Meet Jenn Carroll | Photographer and Author

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

Hi Jenn, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
When I was born, both of my parents were active musicians in the nightlife circuit of Miami’s hottest bands. I grew up encompassed with music, culture and the arts. However, when I was four, my parents divorced and everything changed. We moved from a bustling city to a rural area of cow pastures. My two story beautiful house with a neighborhood full of kids, transformed into a 1,000 sq foot home in the poor part of town. The two bedroom, one bath house was shared by my grandparents, mother, brother and I. Oddly enough, I don’t recall those 3-4 years to be negative. I watched my mother transmute her brokenness into determination as she went to college and worked several jobs to make a life for us. She left her passion, her career in music, and started a new life to support my brother and I.

After the divorce, both of my parents were adamant that my brother and I were to go to college and become “something”. My brother and I inherited several creative gifts from our parents, and while they were nourished and encouraged, they were encouraged to be hobbies only and to have a career first. I poured my heart into academics while feeding my soul through elective art classes and community theater. It wasn’t until I was three-quarters of the way through my Bachelor’s, with a career set in the medical field, that I knew in my heart it wasn’t meant for me. I struggled quite a bit with it emotionally. I wanted to be a pediatric oncologist, to make my parents proud and heal the most innocent, but my heart wouldn’t let me. I changed my major several times, each time with a theme around children, but never really finding a correct fit. After a few years, I decided to take a hiatus from schooling to try and figure out my true North.

It wasn’t until I was married with a child of my own, and a gentle nudging from my husband, that I realized I could make a career out of my art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a photographer, based in the small(ish) town of Zephyrhills, FL. I specialize in the whimsical, imaginative world of Storybook Sessions, where I bring to life elaborate scenes that become pages of a book, specifically written for each client. I mostly photograph children and newborns, but I also love capturing the love between a mother and her child(ren).

My photography career started over a decade ago when my husband bought me a Nikon DSLR to photograph the pageant/birthday dresses I would make for clients. Taking photos of dresses turned into my taking pictures of the children in their custom attire, which then transitioned into the career that it is today.

When I was first dabbling in the realm of photography, I met a fellow creative, Cassandra VanCuren (Ever After Deann). We instantly became best friends and she introduced me to a group of women photographers called the Tampa Shutter Sisters. These women were extremely instrumental in my life. We would try to gather monthly to help teach each other tips and tricks as well as become accountability partners and unbiased soundboards.

There have definitely been some challenges throughout my career, but I am grateful for each lesson. Each challenge helped strengthen me as a person, a business owner and an artist. I have learned to honor my time and my talent. I am a recovering people pleaser, so it was very difficult for me to say no to clients that didn’t respect me nor my time. It seems so silly now, but I was afraid that saying no, not taking the job, etc, that I was going to fail. I felt like I had to be everything to everyone and because of that, I was consumed with work and my life was completely out of work/life balance. I was missing moments with my family, ironically enough, because I was too busy capturing moments for other families.

When life has a way of getting off balance, I believe the Universe has a way of returning insight; loud and clear. In 2016, my husband and I were in an accident. An unsecured hay roll fell onto our car, off of an oncoming tractor-trailer. It was like out of a movie. It wrecked my body and I ended up having to have spinal reconstructive surgery. I had clients booked out for a year. 2-3 weddings in one weekend. I didn’t have time to be down for weeks while my mangled body healed. Honestly, that year is mostly a blur, but the one thing I know for certain is my perspective on life changed. I could no longer be a workaholic. Life was and is too precious, too fleeting to be wasted on chasing every dollar, every job. I had to learn to say no and find my self worth as a person, as well as an artist.

In 2022, I believe I have finally succeeded in finding my self-worth. I’m not talking strictly monetarily, but as an artist. I have found gratitude and courage to stick up for myself, my time, and my talent so I may continue to bring art and beauty into the world without risk of burn-out.

One of my favorite accomplishments thus far, was receiving high marks and a finalist spot amongst photography greats in an international photography competition. I was on the phone with my mother the day I saw the email pop up in my inbox. I literally squealed and then began sobbing with utter happiness. I was so proud of the photo I submitted, but it was surreal to be in the same category as a finalist with some of the people I have looked up to most in my career, specifically, Cassandra Jones with Noelle Mirabella Photography. (Which, I reached out to her, and let me just say that not only is she incredibly talented, but is incredibly kind as well.)

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.
The first place I would do is take them to Frank’s Clinic of Chiropractic Care to get adjusted after a long car ride or plane trip. Dr. Holstein is amazing and has been extremely instrumental in my healing. After an adjustment, I would suggest heading towards downtown to grab a bite to eat at Saigon Cafe before taking a stroll around Zephyrhill’s cute historic downtown area.

The next day, I would take them to breakfast at Perk’s Cafe in Dade City. Afterwards, we would grab coffee at the Merchantile Treehouse so we can ooh and ahh over their handmade pottery and sustainable gifts/products. We would shop in the various antique stores and when we got hungry again, we would eat at Florida Cracker’s Lunch on Limoges, saving room for ice cream at Uptown Creamery. If we decided to stay in downtown and continue shopping, I would suggest dinner at The Green Door or Kafe Kokopeli’s.

During their visit, I would be sure to order a special dessert from Torrenna with The Pink Mixer Baking Co. and book a facial and energy healing with Ashley, owner of Magnolia & Ash.

The following days would be filled with outdoor fun to one of the local parks, or theme parks. In Zephyrhills, we’re about 30-40 minutes away from Busch Gardens and an hour away from Disney.

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?
Oh my goodness, there are so many! My support team; my mother, Tina Mazzara and my husband, Adam Carroll, as well as my two best friends, Cassandra VanCuren and Celeste Holstein. Honestly, I’m surrounded by a whole community of women that I’m beyond thankful for and am where I am because of them.

Website: https://www.jenncarrollphotography.com

Instagram: @jenn_carroll_photography

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