When I scroll down Jennifer’s feed, I feel like this is the definition of the ART of photography to me. It’s raw, there’s movement, grit, emotion, slivers of life happening in a fraction of a click. Jennifer is a true artist, and her photos always impress and inspire, eventhough she seems to reinvent her style with every passing year. This week marks Jennifer’s 151st frame!

-Yosef

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Name: Jennifer Spagnolo

Current All-Time Streak: 151

Joined 52Frames: 2022

Your “walk-around” gear right now:

Canon R6 with Canon 24-70

The place you call home:

Chicago burbs

Your life in 30 words or less

My life: encircled with love, filled with gratitude. Chaotic! Co-molder of humans. Worrier. Seeker of deeper meaning and connection. Desires happiness for people. Intolerant of intolerance. Indulges on sweets excessively.

Can you share 2 images, one from your past, and one more recent, that show your evolution as a photographer?

What has been your favorite style of shooting lately?

I’ve been working on shooting as intuitively as possible, especially the kids. I look for “in between moments” or for things that might not conventionally “look good” in an effort to capture a hint of truth about who we are. Also, I’ve been using lots of slow shutter speed to capture motion blur because I feel like this adds life to an image. I’m kind of obsessed with the idea that everything is constantly in motion. Additionally, as a former dancer, I still feel connected to the idea of movement. This has been coming through mostly in the self-portraits I’ve been doing as a way of better understanding myself or to express thoughts or feelings.

What was the first photo you ever submitted to 52Frames?

How did you find out about 52Frames?

My neighbor, friend, and mentor, Michele Koering, is a family and portrait photographer and had been submitting for a bit.

What submission are you most proud of and why?

I think I’m most proud of the egg image. I ended up loving the concept and simplicity of it. It was super tricky to execute it. I’m not very skilled in photoshop so everything I do is in camera. I had to balance it on myself using tape on the front of it, keep my shoulders straight, but have it placed so that it looked like it was just about to fall off. I had towels on the floor and did 699 shots for this challenge!

One tip you’d like to share?

Go with your gut on what you shoot and what you submit. It’s so easy to get swept up in how amazing everyone’s work is, especially those who you most admire, but I have to constantly remind myself that that is them, and I am me.

Why is 52Frames meaningful to you?

52 Frames is an inclusive and supportive community. It’s a place that helps me hold myself accountable. I haven’t broken my streak yet because I feel if I do it once, it’ll be easy to do so again. So many times it has forced me to work hard through a thought or emotion or technical problem and I’ve ended up with something special and meaningful to me. It’s allowed me to take my creativity further than I thought possible. The process forces me to try new things, to pick up my camera at least once a week and learn more and more.

To view Jennifer’s profile on 52Frames, click here: