Behind the lens…
If you made it this far you have seen my photos, but probably know little about who is behind the lens (beyond my name)…
As you already know, my name is Jess and I live in Ottawa, Ontario with my husband, two little girls (Avery & Riley), and our fur baby (Watson). If you have made it to my site you can see that I love capturing the tiny moments in people's lives. I am a certified teacher, actress, political junkie, activist, nature lover, book and photography nerd. As far back as I can remember photographs have been a huge part of my life (just ask my poor parents who have Rubbermaid bins full of them). It wasn't typical posed 'smile for the camera' photography that always caught my eye, but rather the candid moments that create the story. This is why I have gravitated towards family documentary photography. I have also always worked with children (even when I was a child). From volunteer work at daycares, babysitting, nannying, camp counselling and teaching I have spent the majority of my life being surrounded by snot, giggles and imagination. Once becoming a Mom though I saw the beauty in these tiny and sometimes gross moments in ways I never had before. It is a true honour for me to be able to catch a glimpse into a family’s life and I look forward to having the chance to tell your story!
A photo from my oldest daughter’s birth by Martin McMahon Photography.
Meeting my second daughter (we didn’t know the gender until birth).
Where can you find me when I am not photographing people?
My ideal answer and my real answer and both super close to each other and couldn’t be further apart. I love nature, so in an ideal world you would find me curled up reading a book by a lake, in a forest, or by a campfire with my family. This is true at times, or parts of it are anyways. I also am obsessed with board games, however rarely have the time or people to play them.
Most likely you will find me in the trenches of motherhood just like the rest of you with my two tiny humans. Most of the time we are outdoors though (often times getting dirty and pushing boundaries) as it keeps me sane through the rough points, and lets my entire family be our best selves. I am also a huge advocate of ensuring my family gets photos taken by other photographers each year. I think it’s essential to properly tell our story years from now that it isn’t just my own cell phone and camera images. So although I don’t like having my photo taken (yes I am one of you), once or twice a year that is exactly where you will find me because I know the importance of it!