Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Zmuda.
Hi Jennifer, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Like many of us, I grew up with albums of printed photos, film reels, and VHS tapes containing memories and life milestones. I was always fascinated by how powerful these images were in capturing our stories and allowing us to relive feelings and details otherwise forgotten. As my childhood progressed, I worked hard training as a dancer, with an intensive focus on ballet but a smattering of other styles like modern, tap, jazz, etc. I studied dance and pedagogy at the University of Utah for my B.F.A. Then, I continued for my M.F.A. in Dance with a choreographic emphasis from the University of California, Irvine. There was a slow merging of my love of photography and film with my love of dance. It started as a need. I needed to be able to market and promote performances of my choreographic works, and the most effective way to do so was through photography and video. It was an unpolished skill in the beginning, and I took a class or two to refine those skills, but essentially, I’ve shaped my art with hands-on trial and error. After a few decades, I’m proud to have come as far as I have. In my 20s, I would have never thought I would own and run a successful photo/video production company and employ a staff of talented individuals. It’s sometimes mind-boggling to think through my career so far; I’ve won an Emmy for my work and have had images published in notable magazines like Architectural Digest, Good Housekeeping, Dance and Pointe Magazine, and the Washington Times. As a single mom by choice, this career path I’ve created couldn’t be any more conducive to being able to balance the challenges of solo parenthood while also being able to provide for not only our daily lives but also our future in a way the feeds my artistic soul in the process.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I know I’m not alone in experiencing imposter syndrome and anxiety. These two beasts have often held me back from freely exploring new spaces and artistic endeavors and taking calculated business risks to propel me forward. As a young person, you’re taught it’s ok to make mistakes; that’s how you learn. Somewhere along the road, I started forming this idea that after a certain point, you should have learned enough not to make mistakes. Making mistakes this far in one’s career would cause others to perceive you as incompetent or incapable. In my mind, mistakes could cause a catastrophic problem for the business I rely on to survive and provide for my child while also affecting the well-being of my staff. Spending each moment with this idea and fear was crippling, causing me to spiral into a land of immense overthinking and daily panic attacks. If I could think through every possible error or unexpected obstacle and have a plan on how to fix things, I would be setting myself up for the best outcome possible. This way of existing made me feel like I was slowly and painfully crumbling, exhausting, and unsustainable. After years with a therapist, and if I’m being sincere, with the help of an SSRI, I have resurfaced from the stress spiral I was stuck in. I can’t say enough about the benefits of finding a good therapist who helps you challenge those ideas and reframe your thinking. Learning to embrace the concept of Wabi-Sabi and find humor and joy in problem-solving has been so freeing. We’re all imperfect and should be throughout our lives. There is no benefit to fighting that truth, but embracing it allows us to move with it and accept that there still can be such beauty, even in our flaws.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Jennifer Zmuda is an Emmy award-winning director and professional photographer in Columbus, Ohio; drawing on her national reputation as a dance photographer, Jennifer’s photography services showcase a passion for movement and storytelling that sets her work apart. From corporate video production to upscale commercial photography, her work is backed by an extensive portfolio of high-profile clients nationwide. Jennifer’s projects have been featured in The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Architectural Digest, Pointe Magazine, Dance Magazine, The Columbus Dispatch, CityScene, and many other local and national outlets. With a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine, she launched her photography business in 2006. She continues to shoot dance and family photography, product and lifestyle photography, corporate videos, and more.
What matters most to you?
What matters is living fully by embracing the lives we encounter and the moments we experience through this life. This circles back to my first thought that by photographing and filming these moments of our lives, we can relive them again, even gaining a new perspective and value. It’s remarkable to hear my dad’s contagious laughter again years after he’s passed, to see and listen to my sweet daughter saying “farkle” instead of “sparkle.” Oh man, what a gift. The love and the experience deepen as we grow and move through life, and we can relive these cherished moments through our photos and videos.
Contact Info:
- Website: jenniferzmuda.com
Image Credits
Jennifer Zmuda Photography
