Women Who Rock Columbus: Jess (Me)
This next highlight is one I’ve been debating doing since I started this project. It’s not that this woman isn’t worthy of getting highlighted, it just seems weird and maybe a little narcissistic to highlight yourself in series dedicated to giving other women in the industry their well deserved flowers. Plus I really do enjoy life behind the scenes.
So finally after some convincing and poking from several of the previous women (and I do mean SEVERAL of them) in the first round, I decided it was time to put my money where my mouth is and do my own highlight.
And because turnabout is fair play…..
Allow me to introduce myself!
Silent Disco at Otherworld
Hi I’m Jess. I am a photographer and a journalist. A photojournalist, if you will. I started in journalism because I wanted to be a radio DJ so I could go to concerts for free, meet rock stars, and play the music people loved for a living. In 2009, I did one Guest DJ spot on CD101 (RIP) with Lesley James and that’s all it took, I was hooked.
The playlist from my CD101 Guest DJ spot
Since then, I’ve done a number of things in the industry including writing and photographing for local and national music publications, photographing countless local shows and musicians, selling merch, and even putting a show or two together as well. Back in the day, I also interned for a local talk radio station and two major Columbus sports teams and wrote and photographed for a local sports publication.
Lately, I’ve had to slow down a bit due to being hit with some health challenges in the form of multiple autoimmune disorders and a body that doesn’t always want to cooperate with me which has been soul crushingly hard, but I am incredibly thankful that there are still days where I have the opportunity to do what I love.
That is also why I cheated for my photos and used some of my favorites of myself throughout the years. I did shoot a few new ones, but only used one of them. And technically, they were all taken by me (with the expectation of one) so it still counts.
The questions were provided by former highlights Syd, of Austin & The Syd Experience and Lisa J, so a huge thank you to them for giving me the questions their inquiring minds wanted to know.
So without further ado, let’s get into it!
1. Where does your love for music come from?
I don’t know honestly, it’s always just been there. I think it's in my blood. There's never been a day that I can remember where I haven't loved music. Both my parents and grandparents always had music playing everywhere-house, car, patio, so I grew up listening to it. My dad had one of those ridiculous stereo systems in the 80’s that was taller than a toddler in the cabinet with the glass door on the front, and the massive speakers so he was always blaring something from that. Mom was listening to a mix of 50’s/60’s/70’s music and of course 80’s greats Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Idol, and Meatloaf. My grandma loved Nat King Cole and grandpa played a lot of swing and big band music so I was exposed to such an eclectic mix of music I think that just formed my love of it and I’ve carried it all through life.
As I grew up, it was my escape. I always had headphones in. I was always making mix tapes or cd’s or going to shows. I sang in choir all the way up until 10th grade. Music has just always been there for me every step of the way. It’s the one constant in my life. Especially in my teens and early 20’s, I leaned on it really hard because it made me feel alive and like I wasn’t going through things alone because some song could speak feelings that I couldn’t.
“The magic is inside you. There ain’t no crystal ball” -Dolly Parton
2. What lead you into concert photography?
Funny story- I was actually doing sports photography at the time because I knew it wouldn’t break my heart the way concert photography would.
(For those wondering…The Crew, USWNT/the US Women’s National Soccer team and a charity hockey event are some of things I shot before the move.)
At the time someone I knew needed a photographer for a show that they were reviewing and convinced me come do it. Actually, they had been trying to get me to shoot for them for a while and I didn’t want to “get involved” because I KNEW that I was going to fall in love with it and it would ultimately break my heart into a million pieces. Music has always been my happy place and concert photography is one of the hardest professions not only to break into but also stay in so I didn’t want to fall in love and get totally devastated when it didn’t work out. But you know, that’s how it always happens, right, you fall for the things you know are going to break your heart and unfortunately, I did fall head over heels in love with capturing people doing what they love too.
And honestly, it has absolutely broken my heart several times and still does on occasions so much so that I’ve thought about walking away a thousand times and a couple of times, I have to pursue other things in the music industry but I always, no matter what, end up coming back to it. It’s in my soul and I know it.
On the other side of that though, I’ve had some really awesome opportunities, met some super cool humans, and gotten to photograph one of my idols so I’ll take it.
