Meet Jessica Amerson | Photographer & Studio Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Amerson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a word that has been coming up lately for me. When I think of risk it is truly something that feels uncomfortable, challenging and for me, there is a the element of feeling scared. Can I do this? Will I fail? Will I grow if I don’t rise to the risk? Recently I took a leap in my business by opening up a studio in Nashville (Sonder- www.sondernashville.com) and I was terrified! I have not felt this feeling in a long time but while refelcting on where the fear was coming from and where I had felt it before I realized it all boils down to taking the risk! The last time I had this feeling was when I left my full time job in the music industry to be a full time photographer. It was the best decision I could have made and at the time seemed like an enormous risk! Had I not have taken it, I would never have known the freedom I know now to create and build a life for myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I feel like photography genuinely fell into my lap. I never knew what I wanted to do as a “job” and looking back I always documented my life. I am drawn to real, classic, and emotional art so I would like to think my photography emulates that.

I have learned so much about the work I want to create and what it looks like to have the time and space to do so. I’ve found that many times in my career in the begining I said yes to everything! I never wanted anyone to peigon hole me into a niche of photography. I wanted to be everyones “person”. A skill or even a flaw of mine is being addaptable but early on I learned that you can’t please everyone and if you aren’t being true to yourslef then you will fail.

I hope that when people look at my work they see something that is timeless and even effortless. That people can feel like I am someone to connect with, grab a glass of wine and talk about life, how we got to where we are and where we are headed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am the type of Nashvillian that wants nothing to do with downtown, so my itinerary wouldn’t offer that as an excursion unless we were going to see a show at the Ryman or a Preds game.

But an ideal day would be waking up in the morning and taking the dogs for a stroll through my neighborhood in 12th south. On the way back we would grab some fresh flowers from Amelia’s flower truck along with a coffee and some breakfast tacos from Lady Bird. From then on I would have to take you to Gaslamp Antiques- one of my favorite past times is to go there with headphones and a coffee or with a friend and find new treasures. After antiquing we could head to Soho House for some cocktails and lunch, maybe even a dip in the pool before heading home to freshen up for dinner. Soho House is becoming a staple for me as I love meeting new people and running into friends!

Lastly, I would have either made reservations for Rolf and Daughters, Barcelona, Folk, Audrey or Giovannis for dinner. If we were looking for a nnight cap I would take us to Bastion which is truly one of my favorite local bars.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ashtin Paige is one of my dearest friends, mentor, right hand and I would be lost in my business and industry without her support over the years. When I was trying to find a space to learn studio photography, we were connected through a mututal friend at the time and I became her intern. In exchange for cleaning the studio after my full time job, I was offered time in the studio to test light, to create and to learn how to run a studio. Without her opening her world to me I would be a very differnt photographer.

I would also say that the community of photographers I have come to work alongside here in Nashville have been some of the most open and generous people. There isn’t any gatekeeping or competition that I have experienced here and I am so thankful to have a comminity of people who want to lift each other up and champion in each others successes.

Website: www.jessicaamerson.com, www.sondernashville.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_amerson/?hl=en