Meet Jessica Hubbard | Freelance Photographer and Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Hubbard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Originally born in Southeast Iowa, most of my childhood was spent in the Midwest with a brief period of time living in my mom’s home state of Connecticut. Between running through the forest and farmlands of Iowa to spending summers on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Green Mountains of Vermont, I can’t think of time when being in the outdoors wasn’t a daily part of life growing up. Credit for my connection to the outdoors goes to my mom who always found a way to incorporate the beauty of nature into most everything we did. She taught me the names of birds and flowers, and opened my eyes to the splendor of sunsets and the tiniest of wonders within our natural world.

We kept many memories of that life through photographs; some on polaroid, some on film. I loved sorting through our collection of albums and loose photos in shoe boxes, baskets, whatever would hold those quietly captured moments. Even more exciting were the times when I was behind the camera, snapping shots of storm clouds just beyond my reach across the horizon, gatherings of friends, arms around one another, caught up in laughter, a warm smile from my mom as she posed for a photo.

My appreciation of nature has only grown as I’ve gotten older. A deeper connection to land and animal, a stronger pull to immerse myself in still wild places. An understanding that life, at least as we know it, is fleeting and worthy of our attention.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While photography and writing are my passions, the work I do in the non profit world is equally impactful. I’ve worked off and on for a national youth mentoring organization for the last 12 years and find great reward in what I do. This spills over into my creative life, there’s so much positivity from both. Like many people, 2020 brought with it a new set of challenges. I moved back to Iowa to be near my mom as she battled a terminal illness. I was working a contract position at the time and just as that job ended the pandemic hit. I found myself suddenly out of work. Something I hadn’t experienced in decades. As I searched fervently for work, I decided to dive into my photography and see if I could eke out some sort of living that way. Out of the chaos and craziness of it all, I opened an Etsy shop, selling my prints on note and greeting cards. I didn’t ever imagine that would be possible. Somewhere along the way, I was able to snag a remote position working for the same youth mentoring organization that I had started with all those years ago. Things just seemed to fall into place. Nature, capturing the beauty of the world, bringing smiles to other peoples’ faces, it was all happening at once. And, finally I could return to the west, and the mountains, where my heart feels most at home. The remote work, and my photography and writing have enabled me to be mobile, to travel back and forth to the places I love. I’m beyond grateful for it all.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As I’m currently splitting my time between Iowa, and the west, including Colorado and Utah, I’ve had the opportunity to find my way to some great restaurants, hiking trails, camping spots, live music, and so much more. Northern Colorado tends to be my go to when I’m in the west. I love those small out of the way and lesser known places like Nederland. Tucked away in that mountain town is a fantastic little place, the New Moon Bakery and Cafe. After a long day hike in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, it’s hard to beat. Amazing fresh, food, delicious drinks, and friendly staff. Live music is always a sure bet in the Fort Collins and Loveland area. Washington’s in Fort Collins brings in some pretty amazing musicians and the atmosphere is the best.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I mentioned my mom earlier as being one of the biggest influences in my world. She not only taught me the importance of admiration and respect for the outdoors, she also reminded me on a daily basis the necessity of being kind to myself and others. Listening with an open mind and heart was among her greatest strengths. I can only hope I’ve taken some of her kindness with me along this journey in life.

My brother and my stepdad have also supported me along the way. Our family may be small, but there’s strength to be found when we’re together. And, of course, my friends. Some I’ve known for decades, and some not quite as long. They all bring wonderful and unique attributes to the table.

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