Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordyn Vargas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was originally born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, until I moved to Lawrenceville, GA back in 2012. I started JOVI Photography when I was a senior in high school in 2013, about to graduate from Berkmar High. Back then, it was BOLDFACE Photography. Since then, I have been able to grow and expand my knowledge of photography for the last few years. While attending school full time, I was also a full-time photographer of my own business, working a different part-time job as a school photographer at a company called Cady Studios and also working a part-time internship as an administrative coordinator. It was defiantly a difficult road to cross over.
In that time, I have worked with companies like Lexus Nexus and the University of Phoenix and well as a host of individual clients. Being put in that situation taught me proper time management and communication skills that I have been able to apply to JOVI Photography. I was blessed to meet a host of creatives in my time at GGC and graduated in 2019. Throughout the years, I have created a network of clients that trust me continuously with their vision and ideas. In the 6 1/2 years, I have been a photographer I have gone through three name changes, two websites, four Instagram design changes, and a host of other things. But one thing is certain, I have only scratched the surface of who I know I will become.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Things have definitely not been a smooth road the entire time. I struggled with trying to buy new equipment because even though I was getting jobs, I had to use that money towards bills. And I always felt somewhat obsolete when it came to shooting because I didn’t believe that my camera was able to shoot the quality that I really knew I could reach. But once I realized that it’s The Photographer that makes the photograph not the camera, my life became so much easier. Just because I didn’t have the newest camera didn’t mean that my photos weren’t worthy.
Eventually, I started going to pawn shops and searching the Facebook marketplace for discounted camera equipment and every now and then I got lucky and scored some new lenses! Instagram made it easily accessible to see other people’s work. So I would sit and stare at other photographer’s photos and immediately start to doubt my talent. I would be upset that I wasn’t there yet. In my mind, people would see the work on Instagram from other people and then hire me expecting that work. At the time, I thought I could never fulfill that. However, my confidence has grown so much as a photographer. It’s so refreshing to see myself now in comparison to where I was three or four years ago. It was always in me, I just had to see it in myself.
Please tell us about JOVI Photography.
So JOVI Photography is a photography company based in the Metro Atlanta area. I specialize in event photography and portraits. I have shot a host of events such as baby showers, birthday parties, engagements, conferences, and even the graduation for the University of Phoenix. The thing that I am most proud is my client retention. A lot of my clients trust me with more than just their events. If my clients call me to do their baby shower, they will also call me a few months later to do shoot their first home purchase or their first family portraits. That is something that I will never take for granted. Something that sets me apart from others is definitely my dedication to the craft and my versatility. Every now and then, I will have clients who are very particular about the way that they want their photos, and I have no problem providing quality services to make sure that they are completely satisfied.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would invest more in my company sooner than later. I missed out on newer equipment because I was scared to invest in it. I was convincing myself that I didn’t need it held me back from where advancing at the speed I wanted to. I would also believe in myself a little harder and give myself the grace to understand that I am still learning my craft. No one becomes proficient at a skill overnight.
Pricing:
- Events start at $150 an hour
- Headshots are $125 for 2 looks and 8 finalized images
- Portraits starts at $175 for 1 1/2 hours and 2 looks
- Family portraits start at $175 for 15 finalized images
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7575752461
- Email: j.vargasphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: jovi_visuals
- Facebook: jo.vi Visuals
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