Interview with Jessica Lou
We recently did an interview with teen photographer, Jessica Lou
View the interview between Daania S. and Jessica below!
Jessica: My name is Jessica Lou, I am 18 years old, and I’m currently a marketing student at the University of Maryland. Photography has been a passion of mine for the past 5 years and it’s something that I absolutely love!
Question 1: How and when were you first introduced to photography?
Jessica: I have always liked taking pictures, but I started to take it more seriously during my freshman year of high school. This was when I took my first photography class. This class taught me a lot about the basic elements of art and design, as well as photoshop. It really led me to fall further in love with capturing life’s moments.
Question 2: What made you decide to take photography in your freshman year? Why not a marketing class? What pulled you towards taking photography?
Jessica: Photography was always something that I enjoyed, so I was excited to get the opportunity to take a class for it. What really pulled me towards taking photography is how creative you can be with it. I love how a single subject can be seen differently by so many different people. I didn’t take a marketing class because I didn’t become interested in it until my junior year.
Question 3: What type of photography do you like to do? Does your Instagram page reflect that type of photography?
Jessica: Nature photography has always been my thing, and it’s still something that I absolutely love, but I’m also trying to branch out. I’m starting to get more interested in portrait and event photography. I do believe that my page reflects my photography interests fairly well as it has a lot of nature pictures, as well as portraits down the middle column.
Daania: That was a very clever idea.
Question 4: What is the definition of a “good” photo to you?
Jessica: I believe a “good” photo is one that makes you feel something. When you see a photo, and you feel that burst of excitement or amazement within you, that’s when you know it’s a good photo.
Question 5: What qualities do you believe a photographer needs in order to be successful?
Jessica: I truly believe that passion is so important. If photography is something that you really love, if it’s something that you work hard at and refuse to give up at, and if it’s something that gives you this sense of purpose, success will come. I also believe that it’s important to be creative in photography and have the ability to look at things in a different perspective. Being able to show others how you see the world is what I believe photography is really about.
Question 6: Who is your biggest inspiration as a photographer?
Jessica: I don’t exactly have one biggest inspiration, however, I am inspired by a lot of photographers on Instagram. To name a couple, I absolutely love Bryan Castillo, Mark Singerman, and Karl Shakur. I actually get most of my inspiration for my photos by just scrolling through Instagram, bookmarking any amazing pictures I see, and then looking back at them when I’m planning a shoot.
Question 7: What’s the creative process of creating and editing a photo? How long does editing a photo take?
Jessica: I first think about what exactly I want to shoot and I find a location for it. When I get there, I make sure to experiment with the photos and take as many as possible. The amount of time I spend editing photos varies a lot. It can take anywhere from a couple seconds to a couple hours. I usually use Lightroom for the color adjustments and then I put it into Photoshop if I want to further edit it.
Question 8: Has it been difficult for you to juggle school and photography? How have you overcome that challenge?
Jessica: It does become hard to make time for photoshoots when I have a lot of school work to do or during exam season, however, I still try my best to make time for it. I think of photography as a way for me to escape the stress of school for a while. And when I’m finished with my photos and I go back to study, I feel happier, more refreshed, and more focused.
Question 9: What career goals has photography opened up? You mentioned that you are studying in marketing, is photography going to stay a hobby, side job, or become an area you hope to get a career in?
Jessica: I’m definitely thinking about doing photography as a side job, however, I mainly went to implement photography in my digital marketing career. I’m interested in the creative side of marketing, so I would love to use my photography skills in content creation and design. I really just want to blend my love for both photography and marketing in my career.
Daania: That’s amazing!
Jessica: Thank you!
Question 10: Who has been your biggest supporter?
Jessica: Basically all of my family and friends. They have all been extremely supportive of me and I’m constantly using them as models. I honestly couldn’t be more grateful for them.
Question 11: Was there ever a time you wanted to give up photography? How did you overcome it? (If applicable)
Jessica: There wasn’t ever a time that I wanted to fully give up on photography. Sometimes, I get discouraged when I can’t think of new ideas on what to shoot, but I always come back to photography because I love it so much.
Question 12: What’s the best advice you have ever gotten about photography that teens following your footsteps should hear?
Jessica: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of photography and different kinds of styles. Keep on trying new things in your photos—it keeps things exciting and fun. But most of all, just remember to have fun with it and keep on taking pictures because it’s something you love to do.
Question 13: What’s the best advice you can give to teens about life? (Not photography related)
Jessica: Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. It’s so easy to live a life confined in a world where everything is simple and comfortable. But it’s when we start to do the things that we’re scared of doing, the things that we’ve always wanted to do but never thought we could, that’s when life starts to happen. That’s when we start to grow. This is something that I’m still working on myself, but I know that the end result will be so worth it.
Last Question: Any last things you’d like to add?
