Chocolate/peanut butter is a perfect combination, just like makeup artist/photographer! I want you to meet my friend and colleague, Jon Lemon of JC Lemon Photography. What inspires this rock-climbing, NYC-dwelling Texan dad of two? Read on!
How did you discover your talent?
Photography has always been a fun personal thing I’ve enjoyed — the mix of technology and art is just so fascinating! My mom has always been an artistic person (spinning, weaving, lithography, and all sorts of other stuff), and she first got me hooked with just grabbing a camera and exploring. Back when I was in middle school she started doing black & white fine art photography and I actually took a semester off before starting college to take a darkroom class with her. That’s where it went from a hobby to a passion. It was so amazing to see a photo literally come to life on paper in front of you, and that still sticks with me in a digital world.
I put that in my back pocket as I went off to college and pursued other things (Computer Science and then a tech job on Wall St), but I still kept photography as something I did while traveling and living life. It wasn’t until I found wedding photography that everything clicked!
How did your business blossom?
Elopements! They’re ignored by a lot of vendors because they’re not “traditional” wedding days, and that was especially true when I started my business in 2011. Thankfully, the photographer I second shot for before launching my own business was one of the few serving these types of weddings in NYC, and it became a significant portion of my business model.
These intimate weddings are usually on weekdays, so while other wedding photographers fill out their calendar with headshots or commercial work, I’m photographing more weddings! I’ve photographed over 300 weddings in 7 years, and each one is an exciting and unique experience.
Do you work alone, or do you lead a team?
My business is flexible to provide service to weddings of all sizes, and I am always at the core as the primary photographer. For elopements (which I define as fewer than 100 guests) I’m usually on my own, and for larger weddings (more than 100 guests) I’ll have a second photographer and assistant helping out, plus additional staff for other cool things I offer like portrait stations, photo booths, etc.
What is your process with wedding clients before the wedding?
If my couple is local, we meet in person to get to know each other and connect. I also work with a lot of international couples, so sometimes a fun video chat is all we can do before they arrive for the wedding. Either way, there’s a lot of info I compile about the wedding beforehand, such as who the VIP guests are, timeline for the day, portrait locations, and all those other logistics. Having a good game plan in place sets us up for the best results come wedding day!
My signature wedding collection also includes an engagement session, which is a fantastic way to bond before the wedding day.
How do you continue to grow as an artist?
I take a lot of personal photos of my family (my wife May and sons Lincoln & Logan) on film and still try to get into a darkroom whenever I can. Mainly I just try to do what I’ve always done — grab a camera and go exploring!
JC Lemon Photography
Handcrafting modern love stories.
https://jclemon.com
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Handcrafting modern love stories.
https://jclemon.com
Follow on Facebook
Follow on Instagram
