We’re looking forward to introducing you to Wendy Jo O’Barr. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Wendy Jo, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
Pet people are the best people. This may not be a huge surprise, but it continues to impress me how kind hearted animal lovers can be. If you have compassion for the innocent who don’t have a voice for themselves, that reveals something about your character to me. I’ve also found that our pets can be common ground between people who may otherwise disagree about some issues. All of our hearts have been made bigger by the unconditional love our pets provide.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Wendy Jo, one of the few Nashville natives in town. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of occupations that bring me joy, and doing pet photography is one that brings 2 of my loves together. I really enjoy the mysteries of studio lighting and how it can highlight the best things about a subject. When I capture one of those shots I call “the planets aligned” where the pet hits their pose and the lighting is just right, it feels so satisfying. Using that same knowledge of lighting when doing commercial product photography also gives me a great sense of satisfaction. And I think it’s that knowledge that can set me apart from other pet photographers. Any professional photo you capture of your pet will be beautiful, but I enjoy creating an image that could be in an ad for a pet product.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I don’t think it was one finite moment, but traveling has really opened my eyes. It’s like Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” I think it’s so important to ask questions and explore other ways to think, believe, or live. Or as Ted Lasso said, Be curious.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Photography is one of those fields that can be misconstrued as not valuable. I think now that it is digital and everyone has a camera in their pocket, people don’t value an individual jpeg, where as a print used to be seen as a commodity. I cannot tell you how many times people have asked me to do my work for free. In fact, if I had been paid for all the times I’ve been asked that I would be rich. Their devaluing of my occupation, for which I have spent years studying and investing in, makes me feel like giving up. That viewpoint can really make one feel worthless. As a photography teacher I always encourage the students who are just starting out to not give anything away for free. Take pride in the work that you are doing, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not worth anything.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Unfortunately, yes! You always know where you stand with me and what I’m thinking. Lately, I have been working on not sharing everything with everyone. My brutal honesty is both a strength and a weakness, and I need to learn to tell the difference. I also need to spend more time listening, finding out what makes other people tick.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
There are certainly days when photography does not feel like work. In fact, that’s the part I would do for free if I was a billionaire. As I said earlier, when that perfect shot comes along, it is so rewarding. It’s the business side of things that can seem like a chore. Photographing animals in need of rescue is also another extremely rewarding activity. While that can also be heart-breaking, it does feel like you are making a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wendyjophoto.com
- Instagram: wendyjophoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-jo-0044929/
- Other: https://wendyjoobarr.com
