Meet Jamie Pratt of East Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Pratt

Hi Jamie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In short, I’m a photographer and 16mm filmmaker. I’ve loved photography for as long as I can remember. My mom documented much of my childhood on a 35mm film camera, and I’m sure that played a huge part in it. I had never considered it as a career to pursue, but photos and visual arts were always a part of my life. The start of my business came in high school, after I had worked at a local sandwich shop to save up for a “real camera,” and friends offered me some money to take their senior portraits. Still pursuing other careers, I used photography to help pay for college after moving to Nashville in 2014. The wedding photography community here was so welcoming, and I was assisting almost every weekend. That turned into weddings of my own, and eventually after graduating I realized I could simply create my own job and lifestyle! I’ve been full-time now since about 2018, and every year my business has grown as I’ve found more of my voice and my passions within it. These days my work is about 50% weddings and 50% events and branding. Weddings will likely always have my heart, but I’ve been able to work with some really cool brands over the past few years.

The niche I’ve fallen into is film. Both film photography and film video. There aren’t many of us who make videos with 16mm film here in town, and it’s been such a fun medium to play with and learn from. The clients who choose to book me for film are also some of the coolest people, and it’s such a fun way to connect. Being invited into people’s lives in this way is so special, and not something I take lightly.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with any small business I’m sure, there have been obstacles along the way, but the support of other photographers has always been an amazing resource. I feel fortunate in that this career happened very organically for me. I have a degree in music and theology, and photography paid my rent and bills while I was in school. By the time I was looking for jobs, it was sustainable and I pivoted to just focus on making an official business.
The pandemic was the biggest obstacle for me. I remember being excited that 2020 was my biggest year yet, and I had two winter weddings before the world suddenly shut down. Everyone was scrambling to reschedule weddings and events, and there was no way for me to make any money. I was in a small church group at the time, and they so graciously helped me buy groceries while I tried to figure out Tennessee’s unemployment. By the end of that stressful year I was saying yes to everything I could, and I knew I either had to quit photography or lean in farther, and I’m so thankful I decided to lean in and keep going.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have a few specialties, but they all come back to film: film photography and film video. I’ve photographed and filmed weddings all around the world, and working with couples who love film as much as I do has brought me to some of the most incredible people. Sometimes I’m asked if I have any bridezilla stories, and I truthfully can’t think of a single one, I’ve had so many incredible couples.
16mm film videos are some of my favorite things to create. I use a beautiful camera from the 1950s with a big bag of film, and it’s always a talking point. If you don’t like typical wedding videos, you should check out 16mm film. It’s something very special.
In 2022 I started offering a mentorship of sorts that I call “film school” to help other photographers, professionals and hobbyists alike, learn more about shooting film. I’m an open book, and we go through their specific questions together. The sessions that I’ve had have been a blast, I could talk about film with anyone any day!

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I think my biggest logistical takeaway was making sure to have emergency funding dedicated to my business. That would have helped with the scramble when everything shut down.
But I also learned how important community is even when you can’t be physically next to each other. Photographers helping each other brainstorm, neighbors delivering food to those who were sick, tending gardens and sharing food, even just asking for help. I lived in a little part of town called Hope Gardens during the pandemic and got to know so many of my neighbors, even while keeping our distance. We were all outside on beautiful days, we teamed up to rebuild the community garden, and everyone seemed to be there for each other. I try to take this approach in the way I operate my business. No matter how much money I’m ever making, I want to give back to my community and do my part to make this town and planet a better place to live.

Pricing:

• Full weddings start at 5k
• Intimate weddings start at 3k
• Event coverage – custom packages

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jamieprattphotos.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jamieprattco
• Other: https://vimeo.com/jamieprattfilms