Meet Jenna Loeva | Photographer & Creative

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

Hi Jenna, how do you define success?
Success is a huge ‘goal’ in most people’s lives. Over the last several years, I’ve found myself more and more restricted creatively because of this looming ideal. Everyone wants to be considered successful – most of us want to feel approved of, accepted, and good enough to others (no matter how much each of us try to avoid these feelings). This never-ending desire to be accepted comes down to basic human psychology – therefore, it’s near impossible to completely rid of. But, the best part is – when you take a step back from these feelings, and determine how you as an individual define success – you open the doors to more success, opportunity, and freedom.

For me, success is simply doing what makes me happy and true to myself. I’ve stopped allowing myself to be limited by a societal view of success, and started allowing myself to be creative in each aspect of my life – simply because that’s what makes me happiest.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began my journey as a photographer in 2017, and came close to convincing myself to quit every couple of months since then. In a world full of comparison, it is SO easy to get caught up in wondering if you’ll ever come close to the artists that fill your feeds. From one menacing thought to the next, imposter syndrome is very real – and very tough to overcome.

So, the journey has not been all sun flares and perfect weather, its been filled with rained out days and failed creative shoots, too.

Nonetheless, every day since I started my business, I’ve maintained the goal of staying true to myself as much as possible. Avoiding trendy color palettes (looking at you, teal and orange of 2018), overused locations, and even distracting pulls towards tacky social post layouts. None of these things fit my art, even though it was tempting to give in, just to be a part of the crowd. But, I think that’s one thing that helps me stand out in my community. I’ve spent years focused on my art alone, laser focused on what fits my visions instead of what fits the current trends. It allowed for so many more opportunities to grow as an artist, and an individual.

Being a photographer has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people, and create art that I truly love – but, as my High-School photography teacher once taught me, Don’t be scared to fail. Matt Dowling coined those words long before I realized how needed they would soon be. So, If I could pass any advice on to other photographers – Don’t be afraid to fail, and fail fast.

I hope you have shoots that don’t go how you planned, and models who don’t show, unexpected weather and corrupt SD cards – because that’s where all the learning and creativity happens. Right there in the mess.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A few of my favorite hiking spots: North Table, Golden
Lair O’ the Bear, Evergreen
Mt. Falcon, Morrison

A few of my favorite Picnic places (great for hammocking, too):
Wash Park
Reynolds Park
Lookout Mountain

Great food spots (with even better happy hours):
Postino’s (Board & Bottle can’t be beat)
Pig & Sprout (Great Bottomless mimosas, and options for every kind of diet)
City o’ City (Amazing plant based menu!)

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?
I’m lucky to have encountered so many supportive and loving people in my journey – but I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Idun Larsen, for always pushing me to climb the highest mountains, Alexa Hesse, for being a mentor in the small-business owning world, and Bradon Matthews, for teaching me to take a damn break.

Website: www.jennaloeva.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennaloevaphotography/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-heckman-b7a3ba16b/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennaloevaphoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennaloevaphotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jenna-loeva-photography-denver

Other: Contact : jenna.loeva99@gmail.com