Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Poeschl.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For me anything with a camera is an excuse to hangout and, to be honest, I began Dakota Lenox Photography to meet new friends. And it’s worked so far!
My decision to work with photography happened during art school at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Photography was a perfect medium for me after working as a makeup artist and getting drawn to the creative processes of the photographers I was on set with. After I graduated I started my LLC right away, working with commercial lifestyle clients like Irish Fest, Saris, Schwinn, etc., and juggling passion projects like photographing road trips with 4×5 film cameras and filmmaking projects.
Once I got more itchy for artistic endeavors and dreamt of teaching and sharing my passion I decided to get my Master’s degree in Boston. I moved here for my MFA program and right away began Dakota Lenox Photo for local and private clients. As I felt that newness and terrifying feeling of relocation I decided to keep a piece of my Midwest values with me by naming the business after the cross streets of my favorite apartment I was leaving in Milwaukee, located on Dakota Street and Lenox Street.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One month after relocating to Boston I contracted a rare parasitic infection in my dominant shooting eye that resulted in legal blindness. I had to re-learn how to photograph with my other eye which was a long process laced with many frustrations. I remember during my most painful and dark month my dad consoled me over the phone, saying with his thick Wisconsin accent, “I bet you’ll come out of this even better than you’ve ever been before”.
Unsure if he was right or not, I’ve recently been collecting my gratitude for the changes from it: I’m slower than I was, but am now meticulously intuitive. I ditched my (impossible) expectation of perfection and now trust the images to be found during shoots. Lastly, I rely on others’ kindness and connection to drive my experiences behind the camera. For example, I recently worked as cinematographer on an independent short film. The director called me a week after filming to break the excruciating news that my video shots were all slightly out of focus. Once I regained composure after punching some pillows with tears flowin’, I offered to reshoot the project. I didn’t want to admit it but knew it was a development from the injury, unknown to me during the time of the filming. The director warmly accepted and graciously provided me with auto focus camera equipment that allowed me to work with what I could see and what I’ve always done best; lighting, color and mood. Maybe my dad was right after all because this film has been accepted into the highly regarded Cannes Film Festival this year.
Dakota Lenox Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The portraiture of Dakota Lenox Photography is compelled by the evocative look of Hollywood but with the reality of lived experiences and environments. My portraits are known for their natural yet dramatic lighting, often being described as “cinematic”. This has roots in my experiences as a filmmaker and I treat my still shoots as an extension of my film work. During a shoot, fueled by positivity, I collaborate with my clients in a location of their choosing and we create these luscious and surreal scenes to reveal new and exciting individual truths. The retouching-free images tell your story by unfolding naturally; the props, environment and expressions are all yours and often surrounded in deep jewel-toned color palettes with rich blacks inspired by the look of cinema. It’s hard for other photographers to duplicate my style because it’s a cross-blend of moving image and stillness and takes a fearless and compassionate director like myself to find, listen and tell these raw narratives. I’ve based Dakota Lenox Photography on the belief that an image is built from collaboration, improve and performance- just like a good movie.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Moving to Boston was huge for me. So, in middle school I used to use write the names of my crushes on my hand with milky jelly roll pens and those people never reciprocated my feelings. It’s like I’ve had Boston written on my hand and, unlike my middle school fiancées, it took me in its arms and does so for many people. I highly recommend it for new businesses because there’s an extremely supportive community here. It’s exciting to network locally here, finding potential clients within the walls of places I visit often, like my yoga studio or street festivals. Fellow artists and business owners are quick to collaborate and my clients have been enthusiastically thirsty for my creativity. In fact, this past spring I worked with an all-woman production crew for a film here in Boston. I want to see more of this happening in the filmmaking industry, so it was an amazing opportunity to be a part of something I believe in so whole heartedly.
Boston is full of history and you can feel it here; it’s like the people are as deep as the roots of this city’s past. People I’ve met are intriguing and carry a depth with them from the moment we meet and throughout our sessions. Perhaps it’s due to the large amount of schools here, but I love deep thinkers and since most of my shoots involve my genuine interest in my sitters, Boston is perfect.
If you’re considering starting a business here the one thing I should warn you about is the driving. All concerns can be mailed to:
WT F. Boston Street Planners, Inc.
C/O Chief Road Designer
8974 Crapstorm Drive
Nonsense-and-help-us-all, MA 02155
Pricing:
- Portrait sessions start at $695
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dakotalenoxphoto.com
- Phone: 2627072098
- Email: dakotalenoxphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakotalenoxphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakotalenoxphoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dakota-lenox-photography-boston
Image Credit:
Jaclyn Poeschl of Dakota Lenox Photography
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