3. What do you like best, interviewing or photographing artists?
This is a hard one for me to answer because I enjoy them both. However, photography is less involved in my opinion than interviewing. With photography, if I’m just shooting a show, I can sneak in and out without being noticed and never have to speak to anyone if I don't want to. I can be that true introverted self and just do my thing and go. Interviewing is a completely different ballgame thought and you can’t necessarily do that when you are interviewing someone. Plus there are some bigger preparations that go along with it like doing research, figuring out your questions, conducting and then transcribing the interview and then formulating it into an article or feature so. Both are different versions of telling a story and I love being able to do that in any form.
4. Who was the first women who blew your mind and made you go "Oh my gosh, I didn't even know women could do that?!" Ya, know the first "Rule Breaker".
Pink, and I'll tell you why. She opened for *NSYNC on their No Strings Attached tour and she was such a bad ass (still is too, btw). This woman was on stage opening for the biggest boy band in the world and had to win over stadiums of screaming teeny boppers and it took balls to do and she did it too!! Not only that but she was the outsider from all the pop girlies in the early 2000’s. When I looked in the mirror I didn’t see a Britney or Xtina, I saw a girl more like Pink and Don’t Let Me Get Me became my anthem for life.
Also, shoutout to Stevie and Dolly because they were rule breaking trailblazers in the early days when it got them called things by people who couldn’t control the rebel hearts.
Sofi Tukker show in Detroit a few years ago
5. If you could photograph ANYONE (dead or alive) who would it be?
This is almost impossible to answer because there are SO MANY people I’d love to photograph but I’ll give you a couple for both.
Dead: Kurt Cobain, Bowie, and Marilyn Monroe.
Elton John back in the 70’s/80’s would have been insane.
Anyone in my CD collection.
There’s a few of my favorite bands who are no longer together who’d I love the opportunity to shoot one of their shows.
And ok, I’m going to say it and get a ton of shit for it but, Taylor Swift would be a really fun show to shoot.
6. Who is your dream artist to work with?
*NSYNC. If there is ever a reunion tour, they are at the top of my list. No joke.
Lady Gaga is another one. Raye. Kesha. Yungblud. Maybe TS some day. Pink, of course. I did get to shoot her Beautiful Trauma tour in 2019 but getting to actually work with her, I’d probably pass out.
80’s night at the conservatory. (The one photo I didn’t take)
7. Do you have a favorite spot you like to take your pictures? A preference?
Where ever the angle is best! Normally I move around, but sometimes I get so focused I forget to. I think area wise, I love the pit or right in front of the stage.
8. What's been your fondest memory with your camera so far?
It’s not at all music related but I had a *BIG* birthday a few years ago and to celebrate I took a road trip to California and spent the last couple of days in Joshua Tree. I wanted to shoot the Milky Way in Joshua Tree National park so I went in after dark and set up my camera. It was so surreal. The sky was amazing and it was just so peaceful. Some of my favorite shots that I’ve ever taken are from that trip.
9. What is your dream job in the music business?
Oh geez, there are a few. I think the major pipe dream is I would love to be a photographer/journalist for Rolling Stone. (Thanks Almost Famous for making it look cool.) Another would be a tour photographer. Even if it’s just once in this lifetime I’d still love the opportunity because it’s a dream my younger self had. I always thought it would be the coolest thing to travel the world with an artist and get to document it. I know tour life isn’t the glamorous life it’s made out to be, but I’d love to say I got to do it! Being a house photographer for a venue or festival would be pretty bad ass too though.
10. Any words of advice for other women trying to make it in the music business?
Take. Up. Space. -You deserve to be there just as much as the next person. (and you might have had to work twice as hard to get there too so, own it.)
It’s not going to be easy by any means but do it for you and no one else.
Do no harm but take no shit.
Some times being a bitch IS necessary.
Be yourself regardless of what the world wants you to be.
Don’t stay in any situation that makes you completely miserable, it will destroy you.
Ok, so there it is! It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! Thank you again to Syd and Lisa for the awesome questions!
This is usually the spot where I tell you if you’d like to learn more about the highlightee you can do so by clicking the links, but you’re already on my site so, you don’t need that.
I will however, give you some links to a couple of articles I’ve recently done and you should absolutely go check them out!
https://columbusunderground.com/beachkitty-brings-beautiful-chaos-to-a-venue-near-you-jl1/
Thanks for reading this edition of WWRC, and until next time:
“Above everything else I’ve done, I’ve always said I’ve had more guts than I’ve got talent”- Dolly Parton
Peace, Love and R.I.P Dolly.
