Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanette Meneses .
Jeanette, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The start of EJP was not EJP at all, lol. My company started off being called ‘Orijinal Photography’ because I thought it was fun to incorporate my nickname “Jin” into the name but as I got older – I was 18 at the time – it didn’t sound or look too professional nor did it attract my ideal clients.
Choosing my next business name may sound like it was a simple task, but in reality, it was actually pretty challenging. I really wanted to use my full name but it’s so long that my full name plus ‘photography’ at the end would have been too many letters. Then I thought, maybe I should do ‘Jeanette M Photography, but honestly that didn’t seem like it fit my brand enough. Sounds weird because it’s my name, but I thought “what if I do my initials?”, but JM also didn’t seem to fit my brand. I ended up flipping my initials around and doing a spin-off of the ‘M’ with ‘Emma’ and that’s how Emma J Photography came about!
When my business began, I did any all things portraits including 8-10 hour wedding days (my knees hate me now). While I appreciate the experience I acquired and wonderful people I have met, I really found my niche doing intimate destination weddings and elopements. These small, romantic settings are what keeps this girl being her hopeless romantic self. I will say, I still do other portraits. I love them and the sweet moment they bring.
Emma J. Photography is a company I’ve curated into what I would have wanted for my intimate wedding. A mash-up of romantic, bold, and ethereal all in one. Each client gets the same VIP treatment from start to finish because, seriously, there is no other way to treat your client, am I right?! I never make my clients feel awkward or fake. It’s the beautiful couples and those organic, candid moments that make EJP the brand it is. And for that, I am one grateful photographer!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
So many struggles. Being a female entrepreneur and small business owner are obstacles in itself. There are countless doubts that society, in general, feeds your subconscious about women lacking business sense or small business being successful. I was told by a few people that were supposed friends how I wouldn’t ever make it farther than my inner circle of friends doing me the “favor” of hiring me. There was also the struggle of finding my value and prices that matched said value so that I actually made a profit instead of breaking even with my time invested.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the owner and lead photographer of Emma J. Photography.
Emma J. Photography is a fine art destination wedding and elopement photography company.
I am most proud of shutting the doubts out and building a business I am happy to call my own.
I’d like to think we are unique in the way we interact and cater to our clients. We focus on quality images over quantity and serve our clients from our first meeting, usually over coffee (my treat), until I send the gallery.
What were you like growing up?
My family will say without hesitation that I was a firecracker and social butterfly. Honestly, I have always loved being adventurous and meeting new people. I never would shy away from talking to others, young and old alike! I have always loved taking photos of things and people. My grandmother bought me a purple Vivitar film camera and I went through quite a bit of film rolls, lol.
Pricing:
- Packages start at $535.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emmajphotography.com
- Phone: 91o-540-9814
- Email: contact@emmajphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmaj.photo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmaj.photo/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/emmajphotog/
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