Daily Inspiration: Meet Jill DeVries-Dryer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill DeVries-Dryer. 

Hi Jill, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In college, I developed an interest in photography. I loved documenting anything my friends and I did, as well as my travels during a semester abroad. I didn’t intend for it to become a career but hoped to work doing communications in the non-profit sector. After graduation, I had lots of friends and friends of friends getting married who asked me to document their weddings. I also did some second shooting for a local photographer. Turns out I loved it! I balanced this work on the side of my full-time office job for nearly two years. When it got to the point where I only had the capacity to do one or the other, I chose photography. I quit my job to go full-time as a self-employed photographer in April of 2010, and I haven’t looked back. Things in the industry were so different back then — nowadays, it’s a very “cool” and kind of trendy job to have, and everyone knows at least a handful of people who do it. I’m grateful that it fell into my lap when there was not much market saturation. I was able to develop my skills and my unique voice without being influenced by trends, competition, or social media. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Self-employment is a bit of a rollercoaster, especially when you’re in your early 20s and don’t know much about running a business. The wedding industry is fairly seasonal, and not having a consistent paycheck takes some getting used to. Every year I learn more and more about owning a business, even 15 years in! But it’s been long enough now that it’s just what I know, and I definitely wouldn’t trade it for working a more traditional job. Trends in wedding photography have changed a ton over the last decade and a half, and social media has too. Instagram didn’t even exist for the first few years I was in business… for me, it’s been all about adapting to changes while still staying true to myself and my vision. Some days it’s harder than others to stay true to your authentic style and not bend to what gets the most likes on IG. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While I do some commercial, portrait, and family work, weddings are my sweet spot and my favorite thing to photograph! My style is more candid and documentary, and that’s pretty common now, but wasn’t really a thing in West Michigan when I first started. I’m proud of the fact that I carved out a niche at a young age, that it really caught on, and that in those early days, I did it without the help of Instagram. My level of experience and my intuitive eye are what set me apart. I’m proud that it’s been almost 15 years since the first wedding I was hired to photograph, and I’m still here making it work. I’ve been fully booked every year since I went full-time, made timeless images cherished by hundreds of couples, and formed relationships with amazing vendors in this industry. What I’m most proud of is getting to make images that really matter — wedding photographers often take the last great photo of their client’s loved ones. I don’t take that task lightly. It’s an honor and a joy to do what I do. 

What’s next?
I’m about to experience a pretty significant change, actually! My husband and I are welcoming our first child in December. I know everything about life is about to look different, including my business. But if it’s anything like the experience of getting married was, I know it will only deepen the connection I have to my couples and help me hone in on what truly matters. 

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jilldevries.net
• Instagram: @jilldevriesphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/jilldevriesphotography 

Image Credits
Jill by Abbey Moore Photography
Jill DeVries Photography