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

Hi Jenni, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
A lot of people call me “Brave” or a risk taker, as I have decided to do things a little differently in my life. After college, I decided to move to Australia and backpack around the coast for a year. Then, I decided to pick up my life again and move to New Zealand. Traveling and change are two of my favorite things. When I decided to make photography my full-time job, leaving my 9-5 was definitely not the wisest thing to do… especially in 2020! Even though it’s hard, I’ve never regretted my decision. I have this vision of how my life could be, and I work daily to achieve that. Without taking risks, you miss out on the possibility of something actually working out.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I photograph dreamy destination wedding and fashion editorials for those who are wild and whimsical. I started my photography business 5 years ago, working primarily with new models and producing social media content for influencers and brands. I have also been building my wedding side of my business steadily throughout the years, obsessing over the dreamy elopements and fine art photography side. I love bringing my fashion and editorial eye to weddings, and I now shoot primarily weddings. Starting my own business was certainly not easy, and it is still challenging as you have to wear many hats. I am not only a photographer, but also an editor, a bookkeeper, a marketer, website designer, graphic designer, and much more! As long as you are doing something you are passionate about, then it is all worth it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love taking out-of-towners to my favorite place in all of Colorado: Casa Bonita. You have everything you ever need… cliff divers, sopapillas, a haunted house, caves, arcades, and mariachi bands. Most locals will advise you to never go here or eat here due to the poor food quality and overall age of the building. I would like to challenge that. As a little girl, I couldn’t think of anything more magical than Casa Bonita. After traveling the world and experiencing so much, I love coming back here to remember the magic in a child’s mind. I still like to live in that mindset, full of wonder and imagination.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Zara Ashby, Keith Quinata & Thomas Tolman, my coaches and mentors.

Website: www.jennisummerstudios.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennisummerstudios
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennisummerstudios

Image Credits
@lindsaybickert @bohemijewelry @iz_nicolexoxo @_sammieanne_ @jlorynofficial

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDenver is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.