Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Santos.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jacqueline. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My photography journey began 5 years ago after my oldest daughter was born. My daughter was photographed by the talented Mary Macomber of Pebbles and Polka Dots Photography. I was completely amazed by Mary’s talent and skills. I was lucky she was mentoring a student during our daughter’s session. I watched, listened and took mental notes of all the little things she was teaching her student about newborn photography and safety. At that time I had no idea the basics of a camera. The techniques of wrapping, newborn safety, and posing I took note of. I remember watching Mary work and thought to myself I would love to do what she does one day. I knew I wanted a career that involved working with children. I graduated from Worcester State University with a bachelors degree in speech therapy and worked towards a masters degree in Elementary Education. Throughout and after college I nannied for several different families and truly enjoyed working with children. It wasn’t until I had my second daughter that I took the plunge into photography. My husband bought me my first DSLR camera and I began playing around and learning all its features. I started watching videos on YouTube and took notes as I learned different techniques, lighting and the most important safety. Throughout the next few months I continued watching videos and taught myself how to edit in Lightroom and Photoshop. I officially opened up my business in November 2015. I started out as a traveling photographer working on location in clients homes. After a few months I stopped the traveling and started working at my home where I transformed my little dining room into my studio. My first year I continued my learning with workshops and started collecting props. Shortly after opening up my business I found out I was pregnant with my son. I knew at that time I really needed my own studio and space. The work of bringing up my equipment and props from my basement to my dining room and transforming my dining room back after my sessions was becoming a lot of work with three small children. In March 2018 we started the construction of finishing our basement and making it my studio. Six months later I had the perfect studio and with no commute! This wouldn’t have been possible without two important men in my life my Husband and my Father in Law. My Father in law started framing out my studio while my husband was away military training for the month of March. My husband came home and started working with his Dad on the next steps of the construction. My husband would work an eight hour shift and come home at 11:15 pm and work until the early hours of the morning in my basement working on the studio. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband. He is my biggest supporter and thanks to all his hard work I finally have my own space to call my studio.
Has it been a smooth road?
Struggles are a part of life. I believe the little bumps in our journey are what make us stronger and help us grow. For me, the biggest struggle was finding the perfect medium for work and family. Starting a business is a lot of work and it takes time to become successful. When I first started my business I was working as a nanny part time on top of being a wife and mother to my two young children. I spent countless late nights up watching YouTube videos into the early hours of the morning to learn and help grow my business. The easiest part of being a photographer is capturing those memories families will treasure forever. The preparation that goes into each session and the editing time that is done to create those beautiful images clients will cherish is the hard work. The past year I have worked every weekend with the exception of my children’s birthdays so I have always missed family functions. I love what I do but its a struggle to make time for family activities around my work schedule. My plan for my studio was put on hold after having my son. It wasn’t ideal working in the small space of my dining room but I loved what I was doing. I knew that eventually when the time was right we would start the construction for my studio. Three years later I am overjoyed to finally have my own studio. I am able to spend more time with my family and less time setting up my dining room now that I have my own space. I like to have the weekend availability open for my clients. I know a lot of Moms work outside of the home and they look for that weekend availability. It’s all about finding that happy medium. I now work every other weekend as well as having 3 full days of sessions throughout the week.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jacqueline Santos Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Jacqueline Santos Photography specializes in Maternity, Newborn, Children and Family portraits. I work in many areas of photography but love and specialize in cake smash and splash sessions those are my most popular. What is a cake smash and splash session? A cake smash and splash is a session that captures the babies turning the Big One! I like to do these sessions at 11 months old before babies start walking and a lot of my clients like to use an image for a thank you card or to print out for their little ones party. These sessions usually run about an hour giving a little time for some play if needed for the little ones to get comfortable with me before we start the session and outfit/set changes. I do before the cake smash, the cake smash and I end the session with a mini tub and after baby gets clean I capture them splashing and playing in the tub. Some babies don’t like the cake so the tubby after is another chance to get those adorable little smiles and faces. I include everything needed for these sessions, all outfits, props, balloons, and the smash cake I get from a local award winning baker. I try to make it as easy as possible for parents. The only thing parents need to do is bring a happy baby. I have three little ones I know how hard it is to pack up and get everything ready so I try to make my sessions easy for parents. I love creating the sets for my cake smashes. I try to switch it up as I have some popular sets that clients see I have done and want the same theme for their child’s cake smash theme. Clients refer to me as having the “Patience of a Saint” and a “Baby Whisperer”. I am very personable, down to earth, and silly which makes my clients feel comfortable and helps the session run smooth. I like to start off playing with the little ones first and chatting with the parents before I start the session to build that little friendship with my clients. I am a big joker I like to tell my clients things that are going to make them laugh or smile and have them comfortable working with me. New moms coming in with their week old babies tired, overwhelmed and sometimes just need that little personal story to make them smile and feel like they are not the only ones that struggle. Motherhood is the most rewarding and hard job! My husband would be horrified at the stories I tell my clients about him lol I love seeing my clients come back year after year and watching their families grow. When I have new clients tell me they were referred to me by one of their friends that have used me it makes my heart happy. I stride to provide my clients with a wonderful photography experience followed by beautiful memories they will cherish at a reasonable cost.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love my little country farm town of Middleboro! We have so many beautiful parks and scenic spots in town. There are a variety of locations in town my clients can choose from for their outdoor sessions. It’s such a pretty town to drive through. I grew up in the large and busy city of Weymouth. I knew when I started my family I wanted to live in a nice town and have some land. Middleboro is a great town for small businesses we have a lot of support and I feel lucky to be one of them.
Pricing:
- Maternity | $200-300
- Newborn | $325
- Milestone | $175-$250
- Cake Smash and Splash | $250
- Family | $200-$300
Contact Info:
- Address: 57 Thomas Street
Middleboro, Ma - Phone: 774-232-3167
- Email: jacquelinesantosphotography@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/photographybyjacquelinesantos
Image Credit:
Headshot- Little Moments by Katie
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