Jezurine Paulsen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jezurine, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with a covert operation: sneaking into the kitchen to enjoy a hot cup of coffee before my kids find me. That first 30 seconds of quiet is my moment to mentally prepare. And then, just like that, mom mode is officially up and running.
Mornings are dedicated to homeschooling my 8-year-old. Right now, we’re obsessed with mythology, so we spend our mornings talking about Zeus, Hera, and all the drama of Mount Olympus — it’s basically “k-pop demon hunters,” but educational. Meanwhile, my 3-year-old is busy doing something she shouldn’t be doing… but will proudly present to me later as if she’s Picasso.
By early afternoon, I cross my fingers that it’s nap time (for her, though honestly, I wouldn’t say no either), then I sit down at my computer, decompress for a minute, and switch into photographer mode. I spend those golden hours editing, answering client messages, and keeping up with socials so I know what’s trending and what my clients are excited about.
If my energy holds, I keep going, but more often than not, you’ll find me grabbing a quick cat nap on the couch before my toddler wakes up and resumes her tiny tornado duties.
Evenings are my time. Once the kids are in bed, I have a quiet house, an audiobook playing, and I get into my editing flow. It’s my favorite part of the day. It’s a mix of peace, creativity, and catching up on work before I reset and do it all over again.
It’s a little chaotic, sometimes hilarious, but I honestly wouldn’t trade it. It keeps me inspired, creative, and caffeinated specifically in that order!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m a stay-at-home mom turned photographer, business owner, and homeschool teacher, basically juggling all the hats and learning how to keep them from falling off. My brand is all about capturing people’s stories in a way that feels true to them. Whether it’s a couple in love, a bold portrait session, or a creative concept that pushes boundaries.
What makes my work unique is that it’s deeply personal. I know what it’s like to have a life that’s a mix of chaos and beauty, and that’s exactly what I love to capture for my clients. I want people to feel seen and celebrated in my photos, not just posed.
Right now, I’m working on growing my portrait and couples photography even more, and experimenting with creative sessions that let my clients step into something bold and fun. At the end of the day, I’m passionate about turning everyday moments into art. Whether that’s through my camera lens or through the little adventures I share with my kids.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks the bonds between people most often is a lack of understanding. When we stop listening to each other, stop giving each other grace, or start assuming the worst instead of the best. Life gets busy, we get tired, and sometimes it’s easier to pull away than to lean in.
What restores those bonds is the exact opposite: slowing down, listening, and really seeing the other person. For me, that’s why I love what I do. Photography is about noticing people, celebrating them, and reminding them that they matter.
Even outside of my work, I think connection comes back when we show up for each other in small ways. Like, a kind word, a shared laugh, a moment where someone feels truly seen. Those little things can stitch relationships back together in ways that are so simple but so powerful.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was definitely a time I almost gave up. It was right after my husband and I got married, we moved to Okinawa, Japan for three years. We were halfway across the world from my family, starting our own family, adopting pets, and trying to figure out adulthood all at once. Because of the military lifestyle, my husband was gone a lot between trainings and a deployment— and suddenly I was a very young mom raising our son solo, in a brand-new country, with zero idea what I was doing.
I struggled with depression and anxiety and honestly, there were days where I was just surviving. Wake up, keep the tiny human alive, go to bed, repeat. I felt like I was just living on autopilot and hoping the days would move faster.
But that season also made me who I am today. It forced me to become fiercely independent and figure out who I wanted to be, not just as a wife and mom, but as my own person. It’s actually when I picked up a camera for the first time. Partly as therapy, partly as proof that I was doing more than just changing diapers and getting dinner from the convenient stores (& if you know Japan, you know that they have amazing convenience stores)
Looking back, I’m grateful for that chapter (even though I didn’t feel grateful at the time). It gave me grit, it gave me perspective, and it gave me a passion for capturing real, honest moments. Because I know how much those little good moments can mean when life feels heavy.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say yes. The public version of me really is me. What you see on my social media is the same person you’d meet in real life: a little messy, a little sarcastic, always with a coffee nearby, and doing my best to balance mom life, homeschool life, and business owner life.
Of course, I share the highlights. You won’t always see the piles of laundry or the toddler meltdowns, but the heart behind what I share is very real. I think authenticity is so important, especially as a creative business owner. People connect with you, not just your work, so I try to show the real moments: the chaos, the humor, and the beauty in all of it.
For me, it’s about letting my clients and followers know that I’m a real person too, figuring things out as I go and that it’s okay if life looks a little messy sometimes. That’s the good stuff. That’s what I love to capture in my photos, and that’s what I try to share in my own life too.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think people might misunderstand my legacy and think it’s just about photography, but for me, it’s about so much more than taking pretty pictures. My hope is that people remember that I used my work to tell real stories, to help people feel seen, celebrated, and confident in who they are.
I think as moms, business owners, and just humans in general, we can feel like we have to have it all together all the time. My work and honestly, my life is about showing that the messy, real moments are just as worthy of being celebrated.
If someday people look back and think, ‘She made people feel seen, even in the middle of their chaos,’ then that’s the legacy I want to leave, not just pretty photos, but proof that there’s beauty in the everyday.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.jezurinepaulsenphoto.com
- Instagram: @jezurinepaulsen_
- Facebook: Jezurine Paulsen photo
- Other: TikTok: @jezlikepez
Image Credits
Myself: @jezurinepaulsen_
