We recently had the chance to connect with Jerry King and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jerry, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Confidence.
I’m proud of many things I’ve built, but what I’m most proud of is building confidence. Growing up, I was always told I wouldn’t amount to anything. My only cheerleaders were my mother and a few teachers who believed in me. To the outside world, I seemed to have it all together, but it was a carefully crafted smokescreen to hide a deep insecurity that I felt was in plain sight.
I think this need to prove myself is what led me to enlist in the Army. I excelled outwardly, but it was easy to hide behind the uniform and awards, never revealing the unconfident person within. When I left the military, I joined law enforcement and eventually spent over a decade on a SWAT team. Again, it was easy to portray confidence by helping others, but it was all a false bravado. Outsiders saw the uniform, not the man behind it.
I left law enforcement to become a photographer, and that’s when I was exposed. There was no uniform to hide behind, and after 25 years of living in one uniform or another, I was now visible to the world. It took me almost ten years to truly find myself and learn to love myself before I could accept love from others. I had to believe in myself before I could accept praise. I had to learn to find comfort in failure to fully embrace any success that came my way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jerry King of J King Images, and I’m a corporate and lifestyle photographer based in Woodstock, just north of Atlanta. For a long time, my career was about shooting whatever came my way—anything to keep the lights on. Despite being a functional introvert, I was always drawn to portraiture. I love connecting with people and hearing their unique stories. While I enjoy the challenge of corporate headshots, I find my true joy in environmental portraiture, capturing the fascinating people I spot when I’m out and about.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
This might sound a bit cliché, but my relationship with my mother is what truly shaped how I see myself. She believed in me long before I ever believed in myself. She always told me I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. While that’s something many mothers say, it was her unwavering belief that drove me to excel at everything I did. I entered every challenge as if failure wasn’t an option because I never wanted to let her down. It’s only now, at 55, that I’ve finally taken ownership of my own ability to persevere. I’ve learned to accept failure not as a roadblock, but as a learning experience.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I was nearing my breaking point and seriously considered returning to law enforcement. It was an easy escape—my qualifications meant I’d be an attractive hire for any local agency. But pride was holding me back. The last thing I wanted to hear was “I knew you couldn’t make it.”
My lowest moment arrived six years into my journey as a photographer. My personal and professional life was a wreck. My bank account was overdrawn, and I was driving an hour to a job with a slipping transmission, praying I would get paid that night so I could afford to get home. A tire blew out on the way. After changing the tire and rushing to the gig, I arrived two hours late. They were happy I made it and paid me, but after buying new tires, putting gas in the vehicle, and settling my account, I was left with only $100. It was then that I truly questioned if I had made a terrible mistake.
But then, a phone call. The marketing director of a major tech company reached out. She had been following my work for two years and had a project in mind for me. It felt like I was saved.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think one of the biggest lies pertains to social media. The number of followers you have does not determine how successful you will be.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I think I have already done this mostly. I think I would stop people pleasing. It gets me nowhere and in the past has only led to resentment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jkingimages.com
- Instagram: @jkingimages_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkingimages/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jkingimages
