Meet Jessica Surovchak | Photographer

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

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I would never describe myself as a risk-taker, but I’ve learned over the past few years that risk is a necessary part of life. It is essential for growth, it generates new possibilities and opportunities, and even if you fall flat on your face, you still stand to gain valuable insight and experience. Starting any kind of business is going to come with risks…As someone who has always liked her stability and security, this was a difficult lesson to learn. I have put a lot of time, money, and energy into this business, and there is always a possibility that it’ll crumble. But I really love what I do and I know that I would regret not seeing where it could go.

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.
I’m most proud of how far I have come…as an artist, as a business owner, and just as a person. When I look back on who I was nearly a decade ago, or when I compare my work from when I was just getting started to what I can do now, the growth just blows my mind. The person I was ten years ago wouldn’t have kept going if she knew that there were people watching who wanted her to fail, who wanted her to give up. The person I was five years ago wouldn’t have stepped out of her comfort zone during sessions, or asked people to pay her what she was worth. The person I am today sees every mistake, setback, and failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. She doesn’t get as frazzled or discouraged when the unexpected hits, she just runs into the storm and photographs her clients dancing in the rain. I’m very proud of who I am now.

It hasn’t been the easiest journey. I have battled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome and creative burn-out. I’ve listened to people tell me that what I do isn’t anything special, that I’m just “pushing a button” and that my dreams of being a professional photographer full-time aren’t realistic. But I’ve pushed forward, sometimes on my own, and sometimes with a little bit of help.

I’ve learned so much, but I think one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that you’re never going to be able to make every single person happy. Not everyone is going to like my particular style or my particular brand. Obviously, my goal is to make each client I work with happy. However, I know that sometimes, no matter how hard I try, even if everything goes right, some people just can’t be pleased. This has fortunately only happened a handful of times. I used to get in my head about it and I’d let it bring me down. It has been hard to break out of that mindset, dust myself off and learn from the experience, but I’m working on it.

I want the world to know that I’ve come a long way, but I’m also just getting started. I hope that by chasing my own dreams, I’ll someday inspire others to pursue their own passions. I can’t wait to see where this business takes me in the next ten years.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is so much to do in Atlanta, it’s hard to know where to start. I’ve lived north of the city my entire life and I still haven’t been able to explore it quite as much as I want to. We would definitely have to kick off at least one of the days with brunch…West Egg Cafe in Westside Provisions and 10th & Piedmont in Midtown are a couple of my favorites. Afterwards, we would visit one or a couple of Atlanta’s popular attractions. I love the Georgia Aquarium and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We could spend an entire day outside, exploring Piedmont Park or rafting/tubing down the Chattahoochee River, and then grab a beer at one of Atlanta’s many breweries. I really enjoy New Realm, personally. Ponce City Market and Krog Street have really cool shops and delicious food options. I would also want them to experience a comedy show at the Laughing Skull, and maybe grab some Mac-and-Cheesy-Changas, burgers, and drinks from the Vortex! Depending on the season or what was going on in the city, it would be fun to see a show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, or go to Truist Park to watch the World Champions (the Atlanta Braves) play ball! There’s something for everyone in and all around Atlanta. It’s definitely not hard to find something to do!

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?
There are so many people I could thank, and I’m going to try to keep this short without forgetting anyone. First and foremost: my soon-to-be husband, Jonathan; he is my loudest cheerleader and just the best partner in life that I could ask for. Obviously, right alongside Jon would be my family. My parents have supported me in everything I have ever done…from basketball to band to theater and chorus. My mom fostered my creativity, and my dad has always fueled and inspired my entrepreneurial spirit. My siblings have spent hours in front of my camera when I have wanted to practice and they promote me every chance they get (not to mention, my sister Ally is the one who taught me how to shoot in manual). I also have to show some love to my photog-friends (Nikki, Jessie, and Lindsey) who constantly show me the true meaning of community over competition, as well as my friends who have stuck by me from the very beginning when I had no idea what I was doing. Jon’s family has also been so supportive of me from day one. I’m very fortunate to have so many people cheering me on.

Website: https://jsurophotography.mypixieset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsurophotog/

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

Image Credits
Photo of me: Nikki Chattom Photography Other images by me