Inspired, A Very Special Project | Jenny Cruger Photography

    So today is my Sweet Little Wesley’s big Eighth birthday so I have to get this up really quick so we can make preparations for his special day but I wanted to really show this lady off and get her beautiful feature up on the blog.

    Today we are featuring the talented Jenny Cruger photography. Her beautiful processing and ability to capture the sweetest moments are just so special! I know you will adore her work!!

    You can find her work HERE on Facebook, her Website HERE and her special place for photogs HERE.

    Hi Jenny!!


    Headshot Credit: Kimberly Barnes Photography

    And Jenny was kind enough to share one of her first client images:

    Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

    I am fiercely passionate about causes I believe in, have become really good at procrastination the older I get, and I am a free spirit stuck in a rule follower’s body.

    What sparked your passion for Photography?

    A photography class in high school. I thought it was pretty awesome that I could shoot and learn about photography (film) while being in school (much better than math!) We had a darkroom and some of the first photos I ever took were of my horse out at the barn. I fell in love, and of course that love grew immensely with the birth of my own son over 3 year ago.

    Whats in your camera bag?

    All Canon: 5D Mark III and 5D Mark II, EOS 3 (film), 34L, 50L, 85L, 100L, 135L, and 430 flash.

    What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

    Rebel and 50 1.8

    If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?

    It really depends on the type of session, but for outdoors, the 135L (and I often do that, I have to force myself to remember to change it up). I love the longer focal length to stay out of my subject’s face, hang back and watch, and the creamy bokeh and compression. For newborns indoors, the 100L. I love close ups, and macro/details shots. I like to shoot newborns for albums so getting every angle and details is so important to me.

    What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?

    Never be afraid to shoot what you love and believe in and run your business that way. If you are shooting for yourself, as well as clients, you can never be ‘wrong’. Make smart business decisions that you can stand behind both for your clients and your family. Build up slowly. I didn’t fill my camera bags overnight. I worked hard and, little by little, I upgraded here and there. I could have easily gone into debt to obtain my gear, but I did not, and I would not recommend it.

    What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one?

    Jose Villa

    What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?

    I think, for me, it’s really important that they are one and the same actually. 😉 So lots of emotional black and whites and creamy back lit images.

    If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?

    My papa because then he would be alive. ;/

    Describe your style in 3 words.

    Simple, pure, organic.

    Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

    Oh, I have a good one for this! Just weeks after I got the Mark II, I was shooting a couple for their anniversary and about 10 shots in my camera just quit working. I tried turning it off and on, switching lenses, everything. At the time I was not shooting weddings or births, so I didn’t have a back-up and I was so embarrassed that my brand new camera was broken. I had ruined their day (they got dressed up, make up done, had fancy dinner reservations and a hotel booked for the evening, etc.) We ended the session; I got into my car and was hysterical. I called my husband to “Google” what was happening, of course screaming and crying at him, like he knows anything about what I was talking about! Turns out, I had switched the dial from M (manual) to Bulb…. (Which they have since changed how easy it is to do that on the Mark III, I’d like to think I’m not the only one out there who had done this…) I pull back to the college campus where we were shooting and literally run all over looking for my clients (I also now never leave for a shoot w/out the client’s cell number!, now that I could shoot again.

    Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?

    Sometimes I think we just need to get out of our own way. Step back, and just go for it. For so long I knew how I wanted to shoot or run my business, and I don’t know why I didn’t stand up for myself and do that. It took a while, but I am definitely at the point where I am what I am…and if you love that, great, and if you don’t, that’s okay, too! I am also not technical whatsoever, so a lot of what I do… I just…do!

    Favorite time of day to shoot is?

    Literally the last 30 minutes before sunset. I have rescheduled shoot times just days before when I know exactly what the light will be like and where it will be in my location. For so long I always heard people talk about the last 2 hours before sunset, but that is WAY too early for me and way too much time for most children and families. Most children (or dads!) give out way before then, so I want them at their BEST in the best light now.

    If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?

    I would just be a mom and wife. Oh, and a millionaire. 

    Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?

    Yes, I went to school for Business and then Music Business. No education in Photography, I am self-taught.

    What do you do to get your clients to relax with you?

    I don’t think I am very funny or high energy, but more just chill, so I think they feed off of that. I don’t show up to shoots bouncing off the walls. There are times when I am goofing around with children at sessions, but most times I am just watching through my lens, asking a few things here or there, and snapping. I constantly am telling parents to not worry about what their children are doing, or couples to not worry about me; if I need their attention, I will ask for it.

    What are your photography related goals for 2012?

