Momenta welcomes this week’s guestagrammer, Jenny Jimenez

Age:
41

Current job:
Photographer!

Current location:
Seattle, WA

Website:
www.photojj.com

Connection to Momenta:
I attended the Portland workshop in September of 2016 to learn more about working with non-profits, and how to integrate audio into my storytelling.

 @ Jenny Jimenez  

Tell us about your journey as an image-maker and how you got to where you are today.

I took photography & darkroom classes in high school but didn’t have any resources in college to put it to use. When I moved from New York to Seattle in 1999, I was spending a ton of time by myself exploring the city and going to shows. I’d leave a concert full of inspiration but I didn’t have anyone to process the evening with, so I brought a camera as a companion. It opened a door to talk to others and soon I had labels, bands, and venues wanting to use my images. In 2004 I was given a photo column in our alt-weekly paper The Stranger, covering nightlife and portraits of local notables. Having a consistent deadline and outlet taught me how to gain my subject’s trust quickly despite social anxiety. It forced me to shoot every week, and I could see an arc of improvement each year that passed. I took most jobs that came my way – events, music, portraits, families, kids – as long as I felt a connection with the subject or subject matter. Over time I identified and developed a style and approach to photographing people.

 © Jenny Jimenez

What stories or issues are you most passionate about covering?

I’m most drawn to working with women, artists and kids. I hope to continue documenting people that follow their own passions and purpose, living in the moment. In return, I hope my work helps people find more compassion for and acceptance of themselves by feeling more connected to humanity. Or at least have a good laugh about it. I feel that capturing the humor in life is just as, if not more important than, capturing its beauty. 

 © Jenny Jimenez

Where do you look for inspiration for your work: books, movies, authors, photographers, art, certain people?

Richard Kalvar, Gwen Verdon, Geoff McFetridge, Pema Chodron, Bruce Gilden, Autumn deWilde, Lindy West, Carrie Brownstein, Anna Kuperberg, and a tight-knit community of friends and artists that I consider family.

 © Jenny Jimenez

What social media or news feeds do you follow regularly?

NPR, The Atlantic, New York Times, the Guardian, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee are current favorites.

What is one passion you have outside of photography that might come as a surprise to our readers?

My husband Jay roped me into caring about sports again, although rooting for the Mariners has proven to be a Sisyphean task.

 © Jenny Jimenez

What can we expect to see this week from your guestagramming on our Momenta Instagram account?

I’ll be posting a mix of moments and portraits from my portfolio, including a couple from a recent trip to Haiti to document the operations and women of Haiti Babi, a Seattle – Cap Haitian non-profit.

#seizethemomenta, and follow @momentaworkshops on Instagram to see Jenny’s great work!