Cassie Jones | Featured Showiteer

Location: Central Arkansas, currently serving worldwide

Specialty: Weddings

Years in Business: 5 years, 2 years full time.

What are some of your personal goals and business goals for this year: Personally, I’d love to be more organized. We’re welcoming a little girl in January and nesting is beginning to take over. As far as business goes, my goals include shooting a total of 15 weddings, continuing to streamline my process and to incorporate some boutique items in with my experience, such as a wedding guide magazine, and albums are being included in all our packages.

Do you have a favorite shoot? Right now, my favorite shoot is one I just finished up. It was a lovely couple in a beautiful location that’s right up my alley. It was complete with fishing, a flat bottomed boat, a lake, covered dirt roads and an old truck. It sang straight to my southern heart.

Do you have any advice for new photographers? I’m fortunate to live in a community where the surrounding more experienced photographers were very welcoming when I first started. I know not everyone is quite so lucky. My advice to new photographers is to not worry so much about what others think. There are things we all have to go through to get to where we are. Experienced photographers SHOULD remember where they came from. We all came from exactly where you are. We all made mistakes. Made successes. And learned along the way. It’s a long journey, but it’s well worth the time you take to do it right. When you fall, get right back up. Continue on. Failure is a choice, not something that “happens” to you. And whether you’re in a support filled community or one who judges every move you make, no one can determine your success other than yourself. But find those people who DO believe in you. Surround yourself with positive influences. Community is so important. And if you’re not in one that believes in you, go find one that does.

What inspires you? Emotions inspire me. It’s that moment right before lips touch. His hand slipping up to cup your cheek. That quickening you feel in your heart. When a father looks at his daughter as he’s giving her away. A grandfather sitting in the first row, wiping his tears. Those are the things that a mind can forget, but a photograph can make a heart remember.

Fun facts about you: I live on a farm with my family. Campfires are a weekly ritual in the fall. I can rap in the car like no-body’s business. I have a little boy, who is two, and who is currently sitting over my shoulder trying to take over this interview. I’m majorly double jointed and can do gross human super tricks. I absolutely love to write and I think it’d be fun someday to write a novel. I can make awesome forts in the living room. And I do hand embroidery sometimes. Because deep inside me, there’s an 80 year old woman. But she’s feisty. And I like her.

Favorite go to accessories or equipment: My video light is a MUST for me. I use it all the time, especially for photographing details. It really bumps up the contrast and highlights a lot of detail that otherwise falls a little flat. I also love love my reversing ring. It’s a poor-man’s version of turning any lens into a macro. It’s a little sketch, but I use it on my 50 mm 1.8 a lot and get some killer ring shots out of it. I have an ONA bag that I adore because it’s light-weight and currently saving my shoulders and neck from issues I was having from carrying around WAY too much gear. When I switched to a lighter back, focused on only carrying lenses that I use ALL the time, and left the rest in a rolly bag, I’ve been a much happier person. With a much happier neck. My dream purchase is a 45mm tilt shift. Or the 28. Or both. 🙂

When I’m not shooting or working I’m spending time with my family. That’s my favorite. I also love to do crafts, sewing, play the piano, and especially to read. I love a good book.