Meet Jessica Blass: Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Jessica, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
In the journey that is running my own business, the most important lesson I’ve learned is to ditch the idea of “perfect.” In essence, that chasing any standard of “perfect” that I set for myself is actually hindering to my work and what I have to offer my clients. I am a textbook perfectionist. If I didn’t get a 100 on a test as a kid, I was a failure. I can easily fall victim to the “all-or-nothing” mindset. I’m sure it seems silly to throw out the idea of “perfect” as an artist, especially a wedding photographer. After all, isn’t that the word every bride wants to use when they describe their wedding and their photos? It turns out, “perfect” can easily get in the way of me doing my best work. In the past, it’s been easy for me to procrastinate a task because I can’t complete it as “perfectly” as I wanted to. There have been certain weddings and projects where I have very specific expectations for how I want them go and how I want to shoot them. But when one or a few things go wrong, instead of adapting and seeing how I can make the best out of the situation, I can easily box myself in creatively. Rather than letting my creativity flow, I’ve blocked my brain from doing great work because the day didn’t turn out in the very specific way I thought it would. In order for me to show up as my best creative self for my clients, I had to take the pressure off myself and stop expecting things to go in a particular way. Trust me, every creative should show up prepared and equipped for their task at hand. But I was clinging so tightly to the idea of “perfect” that it was hindering my ability to be flexible. Instead, I am approaching each situation and each creative challenge with an open mind, asking myself, “how can I make magic with what is in front of me?” rather than wishing for a “perfect” set of circumstances that doesn’t exist in that moment. I heard a piece of advice on a recent podcast: “don’t let perfect get in the way of pretty darn close.” This is the new mindset I’ve been trying to adopt in recent years. If my standard is always “perfection” for my work, then no work would get done. I’ve been in front of my computer in tears, staring at my Instagram feed or my website or a set of images making myself sick because it didn’t live up to an unrealistic expectation I had in my head. Instead of asking myself “why can’t this be perfect?” I am instead asking myself “how can I make this my best work given what I have?” The perfectionist in me has good intentions. She just wants to do excellent work and offer her very best self to the wedding industry and her clients. But when that perfectionist begins to put a limit on what I can offer, that manager in my brain is no longer serving me. This is an ongoing lesson for me and something I will always have to be mindful of in my business and my life! Trust me, perfection is overrated. I’ve had to come to peace with the fact that while I hope to be a lot of things as a photographer: creative, intentional, intuitive, disciplined, friendly, passionate, and energetic, I am not a perfect one, and that is okay with me.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to look at a seemingly ordinary situation or subject and create magic with it. I’ll see a location, a couple, how the light is present in front of me, and I’ll stop at nothing to create the image I have envisioned in my head. I feel lucky that my couples trust whatever I ask of them, and when I receive their kind and gracious words when I deliver their photos, I feel proud of the work I did in that moment. The biggest challenge I overcame in my business was making the move from Texas to Georgia in 2016. I started my business in Texas, and due to my husband’s job, we were brought to the Southeast. (Just outside of Atlanta). I had to establish myself in a brand new market, and a competitive one at that. There were times where I questioned if I was really meant to still be a wedding photographer, but I’m proud of myself that I didn’t give up. I am so thankful for the path that brought me here, even if it was a challenging one. I want the world to know that I care, so much, about the work that I do. I give my whole heart to every couple that comes in front of my camera. I’ve been told by friends and family that I can possibly care too much about my business and my work, but in the end, I’m okay with that. I’d rather be faulted for putting too much pressure on myself rather than not enough. I love what I do and I care deeply about showing up as my best creative self (not just in my work, but all aspects of 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.
If I had to show a friend around Atlanta, I would spend a weekend with them doing the following:
-Shopping at Ponce City Market
-Walking the Beltline on a sunny afternoon and stopping at Ladybird for drinks
-Having a picnic in Piedmont Park
-Hiking in North Georgia
-Going to a baseball game at Braves Stadium
-Getting brunch or drinks and dinner at one of my favorite spots: Superica, JCT Kitchen, Barcelona Wine Bar, No. 246, Antico, and Beetlecat to name a few

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to my accountability group! I am lucky to be in an accountability group with other creatives in this industry, including photographers, planners, hair & makeup artists, and more. We meet both virtually and in-person to connect with each other, offer advice, and cheer each other on in our goals. It’s easy to feel alone in this industry, so to have a group of like-minded ladies to rely on is a gift. We’re all chasing our goals in our own way, and it’s rewarding to receive their encouragement and offer help to others.

Website: www.jessicagoldphotography.com
Instagram: @jessicagoldphoto