Meet Jemimah Fequant: Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Jemimah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is such a vital thing I feel like you have to do if you ever want to get where you want in life. Trusting the process in whatever God has for my life is taking big risk. I moved to LA from South Florida December 31 2019 and landed in LA January 1st 2020 to pursue my photography dreams. That is a big risk if you ask me, not knowing anyone really, no family out here, and didn’t even have a job set in stone. I was scared but It was a scared like you got this no matter how hard It may get for you doors will open. At the time of moving I mean no on knew COVID was going to hit like that. I had just got a transfer/promotion from my job back home in Florida and in less than 3 months into the year I was furloughed and super scared and nervous how I would even make ends meet. I had to get serious about my photography and come up with a plan and truly trust the process and put the work in. Some days are truly unpredictable, but a door always opens when another closes.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being a Haitian female photographer is what makes me different. I know the photography field is such a male dominated field that the women who hold space in this field often get overlooked because men have been doing it for so long. Well I’m here to say its a new age and female photographers are and will continue to be the new wave. We see and bring things to life differently our visions, the way we pay attention to detail, and how we come with a warm feeling to make our clients feel comfortable that all comes with my services and brand. I’m most proud of how my journey is unfolding for me everyday is a different experience and the fact that I’m really risking it all everyday is daring but exciting. The people I’ve met, the projects that I get to be part of have been fun. I really just want to push through the threshold of being comfortable, because this whole journey has been uncomfortable for me but also nothing grows in being comfortable. Bet on yourself when no one else will is something that I’ve learned. As much as people say they support you or want to be there for you, no one will show up like you will. That’s on advertising yourself, doing the hard things no one will know about, and just being compassionate with yourself with things may go left. I am constantly learning about myself as a photographer trying different styles all of that but showing up for me is my hardest lesson I had to learn. Jemportraits was created at a time when all I had was my camera and a dream. I love capturing stories that matter and I feel like photography is visual poetry frozen in time. I will continue to create till God tells me that’s it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I only got to enjoy LA for 3 months really then COVID came and rained on my parade, but I do like to hike and California is so scenic so there is always something to do. Start the morning off on a hike I would take them to Malibu canyons, then on our way back enjoy lunch at this fish sandwich place called Malibu Seafood it is amazing there! then towards the end of the night enjoy the sunset with some homemade drinks at the beach. I don’t have much up my sleeve since I have yet to explore all of LA, but it would be a pretty laid back kind of day. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Back home in South Florida I was part of this photography group called Allsnap, and although all of the member contributed to who and where I am today there are two special individuals that made me push my photography skills even more. Frank & Anita we still keep contact till this day and push one another through social media or catch up whenever I go home. My best friends are definitely my tribe even though we are all spread out they’ve seen me at my lowest and continue to pour into me and support me when I may question or doubt my next move. Also growing up in a Haitian household the career path I’ve decided to go down isn’t ideal and the support I’ve gotten from my family has been great and I truly love and respect the support my family has given me ever since I’ve moved.

Website: https://www.jem-portraits.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jemportraits/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JemPortraits

Image Credits
All pictures take by Jemimah Fequant