Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Beiles.
Hi Jane, 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?
I was born, raised, and educated in southeastern Michigan before moving to New
York City in the early 1990s. I learned to love art as part of my upbringing since my mother was
a talented painter and some of my earliest memories are sitting beside her easel as she worked.
She founded the art appreciation program at my elementary school and regularly held my hand
and honed my young eye at the Detroit Institute of Arts. While her passion and eye passed down,
I did not inherit her mechanical skills. I had resigned myself to art- appreciation and perhaps art-
adjacent pursuits, including extensive coursework in the history of art at the University of
Michigan, where I was enrolled in the Ross School of Business. I moved to New York City,
happy to be in an executive training program in the fashion and apparel- world where I had a
great career on the business- side of the fashion/apparel industry. 2002 was the year it all
changed. The week our first child was born, my apparel company was sold to a foreign company
and I was laid off along with most of my state-side coworkers. I came home from the hospital
with no job, but a new baby and my husband’s purchase of a Nikon digital DSLR camera. I had
found my calling! I had always wanted to be an artist, but never had a medium. More math and
computer versus chemistry-oriented, the field of digital photography opened the pathway to
translate my love of art, knowledge of composition, and centuries of paintings on a repeat
slideshow in my brain into my own way to make art. I had always been drawn to still life and
interiors in paintings (it wasn’t Van Gogh’s famous botanicals or night sky on my dorm room
wall, but Bedroom at Arles), so it was a natural to focus on interiors and architectural
photography as my specialty.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Is there ever a truly smooth road for an entrepreneur? I have been fortunate to have achieved great success in my specialty but it required many years of training and tireless persistence. I was confident in my ability to compose photographs and to provide excellent client service. The biggest hurdle I had to overcome was learning Photoshop software decades after graduating from college. I can still recall my frustration and thinking that perhaps I was too old of a dog to learn a new trick. But I persevered and it all finally clicked – turns out that the same vision that allowed me to translate three-dimensional scenes into pleasing two-dimensional compositions could be pushed to expland my vision into the “layer” concept for high-level photo editing. It wasn’t easy, but it all worked out. And like anything that doesn’t come easy, mastering a difficult concept is incredibly satisfying.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Jane Beiles Photography and JB360?
My eponymous photography business was founded in 2011 and specializes in architecture and interiors. Based in Connecticut, with great access to both New York City and Boston, I was fortunate to be located in a region rich with diverse architectural styles, fascinating historical sites and exquisite gardens and landscaping. I was first hired by The New York Times in 2013 for the HOME section and have since completed over one hundred feature assignments for the title’s DESIGN, TRAVEL, BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE and FOOD sections. In addition to working directly for publishers, I also have a vibrant roster of small business clients, most typically interior design and architecture firms.
I credit the University of Michigan for an amazing education, where I studied both business and art history. Another benefit of attending such a large university is its incredible alumni network, and the image gallery here is composed entirely of collaborations with fellow Wolverines.
Image credits:
Poolside, Nantucket: Steve Roethke studied architecture at the University of Michigan. This Nantucket project was a collaboration between his firm, S.M. Roethke Design Inc., and interior designer Nina Liddle.
Kitchen: Stacy Millman earned a B.A. in History of Art from U-M and is a licensed architect. This Connecticut kitchen is a project from her business, SKM Design LLC.
Bath: Lisa Sweeney Johnson graduated from Michigan’s Stamps School of Art. Her interior design company, Simply Done, recently completed this exquisite bath project in Utah.
Living Space: New York Times reporter Katie Rosman and interior designer Liz Victory Anderson of LVA Interiors teamed up for a feature in the NYT titled “A BFF Takes On a DIYer (LOL).” The pair first met as students in Ann Arbor.
Bedroom: Ross School of Business alumna Kathy Ganley is the Midwest Lead for Mason Lane Art Advisory, which helps clients learn about and acquire art while supporting designers and peer advisors as they navigate the art market.
Dining Space: Courtney Yanni is a Michigan graduate and designer at Moss Design, where she worked on this stunning beachfront Connecticut project with design lead Meghan De Maria.
Outdoor Space: A graduate of the College of Engineering, interior designer Michelle Holland is now the co-owner of Nantucket House Antiques & Interior Design Studios with her husband, Tucker Holland (Ross School of Business MBA).
One aspect of my business that sets it apart is our new division (founded in 2023) JB360 Media Relations. Press coverage is often a goal for many of the small business creatives who hire me to photograph their design projects. The world of publishing has changed dramatically in the last decade. Large design firms often hire full-time publicists to ensure that their projects land in prestigious magazines and are widely seen on social media and online. Unfortunately, the pricing and commitment for this type of service is out-of-scale for most small businesses. While helping clients get their project has always been a part of my business strategy, it was no longer feasible to serve both as a photographer and handle the time-consuming task of media relations. So, two years ago, I partnered with Sara Koch, who had studied Public Relations at the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Sara had excellent experience in the media world, and a true passion for design. We now offer media pitches, present press opportunities and run special campaigns for boutique small businesses and creatives. We’ve had great success with this new venture with projects placed with titles including House Beautiful and Architectural Digest and designers connected as design authority sources for Veranda, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post and many more. Two of our current campaign clients are Nina Liddle Interior Design (who recently opened BIRDIE, a Nantucket boutique which was named one of House Beautiful’s Best 25 Home Stores in America) and Des Rêves Faïncerie a French earthenware artisan now shipping to the United States.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m an industrious sort! ‘ve always loved working and started babysitting in middle school and consistently held part-time jobs through college. I’ve worked in so many environments – from classic jobs like retail and food service to some more unexpected ones. Shortly after Excel was first introduced, I was employed to create spreadsheets for both a golf course maintenance team and for an art museum donor database. I’ve delivered flowers and pushed wheelchairs at my hometown hospital as a candystriper (I don’t think that job even exists anymore!) When I look back on all the different jobs, one stands out with the fondest memories. When working for Main Street Ventures (a restaurant group based in Ann Arbor), I absolutely loved the camaraderie and high energy environment of waiting tables. I see a lot of parallels between that job and the one I hold now. Both involve creatives, team work, precision and a whole lot of hustle. And a key “ingredient” with both comes down to the camaraderie with one’s co-workers and the aim of pleasing the client. This experience also gives me a great appreciation for the HULU series “The Bear”, which really captures the essence of the restaurant world. And yes, I do still, on occasion have waitress stress dreams!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.janebeiles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janebeilesphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaneBeilesPhotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-beiles-4a234b2b
