We recently had the chance to connect with Jackie Riggs and have shared our conversation below.
Jackie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I recently shared a “Deinfluencing photography” post on social media – things like:
I have no desire to go full time with photography.
I’m not the trendy, young and cute photographer – I’m a 43 year old mom.
I’m one of the most expensive photographers in my area and I”m okay with losing business to the cheaper photographers.
The response from other photographers has been so positive! Every single one struggled with those same thoughts.
Photography is an easy thing to start but not an easy thing to maintain. I have really struggled with “doing more” – more marketing, more social media posts, more shoots, etc. But I only do this part-time, which is what I want. There’s a lot of pressure to do photography full-time, otherwise you’re not seen as successful.
I’ve also struggled with my style matching what is trendy and sells. Do I alter my style to fit what clients want? That pays the bills. Or do I forget it all and do my own thing? That makes my heart happy.
Because I only devote a little time to photography, I have to make sure it’s financially worth it and that means I’m pricier than most in my area. I’ve had to accept being okay with losing business to cheaper photographers. I won’t devalue my time, my experience and my talent. That’s taken quite a few years to be okay with.
Whatever it is we’re struggling with, whether it’s business related or personal, I think it’s important to share with others. You never know who is secretly feeling the same way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jackie Riggs and I’m the owner of jackiesue photography, based in Lake Jackson, TX. I’ve been a professional photographer since 2010. I primarily shoot high school seniors, but also photograph corporate headshots, live theater and the occasional family session.
Senior photography has always been my favorite. For the first 7 years of my business, I was also a high school teacher. I loved working with teenagers so it felt natural to specialize in senior photography. The biggest blessing was being asked to photograph my own student’s senior photos. This past May, my own son graduated from high school so it was a VERY different experience doing his senior photos!
Within the last two years, I’ve invested in studio lighting so I’ve added corporate headshots to my photography offerings. I’ve really enjoyed learning studio lighting and how creative it can be.
I’m heavily involved with our local theater, Brazosport Center Stages, and often photograph the actor headshots and show archive photos. It’s such an honor and I love capturing the shows.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad. He has always been a hard worker, working into his 70’s. He recently turned 89 and I can guarantee if he could still work, he would. Looking back, I can see that mindset of working hard and not giving up when things are tough at several points in my life. I think it’s part of the reason I’ve held down a full-time job while running my photography business for the last 14 years. You do what you need to do and you stick to it.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
That it’s okay to fail. It’s okay when the plans you had for your life change or don’t work out the way you hoped. And it’s okay if everything falls to pieces because of your own choices. It doesn’t mean you are a failure. It doesn’t mean you’re a horrible person.
We don’t see what lies down the road. We don’t know the bigger picture. And sometimes things need to fall apart to put you in the right situation. You need to fail to be successful. It is the most painful experience but it can be the biggest blessing.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
When I started photography, I was still very much in the “hobby” mindset. I remember saying I would never charge more than $100 for a session because charging more was crazy.
A common mindset I see in the photography industry is “people deserve nice photos!” “I can’t charge for extra photos, I want them to have them all!”
I used to feel this way too. I undercut myself because I felt bad or I gave all the photos from a session instead of upselling for extras because I felt guilty for not handing them all over.
Then I started paying attention to how much this business costs me. Not just financially but in time with my family.
Like I said, I work a full time job and photography is my part time business. I already devote so much time to my full time job. What little time I have left is precious and valuable and my family deserves it. If I’m going to take away some of their time, it has to benefit THEM. And that is why I charge what I do.
The fact is, photography is a luxury. We have phones with us at all times that can take photos. Do I want everyone to have high quality, professional photos? ABSOLUTELY.
But I won’t sacrifice my time with my family for it.
This part time business pays bills, it provides for my kids. I can’t run it like a hobby or a charity.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I made them feel valued and seen. I remember when I was teaching, a student saw some of the photos I had taken of seniors and commented “Mrs. Riggs, you make everyone look like a model!” That is one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten.
Of course I want to provide quality photos but more than anything, I want to capture how beautiful people are so they can see it for themselves. I want to grab those moments that are so sweet and precious so they can remember them forever.
I hope when clients look back on their photos, they say “She saw me.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jackiesuephotography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jackiesuephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackiesuephotography
- Other: TikTok: jackiesuephoto
