Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Surovchak.
Jessica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I fell in love with photography back in 2014. I had always enjoyed taking photos (something I like to think was passed down from my mom because there was rarely a time when she didn’t have a camera on me or my siblings growing up), but I had never really considered pursuing it as a hobby, much less a career. I had always been described as a creative person, but more so with writing than with any kind of visual arts.
However, one day, a couple of friends and I were trying to find something to do. We ended up taking my mom’s Canon Rebel t3i out and spent the afternoon snapping pictures of each other. I quickly realized how much I enjoyed being behind the camera, watching my friends become more comfortable and confident, and seeing their faces light up when I showed them the photos. Something clicked that day, and from that point forward, I was hooked. I shared the photos from the carefree “session” with my friends and announced that I was interested in building a portfolio. Before I knew it, I had several people reaching out to me for photos, and I dove in… even though I had literally no idea what I was doing! Fortunately, my younger sister had gotten into photography a few years before I did, and she taught me everything I knew starting out.
I never expected for it to play such a huge part in who I am, but photography truly changed my life. I don’t know where I would be without it.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, the greatest struggle I have faced is overcoming my own self-doubt. It is often said that we are our own worst/harshest critic, and that couldn’t be more true. When I was just getting started, I had a really bad habit of getting inside my own head during sessions and while I was editing. I would spend hours picking my photos apart and comparing my work to the work of more seasoned photographers. There was a period of time in which I had convinced myself that I would never be on their level.
However, every time I would consider quitting or taking a step back, I would pick up my camera again and remember how much joy taking photos brought to me. Eventually, I came to realize that one of the best things about photography is the constant opportunity to grow and to learn new things. Instead of comparing myself to more experienced photographers, I’m inspired by them and take every chance I can to learn from them.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I love practicing all styles of photography, but over the years, I feel like I have found my niche in portraiture. I enjoy working with people of all ages and from all walks of life. I also really enjoy sessions that commemorate a special time in someone’s life, such as their high school or college graduation, pregnancy, engagement, anniversary, etc. I have also started playing around with lifestyle/branding photography as well.
For starters, I am very proud of how much improvement I’ve seen in my work in the past year alone. I made the decision to invest in my passion in 2019 and bought new equipment and editing software. I feel like I’ve grown a lot as an artist. I’m also very proud of my reputation and the relationships I’ve built with my clients. Many of my clients have been coming to me from the very beginning, back when I barely knew what I was doing with a camera… I am just really appreciative that I have had the opportunity to grow with so many incredible people, and that they stuck with me even when I was still figuring things out.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Oh, man. A few really big moments come to mind. It’s so hard to narrow it down to just one. Last Fall, I worked as a model call for a local girls’ boutique. I worked with over thirty girls between the ages of four and thirteen. It was a huge learning experience and just a really fun opportunity. One of the girls’ moms reached out to me a couple of days after the model call to thank me for helping her daughter. She explained that her twelve-year-old had been struggling with her self-image and told me that working with me and seeing the photos I had taken had made her feel more confident in the way she looked.
My number one goal when it comes to photography is to make my subject or my client feel great about themselves. My ultimate goal is to deliver an album of images that makes them go, “Wow, I love the way I look in these!” It always makes me happy to see my clients get excited when they’re looking through the photos from our session. But there was something about this sweet message from a mom, thanking me for showing her daughter how beautiful she is, that made my heart swell and spill over with love and pride in what I do. I’ll never forget the way I felt in that moment, and I constantly strive to achieve that exact same feeling with every single session.
Contact Info:
- Website: jsurophotography.biz
- Phone: 678-591-3971
- Email: jsurophotog@gmail.com
- Instagram: jlsurophotog
- Facebook: Jessica Surovchak Photography
Image Credit:
Main photo and professional photo of me with my camera taken by Nikki Chattom.
Black and white “action shot” taken by Ashton Thomas.
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