We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Sutherland McKenna and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is essential in being a trail blazer. No Risk – No Reward. I feel I have always been known to be a risk taker. I like to buck the status quo. In accepting risks and moving forward with those choices – I have been rewarded with experience, self knowledge, scars, fantastic memories, forever friends, tangible pieces of art for the archive, and true feelings of magic… Now more than ever, taking “risks” in my personal life & career as an artist is more about listening to my inner compass and following my intuition. Gauging the impact of the choice & reward. I am working on tuning out the inner critic and external world and rather listening to the inner voice and finding the thread of awareness that is connected to something greater. It is not with the rational mind but with the heart I find my greatest inspiration… In choosing to be a mother and risking my body, freedom, life, relationship, I have gained the greatest love, awareness, strength and fuel. In saying good bye to my mother last year after she died from fierce 7 month battle of cancer, I know the preciousness of time and feel the importance of making good choices.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a photographer & multimedia artist. I specialize in creative, soulful portraiture for the legacy archive. I seek to create photos, prints, murals and interactive art that feels timeless and inspires conscious conversation. I am motivated to think of how these images can transend time and be a defining piece or image for a legacy. My personal portrait photography business is www.JillSutherlandPhoto.com I have a studio in Topanga canyon and also work on location.Offering unique portraits and am constantly build upon various series of photographic bodies of works. My focus is working with artists and muses to create inspiring images that can be used within various multimedia series. With Anne Staveley with have Staveley & Sutherland LLC which is the home to various creative photo projects: Wheel of Fortune Tarot Project – Interactive Art Installation and Photographic Tarot Deck – www.WOFTAROT.com Large scale photo murals – www.LIVINLARGEPHOTO.com – Wedding Photography – www.Foreverhooked.com

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite spots in LA: Topanga Canyon Beach Lake Shrine Inn of Seventh Ray – Topanga R&D Kitchen – Santa Monica Designer Maya Reynolds creative space My friends houses

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out my Dad – Mr. Mark Sutherland for teaching me international business skills and overall excellence in navigating in life… My Mom Susie, for her warmth, creativity, compassion, trail blazing, and endless design concepts and karma awareness .. See you in the ethers… Husband – Keith McKenna for being my rock of love. Daughter Mesa – for opening my eyes and lifting my soul to more purpose. Anne Staveley – business partner, best friend, mentor, photographer, builder, witch, mother….for all we have done and all that we get to do.

Website: www.jillsutherlandphoto.com
Instagram: jillsutherlandphoto
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jill-sutherland-photo-topanga-canyon-2
Other: www.woftarot.com www.livinlargephoto.com www.foreverhooked.com

Image Credits
JillSutherlandPhoto

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