Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Williams.
Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After spending more than 30 years in corporate Human Resources, I made what many people would consider an unexpected career change and pursued portrait photography full-time. Photography had always been a creative outlet, but I wanted to see how far I could push myself—not just technically, but artistically.
That journey led to my first portrait book, INK, a collection celebrating tattooed individuals and the stories they carried on their skin. Through that project, I realized I wasn’t simply interested in taking portraits—I was fascinated by the people in front of my camera and the stories they carried.
Not long after INK was published, I was referred to a woman who would ultimately change the direction of my work. After her portrait session, she told me that, for the first time in a long time, she felt beautiful when she saw herself in my photographs. Her words stayed with me. In that moment, I realized the portraits that mattered most weren’t necessarily the technically perfect ones—they were the ones where someone saw themselves with a little more kindness.
Like many photographers, I continue to photograph families, headshots, businesses, and creatives. I genuinely enjoy that work, but what continues to draw me in are the moments when a portrait becomes something more than an image—when it helps someone recognize a strength, confidence, or part of themselves they had forgotten.
Since then, my work has continued to evolve through editorial assignments, exhibitions, and my second portrait book, ECHOES. No matter the assignment, I find myself returning to the same belief: every person has a story worth telling, and sometimes a portrait can remind someone of who they are—or who they’re becoming.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, most of my life has been a journey of constant learning. Leaving a career I had built over three decades was both exciting and terrifying. I knew photography was a competitive industry, and I never expected success to happen overnight. What I didn’t anticipate was how emotionally challenging it would be to pour your heart into something, hear people tell you they love your work, and then still wonder where the next client is coming from.
Like many small business owners, I’ve experienced seasons where the phone was quiet despite working harder than I ever imagined I could. There have been moments of self-doubt, wondering if I made the right decision, while also learning that running a photography business requires far more than creating beautiful images—it requires marketing, networking, building relationships, and a lot of patience.
At the same time, those challenges have pushed me to ask a much bigger question: What kind of photographer do I want to be? That search has ultimately become one of the greatest gifts of this journey. It’s led me to focus less on simply taking portraits and more on creating experiences where people feel truly seen.
I don’t know exactly where that path will lead, but I know it’s the work I’m meant to pursue.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in portrait photography, working with everyone from families and professionals to artists, actors, and businesses. While every session is different, they all begin the same way—with a conversation. I believe the best portraits aren’t created by perfect posing or flawless lighting; they’re created when someone feels comfortable enough to simply be themselves.
Over the past few years, my work has expanded into editorial photography, personal portrait projects, and two published portrait books, INK and ECHOES. I love creative collaborations and conceptual portraiture, but I’m equally passionate about photographing everyday people during meaningful moments in their lives.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular photograph—it’s hearing someone say they see themselves differently after a session. Those moments remind me that portrait photography can be about much more than creating a beautiful image. It can help someone rediscover confidence, celebrate a new chapter, or simply recognize a version of themselves they haven’t seen in a long time.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m genuinely more interested in the person than the portrait. The camera is simply the tool that allows me to connect with people and tell their stories. If someone leaves my studio feeling more confident, more understood, or simply more seen than when they walked in, then I’ve done my job.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Without question, the biggest influence on my work has been my mentor, Deborah Feingold. Studying with Deborah completely changed the way I approach portraiture. She taught me that the most memorable photographs aren’t about elaborate lighting or expensive equipment—they’re about creating an honest connection with the person in front of the camera.
I’m also endlessly inspired by photographers whose work tells a deeper story. Platon reminds me that a portrait can reveal someone’s humanity with remarkable simplicity. Cindy Sherman inspires me through her willingness to explore identity and transformation, using photography to become different characters while asking bigger questions about how we see ourselves and others. Francesca Woodman has probably had the greatest artistic influence on my personal work. Her photographs were deeply personal and emotional, using movement, architecture, and mystery to explore identity, memory, and the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit. Her work reminds me that a photograph doesn’t have to explain everything to make someone feel something.
Beyond photography, I find inspiration in music, traveling with my husband, and life with our two crazy dogs. And conversations, some of my favorite ideas come from simply talking with people and hearing their stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: www. elleportraits.com
- Instagram: @the_elle_photography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-williams-phr-shrm-scp-a0a45217/
