Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenni Ochoa.
Hi Jenni, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started when I was around 12 years old and my parents bought a canon rebel camera because they wanted me to take photos of my brothers playing football and baseball. Never did I think, oh this will be my passion and career.
In middle school, I took photos of my brothers playing sports and I didn’t think much of it, I was always taking photos since I can remember. We have so many photo albums filled of me taking selfies, nature photography and whatever else I felt like capturing. I was always so fascinated in capturing a moment that can never be recreated, along with wanting to share the beauty I see and capture.
The photos I would take at my brother’s football and baseball games would end up all over Facebook and even the high school used my photos for their yearbook and I was still in middle school!
I was constantly taking photos of my friends. We would get all dressed up and have photoshoots in my backyard.
I never knew what I wanted to study in college, so once my senior year of high school hit, I panicked. I told my parents I didn’t know what to do and they suggested I set up a little studio in the garage and try out studio/portrait photography.
And that is when everything changed.
My studio was in my parents’ garage from 2016-2017, then I moved it into a room in my parents’ house and got a wall-mounted backdrop holder for seamless paper backdrops. A huge upgrade!
My studio was in my parents’ house from 2017-2022.
Now, in March of 2022.. I moved my studio into a 1,000 sqft warehouse space in downtown Houston, Tx. With the help of my amazing best friend, she knows who she is.. And the endless amount of love and support from my family, friends and supporters of my work for all these years. I never gave up, it might’ve taken me 6 years to get my studio where it is but trust me this is not the end. I aspire to have multiple locations of Jenni0 Studios.
I never would’ve thought I would be able to do this! A huge dream of mine. I still can’t believe it as I’m saying it right now. I have an entire space to create, bring visions to life and help anyone and everyone feel beautiful and confident. It’s a dream come true.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every artist can relate to the ups and downs of being an artist,
I struggle with depression and anxiety. Especially not going to college right after high school and focusing on what some people called “a hobby” .. It made me feel less than or that I was setting myself up for failure because I didn’t go to college. Struggling with depression and anxiety as an artist is very challenging.
There have been many times where the only reason I got out of bed was because I had a shoot. Life isn’t easy and I’ve had my fair share of traumatic things happen to me especially over the years of me doing photography.
From leaving a toxic abusive ex, to getting arrested and put probation for a year and a half (I had THC gummies in fort bend county), all while covid has taken over the world… yeah it’s been hard.
Another thing I struggled with was getting bookings and always remembering that there’s a reason I’m here on this earth doing this. It gets hard out here but there’s the good with the bad and bad with the good, it all balances out somehow. The beauty of life and I’m so proud of myself for continuing to push through.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a female photographer in Houston, TX. I am known for my studio shoots.
Having my own studio since I was 18 has definitely had its advantages. I’ve created sets using fake grass, I have a cloud set up and I use color changing lights.
I’m not a big photoshop person, I know as a photographer, I probably shouldn’t say that but I’m too big on over editing, or retouching someone’s face to the point where it doesn’t even look like them.
I love to create sets and capture exactly what I see and maybe add a little razzle dazzle when editing but nothing too crazy that it changes the entire original photo.
I like capturing what I see and letting the magic of my camera perfect it along with using lightroom to enhance it.
Maybe one day I’ll get into photoshop and do crazy over editing but for now, I love my work and how I execute shoots and the final edits.
I’m most proud of my shoots with the set ups I create, the multiple person edit I do, and overall bringing the visions the person I’m shooting has to life, which is all of my shoots!
I believe what sets me apart from others is, I’m a female photographer.. That already is a big thing because photography is male dominated industry.. Shoutout to all the female photographers!!!!
I’m an easy-going person and can help anyone feel confident and comfortable in front of a camera.
I am very flexible with time and always finding ways to help out my clients in any way they need.
Whenever I do a shoot, I always show my clients as I shoot how the photos look, I put a mirror in front of them so they can see what they look like / what they’re doing on set, and I let clients pick the photos they want me to edit to post & share. I’m like, these are your photos, why would I pick out the ones to edit and post? Of course, I could, but I want my clients to pick the photos they want because that’s what they. Worked with me for.
My goal for every shoot is to get a “oh my god that’s me ?!” Reaction. It’s the best feeling.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy… definitely fulfilling a client’s vision for their photos, helping them feel confident, comfortable and beautiful. Being able to do what I’m passionate about every day and be supported throughout it all. It means the world to me.
My boyfriend makes me pretty damn happy. Things like, music, seeing and sharing art from my talented acquaintances.
Life itself now makes me happy. I try to find happiness in everything I do.
Pricing:
- $300 for 1 hour shoot 1-2 fits, 50 edits
- $400 for a 2 hour shoot, 2-4 fits, 10-20 edits per outfit
Contact Info:
- Email: jenni0studio@gmail.com
- Website: jenni0.com
- Instagram: jenni0choa
- Twitter: jenni0choa
Image Credits
JenniO
