Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Baumann.
Hi Jill, 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.
I discovered my love for photography at the age of 14 and have been passionate about it ever since. Despite wanting to pursue photography in high school, I chose to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a nurse instead because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.
I graduated from nursing school in 2017 and worked in the ICU for five years, serving as the charge nurse in the medical ICU and cardiovascular ICU. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the nursing profession drastically. Witnessing the daily suffering and deaths of patients on ventilators and struggling without their families by their side took a huge toll on me. Nurses were the only source of physical comfort for patients at that time, and it broke my heart to have to tell families they can’t see their loved ones unless they were about to pass away.
The combination of these factors left me feeling burned out and depressed. My friends and family suggested that I consider pursuing a more fulfilling career. With their encouragement, I decided to use the majority of my savings to jumpstart my photography business and create my in-home photo studio.
In July 2022, I started my exciting journey as a full-time photographer specializing in newborn, maternity, and family photography. Since then, I have been dedicated to providing a stress-free experience for my clients and developing my own unique style, which sets me apart from others in the industry. To ensure that I provide the best possible experiences to my clients, I have attended multiple newborn, maternity, and family posing and safety workshops.
My journey as a photographer has been nothing short of fulfilling. I take great pride in the relationships I have built with my clients over the years, and I am committed to delivering nothing but the best and capturing special moments that they will cherish for a lifetime.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Coming from a small town in East Texas with less than 2,000 people, I was used to relying heavily on word-of-mouth referrals and personally knowing many people in my town. Re-starting a business in the big city of Houston, however, was a completely different story. I had to invest a lot of time and money into marketing and networking in order to make a name for myself among the numerous photographers in the area.
My current endeavor is adding birth photography and “fresh 48” (in-hospital, conducted within 48 hours after birth) sessions to my portfolio. Births have always been fascinating to me – my mom was a labor & delivery nurse and L&D/NICU clinicals were my favorite in nursing school. My issue is that it’s difficult to find people who will trust me to capture such an important and intimate moment in their lives without any previous examples to show them.
So… if you or anyone you know is having a baby in the near future, let’s chat!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I photograph people of all ages indoors and outdoors, but my favorite sessions are studio newborn sessions. Most newborn photographers only photograph babies up to 2 weeks old (when they’re sleepiest and easier to pose), but I’ve photographed newborns from 5 days to 3 months old and it’s such a joy no matter the age.
I love wrapping, cuddling, and posing babies, capturing their tiny details, and creating lasting memories for new parents to display in their homes and share with friends and family. When planning a newborn session, I ask my clients about their favorite colors and any preferences they have in terms of props, outfits, or themes, and I try to learn as much about them as possible before their session in order to make their experience memorable and unique.
I offer in-home lifestyle sessions as well, where I create images that reflect my client’s family & love in the space that they are most comfortable in and that means the most to them!
Coming from a family of computer geeks (my father owned a computer repair business), I have extensive knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom which has definitely helped set me apart from other photographers and allowed me to be creative with my artwork.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Whenever I’m not hanging out with my Frenchie, editing photos, or photographing people, I LOVE to escape the city and go camping.
I’ve recently started primitive camping with my partner, and it helps me relax and unwind despite the fact that I may not have access to a shower or bathroom for 3 days. Our most recent adventure was to Big Bend National Park, and I really appreciated the lack of cell signal for a week.
Pricing:
- Newborn Studio Sessions begin at $399
- In-Home Lifestyle Sessions begin at $359
- Sitter Sessions begin at $249
- Cake Smash Sessions begin at $299
- Maternity and Family Sessions begin at $249
Contact Info:
- Website: jbtxphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbtx.photo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbtx.photo/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jbtx-photography-richmond
- Booking Site: https://book.usesession.com/i/tuRkXL4tZ
Image Credits
JBTX Photography jbtxphotography.com
