rest of my time is spent actually making images. I photograph about twenty-five weddings a year and in between those, my calendar is full of portrait and editorial sessions plus as much traveling as I can handle! There is never a dull moment in my life.
What differentiates the great photographers from the amateurs?
What differentiates between the professionals and the amateurs number one is the obvious that the pros know what they are doing in terms of the technical aspects of photography. They know their camera settings inside and out. They know how to light their subject with ease, etc. Another difference between the two is that the pros know how to edit. It may sound silly but they know what a good image is and that is what they show. Amateurs often seem to show the wrong images. Sometimes a good photo can come down to simply moving the camera two feet to the left. A professional sees this while for an amateur, this may not even cross their mind.
What’s an overlooked piece of advice you would give to clients planning their wedding?
For most couples, the prime factor when they begin planning their wedding is the budget. They often get hung up on the price of things and forget everything else. While I do suggest always keeping within your budget when planning your wedding, please also remember to choose vendors that reflect your personality, especially when it comes to booking your photographer. You need to choose one that truly gets you and your personality so that in the end, you get photographs that really reflect who you are.
What is your favourite place/venue to shoot in Toronto?
I have many favourite places to photograph in the city and where I choose to shoot really depends on the couple. One of my favourite venues is Archeo in the Distillery District. I love it’s intimate size and the way that you can really dress up the space. I also love photographing my couples on any downtown street. I love the contrast between the people dressed to the nines and the grungy background.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in your years of shooting weddings?
There are far too many memories in the past eight years since I have been shooting professionally! The most memorable are definitely the ones where there was the most emotion. When you can feel the love between not only the couple but also the families involved, it is really special.
What advice do you give to brides and grooms who want to look their best in their wedding pictures?
Be yourself. Be happy and let go of any worry you may be carrying. How you are feeling definitely translates in the photographs. On the day of the wedding, just enjoy every moment of it. That feeling of happiness will illuminate in the images.
With the new year in full swing, which wedding photography trends do you see taking off in 2012?
Truthfully, I am not a huge fan of wedding trends. I believe that your wedding and it’s style should reflect the two of you as a couple. While the images that you see on wedding blogs with dreamy sunlight pouring down as the couple frolics in the field with suitcase in hand are gorgeous, I am not sure how the subjects of them will feel about the images in five years. What will that suitcase represent, other than a trend for 2012? We sometimes get caught up in the latest trends and forget just what it is that is going on in the photograph. Remember: this is your wedding day. I suggest sticking with the classics and being yourself. In the end you want to have wedding photographs that you will be proud to show off in twenty, thirty and forty years.
(for the few who don’t already know) what can clients expect from the Jessica Blaine Smith Photography experience?
I treat my clients like gold. Customer service should be number one and it is definitely what you hear most brides and grooms complaining about after their wedding. Wedding vendors often work really hard to get the booking and then once that deposit is put down, they move onto the next client and their quality of customer service really drops off. I treat my brides and grooms as I want to be treated and will go out of my way for anyone. It is a simple rule but one that is often lost in this day.
Lastly, do you have any advice for photographers looking to follow in your footsteps?
Be prepared to work and to work really hard. The reason that most photographers fail is that they do not put in the effort in all aspects of the business. Being a professional photographer is much more than just creating images. There is the post-production, the marketing, the customer relations and the running of your business. Be the best that you can be at all of it. The key is to also stick with it. You need to persevere if you want to be successful. Nothing comes easy. :)
Thanks for chatting with us Jessica!
Check out Jessica Blaine Smith Photography online at: www.jbsmithphotography.com
Twitter: @jbsmith
Email: info@jbsmithphotography.com
