Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hamilton.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved taking photos to remember moments in life. In 2012 my camera was starting to show signs of dying. My husband was military & we were a one-income household, so it would be my responsibility to figure out a way to replace it. I decided to offer my services to our kids’ sports teams. I had digital scrapbooking experience, so I put together some sporty templates & created a package for any parents that preferred the outdoor “on the field” look for their child. Very soon other teams were asking what I’d charge. Within a couple of seasons I was asked to do the photos for the entire league. I was starting to get requests for family & maternity photos as well. I decided I wanted to pursue a career instead of just replacing my personal camera with my efforts. I took classes, attended workshops & seminars, worked with private mentors, & practiced. I only bought what my work earned enough to cover, so I built the business little by little, one prop and one backdrop at a time. I am called to motherhood work, and as such my passion is in maternity, birth, and newborn photography and birth work. It’s a wild schedule, but it affords me flexibility to be present in my 4 kids’ lives too. I am now a doula, childbirth educator, and videographer in addition to photographer. I have had many challenges, including building a business with an auto-immune condition, a husband in the military, & caring for our own 4 kids, one of whom is on the spectrum.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While I have always felt that God called me to this work, there have definitely been challenges. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with Myasthenia Gravis, and I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Both conditions have made work and life in general very difficult at times. I just do the best I can. We all had difficulties in 2020 with Covid restrictions, but we struggled through. Things are a bit slow again now, but I have faith we will work it out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in birth work, and in photography & videography for the childbearing year. I am known for beautiful birth films, creative maternity work, and timeless newborn images. I’m most proud of my storytelling & my creative concept art featuring fantasy maternity imagery.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk is inherent in running a small business. Probably the biggest risk was when my husband decided to leave his job and work with me full-time. We have been working together for over 9 years now. He’s been an amazing support. I am not typically a huge risk taker, we have a family of 7 to support (there is a grandchild in the home now too), so I have to balance risk with stability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mamarazziphotographytx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamarazziphotographytx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamarazziphotographytx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mamarazziphotographytx
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mamarazzi-photography-windcrest?osq=Mamarazzi+Photography
