Meet Jessica Billings | Elopement Photographer

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

Hi Jessica, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I can 100% contribute my success and genuine fulfillment in what I do to constantly working to show up authentically and keeping serving others at the forefront of my brand.

I dedicated a lot of energy and time with a business coach in early 2021 (while I was still juggling a full-time job in marketing and running my photography business) to really do the deep work of discovering exactly who I am, what my values are, why I love being an elopement photographer, and how I want to show up for the couples I work with.

Understanding all of this allowed me to craft a website, social media presence, client experience, etc. where I’m working with people I connect with and where I am finding so much success in showing up and serving others.

Capturing couples on a day as intimate as their elopement (when you’re sometimes their only witness) is such a wildly personal experience that requires mutual trust and understanding. So showing up true to who I am and crafting a business that’s centered on that allows for my couples to feel 100x more comfortable with and excited for the process.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There’s a quote that says “no one is you, and that is your power” and I think that is so true when it comes to what sets me apart and what sets other business owners apart too.

I am genuinely most proud of my business being a reflection of who I am and therefore connecting with couples who instantly feel like good friends because of it. I know that through doing this, couples who align with my values gravitate towards my brand and those who don’t feel as connected with my values and personality will find someone who is better suited for them – which I think is awesome!

I wish I could take more credit for where I am today as a business owner, but so much of where I am today is because of my friends, family, and mentors believing me and giving me the nudges I need to take risks and leaps in pursuit of my dream. If there’s ever a moment where I’m letting comparison or self doubt get the best of me, I instantly have the most supportive group of people cheering me on.

A big lesson that I’ve learned is that the definition of success is different for everyone and that the best thing that I can do is determine what happiness and being most aligned would look like for my business and life and letting those principles define success for me.

I honestly hope that if people get anything from my story that they feel empowered to be themselves completely because amazing things happen when you seek that alignment and authenticity whether it be in your professional or personal life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’ve only been in Colorado Springs for a little over a year now, but one of my favorite things to wake guests up early for is witnessing a sunrsie at High Point Overlook at Garden of the Gods. The alpenglow that lights up Pike’s Peak is simply magical and it’s a truly beautiful place to hear the world wake up around you. It’s also so much fun to walk our dogs around there! If I want to get out of town a little, we’ll usually head to Pike National Forest and Rampart Reservoir to feel like we’re more removed from civilization without having to drive too far!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to two of my mentors. Robert J Hill for leading me to seek business success through authenticity and leading with serving and Megan MacPhail for encouraging me to believe in myself and my value.

Website: jbillingsphotography.com

Instagram: jessicabillingsphotography

Image Credits
Jessica Billings Photography