Jessica: I just want to say that I am extremely grateful for photography and everything it has brought for me and for so many other people. I wish the best of luck for all other aspiring photographers out there! And thank you so much for choosing me to do this interview today :)
Daania: Thank you for doing the interview as well! 💕
View Jessica's Instagram: @jesslouphotos
Or click below!
Question 1: How and when were you first introduced to photography?
Jessica: I have always liked taking pictures, but I started to take it more seriously during my freshman year of high school. This was when I took my first photography class. This class taught me a lot about the basic elements of art and design, as well as photoshop. It really led me to fall further in love with capturing life’s moments.
Question 2: What made you decide to take photography in your freshman year? Why not a marketing class? What pulled you towards taking photography?
Jessica: Photography was always something that I enjoyed, so I was excited to get the opportunity to take a class for it. What really pulled me towards taking photography is how creative you can be with it. I love how a single subject can be seen differently by so many different people. I didn’t take a marketing class because I didn’t become interested in it until my junior year.
Question 3: What type of photography do you like to do? Does your Instagram page reflect that type of photography?
Jessica: Nature photography has always been my thing, and it’s still something that I absolutely love, but I’m also trying to branch out. I’m starting to get more interested in portrait and event photography. I do believe that my page reflects my photography interests fairly well as it has a lot of nature pictures, as well as portraits down the middle column.
Daania: That was a very clever idea.
Question 4: What is the definition of a “good” photo to you?
Jessica: I believe a “good” photo is one that makes you feel something. When you see a photo, and you feel that burst of excitement or amazement within you, that’s when you know it’s a good photo.
Question 5: What qualities do you believe a photographer needs in order to be successful?
Jessica: I truly believe that passion is so important. If photography is something that you really love, if it’s something that you work hard at and refuse to give up at, and if it’s something that gives you this sense of purpose, success will come. I also believe that it’s important to be creative in photography and have the ability to look at things in a different perspective. Being able to show others how you see the world is what I believe photography is really about.
Question 6: Who is your biggest inspiration as a photographer?
Jessica: I don’t exactly have one biggest inspiration, however, I am inspired by a lot of photographers on Instagram. To name a couple, I absolutely love Bryan Castillo, Mark Singerman, and Karl Shakur. I actually get most of my inspiration for my photos by just scrolling through Instagram, bookmarking any amazing pictures I see, and then looking back at them when I’m planning a shoot.
Question 7: What’s the creative process of creating and editing a photo? How long does editing a photo take?
Jessica: I first think about what exactly I want to shoot and I find a location for it. When I get there, I make sure to experiment with the photos and take as many as possible. The amount of time I spend editing photos varies a lot. It can take anywhere from a couple seconds to a couple hours. I usually use Lightroom for the color adjustments and then I put it into Photoshop if I want to further edit it.
Question 8: Has it been difficult for you to juggle school and photography? How have you overcome that challenge?
Jessica: It does become hard to make time for photoshoots when I have a lot of school work to do or during exam season, however, I still try my best to make time for it. I think of photography as a way for me to escape the stress of school for a while. And when I’m finished with my photos and I go back to study, I feel happier, more refreshed, and more focused.
Question 9: What career goals has photography opened up? You mentioned that you are studying in marketing, is photography going to stay a hobby, side job, or become an area you hope to get a career in?
Jessica: I’m definitely thinking about doing photography as a side job, however, I mainly went to implement photography in my digital marketing career. I’m interested in the creative side of marketing, so I would love to use my photography skills in content creation and design. I really just want to blend my love for both photography and marketing in my career.
Daania: That’s amazing!
Jessica: Thank you!
Question 10: Who has been your biggest supporter?
Jessica: Basically all of my family and friends. They have all been extremely supportive of me and I’m constantly using them as models. I honestly couldn’t be more grateful for them.
Question 11: Was there ever a time you wanted to give up photography? How did you overcome it? (If applicable)
Jessica: There wasn’t ever a time that I wanted to fully give up on photography. Sometimes, I get discouraged when I can’t think of new ideas on what to shoot, but I always come back to photography because I love it so much.
Question 12: What’s the best advice you have ever gotten about photography that teens following your footsteps should hear?
Jessica: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of photography and different kinds of styles. Keep on trying new things in your photos—it keeps things exciting and fun. But most of all, just remember to have fun with it and keep on taking pictures because it’s something you love to do.
Question 13: What’s the best advice you can give to teens about life? (Not photography related)
Jessica: Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. It’s so easy to live a life confined in a world where everything is simple and comfortable. But it’s when we start to do the things that we’re scared of doing, the things that we’ve always wanted to do but never thought we could, that’s when life starts to happen. That’s when we start to grow. This is something that I’m still working on myself, but I know that the end result will be so worth it.
Last Question: Any last things you’d like to add?
Jessica: I just want to say that I am extremely grateful for photography and everything it has brought for me and for so many other people. I wish the best of luck for all other aspiring photographers out there! And thank you so much for choosing me to do this interview today :)
Daania: Thank you for doing the interview as well! 💕
View Jessica's Instagram: @jesslouphotos
Or click below!