Today, we are so excited to welcome Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman of Jellybean Pictures to our Blog! Visit her website and then learn a bit more about Jennifer below.
The best news… Jennifer will be featured as our “Celebrity Mentor” in the Pretty Forum for the entire month of May, so come on over and ask her anything you like.
Where did your inspiration for photography begin?
I took a B&W course in NYC over 10 years ago when I was in advertising and loved everything about it. At the time my Nonno (grandfather) was battling brain cancer and I specifically remember wanting to take a B&W of his hands. Those hunting hands of his that were strong told such a story. When I saw that B&W come to life in the darkroom, I was hooked. Telling stories through film, that is what I wanted to do.
Hence why my style is what it is (cue question #2 :))
How would you describe your photography style?
Real. My tagline is “because real is awesome.” and that honestly describes not only my photography but my approach to life. Real may not always be uplifting and happy-go-lucky, but it’s life.
I aim to capture it all. No one is ever happy ALL the time or in a good mood ALL the time. I shoot what I see. I don’t use props unless they are organic to the room (I film 90% of the time in and around people’s homes) and much prefer to document what is happening at this stage of a child’s life.
Did you study photography in school or are you self taught?
One class (mentioned above). B&W film and darkroom. That was it. Otherwise I am completely self taught. And I am an extreme minimalist. I don’t use reflectors or flash. I don’t even edit with layers, masks etc. I try to get exactly what I want
SOOC. Sure I may play with some actions and presets once and a while to get a mood, but 90% of my work is clean edits. It just harks back to my take on keeping it real, and being I lived in the era of film, I was used to that going in- making every shot count.
Do you shoot Canon or Nikon, and what is your favorite lens?
Nikon. 35mm 1.4 hands down for my documentary indoor work and my 85 1.4 for outside.
Do you have any tips for photographers on how to find the light?
For indoors: Embrace ALL the light you can, not just the ‘perfect’ window light. Manipulate light and make it work for YOU. If you see a sliver in the hallway and you are filming a 9 month old, see if you can get them to crawl towards you and right as they hit that sliver of light, shoot.
Do not be afraid of light/dark intersecting. For outdoors: I adore ALL light, even those cloudy days. There is always one spot in the sky that is brightest, so look up and do a 360 slow spin until you get that point where you slightly squint.
What is your favorite subject to photograph and why?
My daughter. Because when I film her, I shoot 100% for me. That said, when I’m in client shoots, I make sure to shoot for me for at least 5-10 frames. With Emma, it’s all about documenting what I want to remember about her and equally important, giving her a nice history of her childhood for when she becomes an adult.
What is a good lesson you have learned this year in photography or in your business?
I have two. And I’m a sharer- so I have to share both 🙂
1. Do not shoot what you don’t WANT to shoot. How the heck can you be creative when you don’t want to be behind the camera? I’ve told this story before, but I almost dropped newborns until I figured out I didn’t need baskets and props to film them. I made the mistake of ‘thinking’ that was the only way
they could be filmed. But once I decided to film certain moments like on the changing table or as Mom feeds baby, etc. I saw those images and was hooked. Now I focus on just the ‘moments’ of newborn life. And I rarely have a sleeping newborn. It doesn’t matter when you are there to document!
2. There is way too much ‘noise’ in the industry. We all fall victim to this. Whether it’s following 1,000 other photographers and getting caught in the comparison game (which breeds insecurity) or feeling the need to enter every single forum’s monthly contest or wondering why no one is ‘liking’ what you thought was a killer image.. noise. noise. noise.
We get so wrapped in this stuff we leave very little breathing room for ourselves. Give. yourself. a break.
If you could encourage a new photographer in one area, what would it be?
Be your best self. Don’t compare. Revel in the thought that no one can be YOU but you. That’s your unique point of difference.
What do you love most about being a photographer?
The ability to express how I see the world. I love people watching (which is why I also love street photography) and figuring out what everyone’s story is. I love being a story teller through my images.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Shooting more for me, shooting only select clients who appreciate what I do and how I capture their family, and teaching more. I love teaching as much as I do shooting and this year my mentoring really took off. I’d love a 50/50 ratio.
Oh and being the personal photographer for the Foo Fighters and their families. That’s my photography bucket list item: film rock stars and their kiddos!
About the Author: Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman, owner of JellyBean Pictures is a die hard, natural light photographer based in NY. Her goal at every shoot is to capture awesome in a documentary style with little posing and props work has appeared in Professional Photographer Magazine, New York Family Magazine, and on strollertraffic.com. Her manual {don’t} say cheese was written to address the importance of capturing real smiles along with other tips + tricks she picked up along her journey thus far.
Visit Jennifer at her WEBSITE | BLOG |FACEBOOK pages today!
And don’t forget, you can ask Jennifer anything you like in the Pretty Celebrity Mentor Forum for the entire month of May!
“I shoot what I see” I love this so so much. I have been following your for quite some time. I connect with you so much (without personally knowing you). 🙂 It’s crazy. Thank you for your honesty. So glad to see you thriving. It is so inspiring.
this interview “rocked”!!!!!!
I just want to say your words and advice mean more than you know. I am a newbie self taught photographer. I aim for the natural life and documentary style as well. In a world of props and sleeping babies this makes it hard to get all the clients I would like. At this point I am where you are with I would rather have a handful of clients that understand and love my style. Thank you for the inspiration to keep my head up and stay true to myself.
Thanks so much Joanna! I love that you feel that connection- and I cannot thank you enough for the support. Cassandra, when I first started out there were barely any lifestyle photographers- so I hear you on feeling that way. My goal has been to educate potential clients on the other style and keep posting images that reflect that on FB, my site etc. With the recent crop up of lifestyle photographers, I think the playing field will continue to grow and more and more consumers will become aware there are more styles out there. In the end though, it’s totally a style preference- there truly is a photographer for everyone 😉