Meet Jacob Grant | Therapist & Photographer

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

Hi Jacob, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I grew up in a home that reinforced the importance of “giving back, service, and practicing generosity” which has deeply informed the way I imagine my career and sense of purpose/self interacting in the world. Because of this, I tend to view my work as an overflow of who I am and have been privileged to get to this point in my life where the work I do feels in alignment with who I am as a person. Whether it’s through my therapy or my photography, I strive to create an experience for my client that is empowering, safe, and transformative. In a way, my role is the same – how can I help people to feel comfortable to explore who they are in an environment that feels uplifting and secure?
I have also been mindful about working – whether through pro bono or discounted rates – with people who may not normally have access to professional photography or therapy. I find this kind of work to inspire and motivate me.

In a world that can increasingly feel hostile to our collective and individual humanity, the ability to feel seen and celebrated is a balm that I hope to offer the world through what I do. I often remind myself that even if I am able to positively influence someone’s life or perception of themselves 1%, over time that shift can increase into a dramatic shift.

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.
My artistic expression has shifted over the years from pencils and oil paints to photography and the human spirit. My journey certainly has not been linear, I had years of trying to make sense of the complicated worlds I felt within that spanned a variety of interests. Through sitting with friends and mentors and time, I’ve learned that I – at my best- am someone who makes space for others to shine. Currently, within my roles as photographer and therapist, I lovingly joke that I get to witness and celebrate “the full spectrum of the human experience – from the birthdays, proposals, weddings, families…to the fallout of all of those.” I believe that the work that I do is inherently creative in that I am constantly having to learn how to connect with and elicit the beauty of someone’s story, oftentimes in ways that they are not yet able to see. People bring their history, fears, vulnerabilities, and hopes to me and I get the privilege of sitting with them and helping them understand the canvas of their life and hopefully helping them see themselves as beautiful and resilient in the process.

In photography, most of my clients initiate our sessions with “I am so awkward in front of the camera, I don’t know what to do and I am not photogenic.” With gentle joy I help them discover their confidence, their play, their intimacy in front of the camera. The best compliments that receive celebrate the merging of my aesthetic with the story of my client in a way that illuminates who they are beyond what they even anticipated. My lens becomes a mirror through which they might see themselves as more beautiful and real.

Similarly, I believe that therapy is a practice in reflection. I treat my own experiences and passions, modalities (spanning Somatic, EMDR, Psychodynamic, art therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and personality as an artists palette through which I collaborate with the client in learning how to make sense of their lives and heal.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ooh, I love this question.
I am a big fan of showing people I love the places that I love – I find they mutually enrich each other!

I love all things good food, nature, architecture, niche shops, and third spaces.
Given that, each day would start with a coffee shop – perhaps in a different region of LA to highlight the diversity and micro cultures within this city. Canyon Coffee, Sightglass, Maru, and Highly Likely would be go tos.
Followed by walking around, exploring the shops and parks and neighborhoods. I love a good wander.
Some of my favorite restaurants include Uovo (their tasting menu is such a deal), Saffy’s, Pine & Crane, Villa’s Tacos, Miz Lala, Woon, Kismet, The Public Market, Hiro Nori, Jon & Vinny’s, Great White etc….so much good food.
I’m also a big fan of an afternoon park picnic featuring a book or journal or people watching – I see you Echo Park, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica, Silverlake Reservoir.

An evening that evolves into dancing or live music is never a bad idea!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My friend, Alex Scott- who connected me with you all – inspires me with her tenacious pursuit of creativity and storytelling! She is consistently encouraging me to push myself creatively while simultaneously being an amazing cheerleader.

Website: https://www.jacobgrantphoto.com

Instagram: @jacob_grant.photography