Meet Jessica Ruiz | Jessica Ruiz | Front Row Moments Photographer

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

Hi Jessica, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

Pursuing photography as a career was natural for me. I’ve loved photography ever since I was 16 years old. When I got my first camera, a Canon Rebel XS, I took photos of anything and everything. My friends, my little brother, his tricycle in the field, water droplets… literally, anything and everything! It was compelling to see and connect to the world in a new way.

Along with discovering a new passion for photography, I also discovered Tumblr, as all internet kids do. Tumblr is a blogging website that attracts a lot of creatives with photo blogs. Not only did I follow various photography blogs, but I followed a lot of music blogs as well. Inevitably, this led me to concert photography! I gravitated towards photos of hardcore and pop punk bands performing. I was in awe with how much energy and emotion those pictures conveyed. A lot of those bands played smaller venues that welcomed photographers. So I started going to local shows to build a portfolio. Fortunately, I love going to concerts and feeling the beat of the music. It made sense to combine my love for live music with my love for photography. My work has been featured on NoEcho.net, a vinyl cover, and band merch! I’ll admit… I fangirled a little bit when those opportunities arose.

However, the pandemic taught me how fragile the live music industry is. I accepted reality, but felt stumped on how to proceed. Thankfully, a friend needed photographers to cover the Colorado area for their adventure photography business. So I filled one of those positions. Yay! I started shooting adventure portraits in various outdoor settings for couples and families. Then, I began to cover elopements, weddings, and eventually branched off on my own to create Front Row Moments. I capture experiences that are intimate, playful, and candid for my clients. They allow me into their lives during an emotional experience so I can catch detailed moments they’ll never forget! A front row view of their own life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Front Row Moments is unique because I connect with people in ways that allow them to feel comfortable opening up in front of a camera. Taking photos can be nerve-racking, even I still get nervous when posing! Working with Front Row Moments means having fun during your photoshoot; of course, along with receiving amazing, candid photos! I understand who my clients are and what their personality is like so we can convey that in their sessions.

I also play music at my photoshoots, not too loud though! We don’t want to disrupt any nearby explorers or other sessions, but loud enough to get you in a playful, silly mood. Who doesn’t love dancing to music?! The sillier you feel… the cuter the photos! Besides creating a fun atmosphere, I also offer styling assistance with every full session, if needed! I completely understand how difficult it can be to pick out the right outfits. We’ll coordinate a great outfit for you and/or your family within your budget or out of your own closet. I genuinely care about giving people not only unique photos, but unique experiences as well. I’d like all of my clients to walk away feeling confident and with positive energy!

On the flip side, and to get personal, there are always challenges to overcome in the photography industry. When I first started Front Row Moments, creating an efficient work/life balance was difficult. Capturing portraits is very different from taking photos at concerts. I immersed myself into a new genre of photography that required a new way of shooting. There were so many new apps, posing styles, and techniques to learn. I found lots of free guides and networked with other photographers. However, I overloaded my workflow and stressed myself out! It’s absolutely amazing that all of this knowledge and support is accessible, but it got overwhelming not knowing what to apply. So I decided to slow down and take it one step at a time. Once I found my balance, photography didn’t feel like a job anymore!

Another challenge was branding my work! Each photographer has their own style of composition and editing. However, I like editing in all different ways so I had to narrow it down. I appreciate the edgy, gritty look I developed in my concert photos over the years. I adore the delicacy of the fresh and airy effect at sunrise. And I absolutely love the dark and moody outcome during a rainy photoshoot or at sunset. I felt stumped and didn’t like the feeling of limiting myself. Therefore, I started to tailor specific editing styles into packages based on the type of photoshoot. I found that this broadened my client base. Plus, I started to meet more interesting people along my journey!

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.

Luckily, I DID visit Colorado with my best friend before I moved here! We visited in March during spring break, but that’s still winter time in CO. We went snow tubing and snowmobiling in Frisco and walked around Breckenridge. We explored Red Rocks Open Space and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Did you know you can feed the giraffes there?! Yes, you can! We circled back to feed them twice. We played in the penny arcades in Manitou Springs and soaked in every minute we could staring at the views.

If you plan to visit in the summer, then there are so many options!! Lost Gulch Overlook in Boulder is really pretty and isn’t too far from Chautauqua Park, which has lots of trails. I highly recommend crawling around the Paint Mines in Calhan. If you’re a fellow music lover, then you have to attend a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre! I also recommend taking advantage of the camping and stargazing Colorado has to offer. There’s nothing more relaxing than hearing nature sounds in the mountains while looking for shooting stars!

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?

First, I’d like to recognize my Uncle Josh. You bought me my first camera. You were the first to model for me, even when I asked you to hold up beer mugs to your stomach for a college project. You went with me to my first Vans Warped Tour! Your collaboration helped ignite my passion for photography. I love you and am forever thankful! I will cherish the memories we’ve created.

Mom, Thomas & Nani: I am so grateful for all of you! Ya’ll went to see my work in exhibits; modeled for photos; helped brainstorm ideas; held props/reflectors; and provided unconditional support. Thank you and I love all of you!

This is to my friends that never stopped believing in me. Thank you all for your support! Thank you for creating great experiences with me along this journey. I look forward to making more with all of you by my side.

Instagram: Instagram.com/front.row.moments

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087964144753

Other: frontrowmoments@gmail.com