    One of them was to teach a workshop and I really enjoyed doing that this year. One of my huge goals is to photograph Jewel’s family. That will probably a goal for many years to come, maybe forever. Ha I could die a happy photographer.

    How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning? Any Big Aha! Moments?

    I am always exploring, buying books, looking at the world around me, looking for the littlest things to inspire me or plot an idea in my mind. Taking time to live and do things I love besides work, even though I love my work, is something I am constantly working on, especially this time of the year.

    Biggest Photography related insecurity?

    Not specializing in only one or two types of photography, even though I do feel like I specialize in other ways. I shoot weddings, maternity, newborn, couples, families, and children/babies and I would LOVE to only do one or two of those, BUT the reality is I absolutely adore each of those things and I can’t imagine what I would possibly want to give up, so I don’t. But I am always worried about being a ‘jack of all trades, master of none’.

    Digital or Prints?

    Both. I am happy to sell digital files (and they come with some prints), but I do like selling the few select products in my line as well. Most of my clients get complimentary digital files to print as they wish once they have purchased their products anyway.

    How do you set yourself apart from other local photographers?

    I am my brand. What a potential client sees on my site is a direct representation of me, and while someone might be similar to me, or try to emulate me, I am pretty sure there is only one of ME and if I put that into my work, then it’s unmistakably me and unless they start cloning people, I can’t be copied. 

    What do you think your next photography related investment will be?

    Hmmmm I am finally at a place where I don’t think I need any more lenses/upgrades, so that’s hard. Probably some new speedlites for next years’ weddings!

    If you had to recommend ONE thing that a photographer needs in their camera bag what would that be?

    That one lens that calls to them. For me it’s my 135, but for someone else it might be something really wide, it just depends on how you shoot.

    What would you say your biggest muse is?

    My son. He inspires me to freeze memories and make the world a prettier, calmer place.

    Fun stuff:

    Favorite Color: taupe or gray
    Favorite Season: Fall
    Biggest Guilty Pleasure: homemade vegan sushi. Lots of it.
    Pet Peeve: people who throw cigarettes out of cars or smoke in the presence of other people.
    Favorite Pandora Station: I’m a Spotify girl and I am usually listening to Jewel, Lori McKenna, Brandi Carlile, or Amos Lee. Not going to lie, though, I am totally loving Taylor Swift’s Red album.

    Studio or On location: oh that’s hard! I love my sweet little natural light studio, but I love some yummy golden light too. If I HAD to choose I would say studio for clients and keep outdoors for personal.

    What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to work in the music industry in PR, entertainment law, marketing, etc. (which is why I live in Nashville.)

    One thing no one knows about you is: I am a major homebody, and a clean house + fresh groceries + time to cook is complete happiness.
    Pc or Mac: Pc (my husband works for Dell…)
    Lightroom Or Photoshop: Photoshop, but I also love Lightroom and use it more and more lately.
    Film or Digital: Both!
    Props or No Props: just a couple things, more to keep little minds and hands busy.
    If you could travel anywhere it would be: I have always said that there are so many places in the US that I want to explore. Maine, the middle of Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Boston, etc! I would love to travel for weddings or sessions, and not necessarily to any place super amazing or exotic.
    Glass Half Empty or Half Full: I would like to say half full, but that’s not totally true.
    Favorite photo ever taken: oh gosh, that changes a lot!


    Raw or Jpeg: Raw
    Favorite Music to Edit to: Jewel
    Favorite Quote: “The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life” – Jessica Hische
    Most valued material possession: a Steiff little stuff bear my papa got me when I was born. “Little Bear” has seen his fair share of tears and love.

    Processing Style: light, airy, simple, matte
    Coffee or Tea: tea. I’m addicted to Starbucks iced tea and Refreshers. You will probably never see me without one or the other.
    If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be? Jewel.
    What kind of Camera bag do you rock? Ketti + 2 Kelly Moores + a Shoot Sac for weddings.

    3 Lovely Comments  •  Leave a Comment for Sarah

    3 Beautiful Souls Commented

    1. Becky says:

      Thank you for sharing this interview. I just recently discovered Jenny’s works and I am just amazed and can’t wait to explore her blog and see more.

    2. Bonnie says:

      I love this!! Such a huge fan of Jenny’s <3

    3. Sara T says:

      So fun to get to know you better! Awesome interview, Sarah!

    Leave a Lovely Comment

@MY4HENS

Take a peek into our silly, sweet, raucous, crazy, beautiful, imperfect life, and join me for the #MomentsOverPoses movement!