Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff & Jess Dobbs
Hi Jeff & Jess, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our professional journey began shortly after Jess and I were married in 2012. As a wedding gift, Jess bought me my first digital SLR camera and a few lenses. Prior to this, I had still been using film – but rarely touched a camera.
Digital changed everything. Including, piquing Jess’ own interest in photography – as she began to see what was possible with a “real” camera. Oftentimes, she would borrow my camera, leaving me with none. So, it wasn’t long before, I bought her a camera of her own.
Not long after this… We were asked to document a friend’s wedding and offered to do so as a gift to them. We enjoyed it so much, and did pretty well. So, we decided to have a go at building a life in the photography business…
We are still at it nearly 12 years later. And we love it every bit as much as we did back then. While we don’t do many weddings lately, we still love doing the smaller elopements for couples as well as meeting up with both tourists and local families for more relaxed sessions in the forests and beaches around home. We even get an the occasional High School senior who happens to find and book us….
We are also building an online “art shop” of our hiking & travel adventures throughout the years… Selling scenic work of places people love for families and businesses to put on their walls.
It has been a blessing to do something we love. It never feels like work!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The photography was always a fun challenge to learn. Picking up all the aspects to be able to handle any situation within our craft has never been a struggle.
However, all of the other aspects of running a business have not always come smoothly. Even today, the most difficult aspect (as a couple of introverts, especially) has been to market our business. For some people, this seems to come easily and they have a full schedule always. This has never been the case for us.
However, throughout the years we have built a very loyal customer base which we travel throughout Michigan to accommodate. Lately, it has been a lot of fun rebuilding our business locally in our new home and meeting the awesome people who live up near us in our VERY rural county in Northeast Michigan. The word-of-mouth aspect works much better here, than in the “big city” of Metro Detroit – where we lived prior to moving here in early 2021. So, things are beginning to grow organically in all areas of our work.
Must say, it’s nice when your work speaks for itself and your own clients help spread the word for you.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Our specialty is in almost exclusively working outdoors – mostly within the beautiful confines of nature. It is our name, after all: “Framed by Nature Photography”. Whether it’s a portrait session, a wedding elopement, or simply us walking through nature looking for scenes and light to capture… We are at our best when surrounded by the amazing beauty of the natural world around us.
I feel we are most proud of the clients that actually print and proudly display our artwork on their walls. Print is somewhat of a lost art in this digital age so we have long tried to focus on the tangible and physical art that people can display in real ways. It is rather our legacy, and we are honored when someone wants to make our work a part of their home or office.
What were you like growing up?
As I mentioned earlier, I (Jeff) am a bit introverted. It was little different in childhood. I am an only child and have always been a bit shy and kept to myself and those closest to me.
I have always been interested in art. Though, I’m not particularly gifted when it comes to painting or drawing – and not from a lack of effort. I wasn’t a great academic in school, either. So, fully discovering an interest and ability with photography was an amazing revelation for me. I went all-in. It changed my life and showed me that there was indeed “life beyond the cubicle”.
As a child Jess was much the same as me in some ways. Perhaps it is why we got along so well right from the start. She was a shy gal who also had interest in arts, loved learning (still does), and she got great grades in school (unlike me). Her interest in the arts early on was manifested with music, taking part in band and choir throughout school.
Jess especially looked up to her grandmother as an all-around positive and strong influence on many aspects of her life growing up. Her grandmother was consequently a hobbyist photographer herself. This was a big factor in Jess’ own interest in learning how to be a photographer and provided her with motivation and interest in learning this craft.
Funny how two shy people came together and started a business where you truly need to be outgoing… But somehow it works! We love our clients and they sure seem to love us right back.
Pricing:
- Standard Family Sessions: $450
- Standard Senior Sessions: $450
- Local Elopements Start At: $900
- Nature Prints Start At: $50
Contact Info:
- Website: Portrait/Elopement photo business: https://www.framedbynaturephotography.com/
- Other: Nature photo business: https://www.michigan.photography/
