Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Jones.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Photography has always been a part of my life. My grandfather was a lifelong film photographer, and my mom worked in his studio doing admin for years. She couldn’t afford daycare so she brought me to work with her. When my family relocated to Fort Myers in 1991 she got a job working for another studio photographer for ten years. I grew up in the photography environment. The smell of the dark room is burned into my memory.
As a teen I was always the “annoying” friend that would bring a camera everywhere. When social media became a norm I was posting all the photos – the good, the bad and the ugly.
“Pics or it didn’t happen” because truly – if I didn’t have photos I wouldn’t remember squat. And now , decades later, my fellow millennial friends are thankful (albeit embarrassed) for my once “annoying” habit.
In 2010 I bought my first “big girl” DSLR camera to bring on my honeymoon. I didn’t realize it then, but that purchase would change everything.
By the following year I started my business.
What started as taking photos for fun has grown into a passion for storytelling – capturing real emotion, connection, and all the little details that make a moment unforgettable. Over the years, I built my business from the ground up, learning through experience, trial and error, and a lot of heart.
Today, I run a full-time photography business here in Southwest Florida, photographing weddings and portraits in some of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s been a journey of creativity, growth, and purpose, and I’m so proud that what began as a hobby has become a career that allows me to tell people’s stories in such a meaningful way.
One day photos will be all we have left of our loved ones. I don’t take that lightly.
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?
Running a business is hard. It’s a type of hard I never knew existed before I started. Photography in southwest Florida is very seasonal. At times I don’t know where my next dollar is coming from….or when. As a parent that can be very scary when you have multiple mouths to feed.
Which leads me to another struggle – work/life balance.
To be frank I don’t think it’s actually possible. I’ve been at this 14 years and I’ve yet to figure it out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in couples and weddings. I shoot a lot of proposals. Those are so much fun! I really enjoy setting up surprise proposals.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I serve all of southwest Florida – From Tampa all the way south to Marco Island.
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $3500
- Elopements start at $700
- Portraits/Engagements start at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephjonesphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephjphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephjonesphotography
