Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Lapp.
Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I picked up a camera at age 16 and began shooting photos casually for my family and friends. This was back when Facebook was big and Instagram was almost non-existent, so I threw up a Facebook page for my new little business and started sharing. In 2015 I shot my first wedding, free of charge, for friends of mine. The following year I booked 8. Then I was off to the races! When I started doing weddings I realized THIS is where my passion is. I love photographing beautiful designs and authentic love stories for real couples. It took me years of hard, hard work, making mistakes, investing in education, building relationships, and just doing it, constantly, that has brought me to where I am today. My love for the craft has kept me going!
In the building stage of my business I would take as many as 25 weddings a year and countless portrait sessions in between, I rarely turned down inquiries. I now have two kids with a third on the way and have scaled down big time. I photograph about 1 wedding per month and a portrait session per week. I’m big into work/life balance and have found that there is a “sweet spot”for each new season of my life, to keep my business client-focused and my kids (and myself) well taken care of.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not! While I’ve been SO lucky to work with incredible couples all along the way, there have been some major learning curves. One of the biggest challenges I’ve seen is how fast the wedding and photography industry changes. Styles come and go. Social media drives trends fast and client expectations are high. It’s a challenge to remain true to your brand while still being willing to try new things and stay relevant.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a film and digital wedding photographer serving Charlottesville Virginia and surrounding areas for over a decade. I am known for high quality, authentic elegant photography and a client-focused experience that makes couples feel comfortable and cared for. I believe that people remember most how they FEEL when they work with you, and each couple I work with gets an relaxed and beautiful experienced tailored to THEM, as well as magazine-cover worthy images!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m a laid back, down to earth country girl! I grew up milking cows on my parent’s dairy farm in Pennsylvania, and I love simple living and “front porch sitting” as I call the more relaxed Southern mindset 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicalappphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_lapp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicalapp22
