Community Highlights: Meet Jenn Doelger of Dashtwo Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Doelger.

Hi Jenn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Drawing and sketching was something I grew up doing, as a kid took art classes – I was sketching or doodling. Both my Grandpa and Dad could draw, along with paint. My Dad also had an eye for photography. He’s the one who would encourage me to pick up a camera, knowing I would love it. The camera was just another extension of him, it went as many places as he could take it.

Every family vacation, there are so many random photos of wildlife, nature, and the small town of Onalaska Wisconsin I grew up in. He did all of our family pictures – I remember what felt like hours of posing in front of the Christmas tree with the strobe light blinding my sister and me just to get the one photo for the Christmas card that year. And I & my sister were the origins of the “child photographer syndrome’.

It wasn’t until years later I finally did pick up a camera, again thanks to Dad, because he just mailed me a digital camera. From there I took college classes, and practiced on my pets, along with a few of the kids at a local dance studio I use to work for. I would also sneak my camera into small concerts; before cell phone cameras were good, to capture images of the band since concerts are emotional and energetic – it was a way for me to play with height and shadows and then tie in that feeling you get at a concert.

And then some of those kids I practiced on were high school seniors, they asked if I would take their Senior pictures – I said yes. And I got the bug for Senior photography. It’s not often you get a reason to photograph someone willing to lie down in a creek bed, and play with smoke bombs – the sky is almost the limit with Seniors. The creativity is amazing. I’m always trying to convince someone to travel outside of Pickerington to hit up some of the beautiful places in Ohio, I’m talking hours outside of the town.

With those Seniors, came family portraits – I’ve grown with a few of my families capturing their kids up to those kids getting married. For my most recent wedding, I captured the Brides Senior pictures. I’ve dipped my toe into automotive photography recently. My husband is into cars & I go along to the car shows – with the camera in tow. Seeing a vehicle from a different perspective from a camera lens is fun.

I find myself honing in on the small details of the car. Trying to tell is a story – especially if it’s vintage. And I get a giggle from my friends I’ve made from the car meets when they see my images & they see the car for the first time n a different way. I can’t word how grateful I am for who I’ve gotten to meet through photography. Who I’ve become friends with.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Some of the barriers in my journey are probably similar to a lot of other photographers – figuring how why folks should even choose me to begin with. Finding that ‘why’. And I’m still working on it. I know that at the end of it – that I just didn’t press a button for the folks who have chosen me. That I have built trust & a friendship with them.

There are struggles in getting people to know what I offer, I hate the reason “the market is saturated” because there were always be people with a “good camera” out there. It’s trying to let people know about the experience of working with you. It’s more than just a button push. The struggle of finding people who value photography is there – you just have to find them; it’s just where to look is the hard part for me. I keep trying though.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Dashtwo Studios?
Dash two Studios has been photographing high school seniors, families & the occasional wedding for the past 10 years. I strive to provide everyone with a hands-on personable experience with guidance to best create a session that reflects the personality I photograph. That includes helping with styling the session and having conversations to prep & plan. I even guide to the best products that fit the client’s needs; from an album, storyboards, and a whole wall collage.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I grew up in the small town of Onalaska, Wisconsin right on the Mississippi river. It was a town where I would ride my bike to the mall once a week over the summer. And then go ice skating at the local park where the community flooded the baseball field to freeze over in the winter.

The fourth of July was spent celebrating by watching the fireworks go off over the mighty Mississippi. And some weekends attending La Crosse Catbird basketball games. This small town shaped me to love simplicity. Moved to Pataskala Ohio with my family when I was 13 years old. Travel when I can, with a camera in tow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dashtwostudios.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/dashtwostudios
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dashtwostudios