Meet Jessica Craig | Denver & NoCo Photographer

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

Hi Jessica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had always had an interest and passion for photography, but had never picked up a professional camera or had any training. Once my twins were born, I was struggling a bit with my new identity as a mom. Having left my career in education to stay home with them, I was content with the decision I had made, but also wanted to do something for myself. Exploring a passion and learning something new, while also being able to capture memories of such a special chapter of my own life, seemed like a win-win, so I ordered a camera and dove into some self-directed learning around photography.


Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My story as an artist/creative begins at the beginning of the pandemic, as a new mom to twins. I left my career in education due to both the need and desire to care for them myself, as well as the uncertainty of continuing to teach in such unknown times. Although I loved and appreciated being home with them, being a new mom was extremely isolating, especial during COVID when support groups and mom/baby playdates were cancelled for the foreseeable future. I’ve always had a strong work ethic, and I struggled with no longer having a career or a passion outside of my home life. After chatting with my husband, I decided to buy my first professional camera and teach myself photography. I had never used a professional camera in my life and I really didn’t know anything about photography, but I looked at it as a form of self-care to try my hand at something in which I’d always been interested.

Early on in my business, I dabbled in all kinds of photography. However, I quickly learned that maternity, birth, and newborns were what I loved shooting most. I think this is because I found it healing to photograph a mother’s journey and changing identity, since I was still trying to navigate my own journey and identity as a mom. I also learned that I had a huge passion for documentary-style photography, such as newborn lifestyle (an authentic type of newborn photography that captures the first week or so at home with a baby) and birth photography. I still enjoyed other types of photography as well, but when I looked at my images from maternity, birth, and newborn, I could see and feel the “heart” in my work. Ultimately, I wanted my images to tell a story. When a client looked back at them, I wanted them to be able to relive that short but sweet chapter of life.

My photos document the bliss and the chaos that can be found in one’s motherhood journey. From maternity photos that capture the excitement of what’s to come, to birth photos that capture the raw pain and emotion of bringing a baby earth-side, to in-home newborn photos that capture the first few days of figuring out life with a new baby, I love creating images that tell true stories of growing families.

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’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my mom and my husband, who support me in my photography career goals and frequently care for my twins while I’m away at shoots doing something I love.

Website: www.jessicacraigphotography.com

Instagram: @jesscraigphotography

Facebook: Jess Craig Photography