We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jessie O’Donnell. Check out our conversation below.
Jessie, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I had to laugh at myself the other day mid-shoot when I caught myself giving a full-on pep talk out loud. Honestly, I’m both my biggest cheerleader and my toughest critic. But lately I’ve realized I don’t need anyone else’s approval to know my work is good and that kind of self-trust feels like the real win.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jessie, a portrait, product, and brand photographer passionate about capturing real stories and authentic energy whether that’s a person, a product, or a whole vibe. What sets my work apart is combining an eye for detail with a down-to-earth approach. I don’t just take pictures; I create a space where people and brands can show up fully and without pretense.
I’m especially excited about growing my work with international clients, focusing on product and brand photography with a special love for Ireland and Italy- places that feel like home to me in more ways than one. Right now, I’m all about helping brands connect deeply with their audience while keeping the process joyful and real.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Before the world started handing out labels and expectations, I was someone who trusted her instincts and dreamed without limits- curious, unfiltered, unapologetically me.
Somewhere along the way, I learned to dim that light to fit in, but a trip to Ireland reminded me how important it is to shine fully. Being there, surrounded by stories, landscapes, and people who lived authentically, cracked open something in me.
It taught me that belonging isn’t about fitting into a mold, it’s about finding the spaces where your soul feels free. That mindset now shapes everything I do, from photography to how I connect with the people and brands I work with.
Now, I’m reclaiming that messy, imperfect, fiercely authentic self, both behind the camera and in life, and letting that be the heart of everything I create.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
The hardest seasons of my life didn’t break me. They stripped me bare until all that was left was the truth. Suffering taught me what success never could-that strength isn’t in holding it all together, it’s in letting yourself be broken open and still choosing to show up. Somewhere along the way, I learned to shrink to blend in, but those harder seasons stripped away the performance and reminded me of the parts of myself I’d buried.
Now, I’m reclaiming that light- both in life and behind the camera. Because the truth, even when it’s unpolished, is where connection and real beauty live.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lies in this industry? That you’ve gotta hustle 24/7 like there’s no tomorrow and that fancy gear makes you a better photographer.
Newsflash: grinding yourself to burnout isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a fast track to nowhere.
I’m all about flipping the script: rest isn’t optional, it’s part of the hustle. Protect your energy, show up real and the work will follow. That’s the kind of success that lasts.
Truth is, the best camera in the world won’t fix a lack of vision or connection. It’s all about how you see the moment, understand the light, and tell the story.
Gear’s just a tool: your eye and your energy are what make the photo.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That success isn’t a clean, straight shot. It’s messy, all over the place, like two steps forward and one step crashing on your face.
Nobody wants to admit it, but building something real, in business- in our personal lives, and with the people we surround ourselves with- means running into walls, messing up and questioning if you’re even on the right path.
The trick? Stop fighting the chaos. Lean into it, trust the damn process, and keep showing up- mess and all. That’s where the real wins live.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jessieleephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessielee_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessieLeephotography1
