Jessica Holden Photography » My Little Corner of the Web

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Style & Voice

For the last five weeks I have been taking a class called Style & Voice from the amazing Lynne Rigby at The Photographer Within. It’s been wonderful and intense: It’s all about narrowing down who you are as a photographer and what you want to portray with your work. I think my style is pretty fully defined already (maybe even too much so ;-P), but in retrospect what I needed from this class was to learn to accept my voice. I have long held this suspicion that my work is so “pretty” that maybe I will never be taken seriously as a photographer, and I’ve wondered if I should try to dig deeper somehow. Be more dark and dramatic and moody and intense.

But what I am coming to terms with is that I want to shoot pretty. The reasons are highly emotional and personal, but I realize that I yearn to preserve the parts of our life, both simple and grand, that I am most grateful for. I love the soft and feminine. I want to savor and immortalize the happiness. Of course our life isn’t all light-filled and gleeful all the time and I don’t mean to imply by my work that it is; sadness creeps into our world like it does for everyone. But I don’t want to commemorate the darkness; I want to embrace the joy. When I am listening to iTunes on the Apple TV and my flickr set is flashing onscreen, I see images that remind me of the life I love. They bring me joy. And that’s what I am after.

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So though I am sure my voice will continue to evolve as I grow and learn, I am determined to stop worrying about whether my work will ever mean anything to anyone or if it’s “too pretty,” and just shoot what moves me the most. Photography is so deeply personal to me and brings me such joy and peacefulness, that I am going to just sit back and see where it takes me. And I will enjoy the ride!

  • Katrina - March 11, 2014 - 4:54 pm

    Oh my goodness Jessica. So many stunning images here. Keep doing what you love. I, for one, feel great happiness when looking at your images.ReplyCancel

  • Holly Thompson - March 11, 2014 - 6:41 pm

    Jessica, your work is beyond pretty… it’s luminous, delicate, feminine, and captures the essence of your love of being Emily’s mom. We all see her through your eyes and what we see is a strikingly pretty young woman with a gentle strength and wisdom who is growing up before our eyes. Your voice is beautiful, Jessica.ReplyCancel