Seattle homegirl Jenny Jimenez, aka Jenny J, has never had to look for work; it’s always come to her. Starting as a staff photographer for alternative Seattle paper, The Stranger, and music venues, The Showbox and the Crocodile, Jenny’s unique, alternative eye for photography made her career take off from there. Now her often quiet, quirky way of looking at things draws like-minded people from all over the world.

Blair:

Hey Jenny, it’s been a while, and it’s great to connect. I know you have an interesting origin story about how you got into wedding photography. I would love for you to share it in your words.

Jenny:

Yes. On the morning of 9/11, the landlord who was a good friend of mine knocks on my door and tells me that The Towers just went down. Four days later he knocks again to say his brother is getting married in a few hours, and his photographer can’t travel. The wedding was in Leavenworth about two and a half hours from Seattle. I say, sure, head out to Glazer’s and buy all the film I need, and start driving. 

I am the second youngest of 12 cousins so I am used to being at weddings. I knew it was going to be fun, and full of energy, and the experience of photographing my first one felt very familiar to what I was already doing.

Blair:

Your work is mainly documentary but you have some really great portraits. How much time do you use for family and couple shoots and how do you make them so interesting? 

Jenny:

I ask for 40 minutes and if the couple is introverted or it works best for the schedule, I break the time into two sessions. I got my undergraduate degree in psychology and I’ve always been interested in what makes people feel safe and open. Once I have a connection we can get the shot that fits the personality of the people in it. 

After that, I am crouching tiger, hidden dragon. It takes all my attention to get the moments, to blend in and become a symbiotic part of the event. If guests don’t think I am a friend of the family by the time I’ve left, I haven’t done my job.

 

Blair:

How are you dealing with the business and personal challenges of living with COVID?

Jenny:

Of course, my business has slowed tremendously but most of my clients are finding good times to reschedule and some couples are already booking me for a year out. Aside from the stress, I am also finding simple benefits about being home, like not having to wear a bra.

Blair:

With roots in the music scene, can you tell us about the music you are listening to right now?

Jenny:

I've been listening to a lot of Big Thief, Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, Solange, Amy Blaschke, and Brittany Howard. Locally, Tomo Nakayama just put out one of his best albums yet. 

Blair:

What other types of artists have inspired you?

Jenny:

A good number of Seattle based artists like painter Justin Duffus, prolific printmaker/painter Jennifer Ament, designer/ethical entrepreneur Kiko Eisner-Waters, and author/speaker Ijeoma Oluo. 

Blair:

Any photographers that jump out?

Jenny:

When it comes to photographers, I've been most influenced by candid street photography with a sense of humor and humanity, like the work of Richard Kalvar, Garry Winogrand, Bruce Gilden, Martin Parr, and Helen Levitt.

Blair: 

If you could walk out of your house and go anywhere right now, where would you go? 

Jenny: I would visit my family in New York. My mother was supposed to be in Seattle this week but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, our already overdue visit will be pushed back even farther. I know many of us are separated from our loved ones right now and we are all hurting. I look forward to the day we can be together again, dancing, dining, and celebrating life. 

Blair: Thank you for sharing yourself and your inspiring work with us today. Here’s hoping that your NYC trip is right around the corner!

Check out Jenny's WBWP Portfolio and see why we chose her as one of the world's best wedding photographers.