Continuing a Luxury Client Portrait Experience as Jeannine Hodges Portraits

I opened my photography studio 8 years ago and have been blessed to continue taking pictures all over the Metro Atlanta area as a family photographer.

When I first began my journey as a professional photographer, I selected a name that held much meaning to me: Beloved Sparrow Photography. My family was in a stage of life that was particularly trying. My husband and I, early in our marriage, had welcomed our first son into our family and both of us had been struggling with the challenges the economy offered at the time and found ourselves continuously leaning on our faith that God would carry us through. We both were finding ourselves in various jobs living paycheck to paycheck, barely getting by. We eventually felt it was best for me to stay home with our son and care for him rather than work outside the home, coordinating childcare and missing out on his little years. I opened my photography business shortly after as both a flexible means to pull in some extra funds for our family as well as a creative outlet for myself. Though our faith and trust in God’s provision remains the same, we are grateful for the opportunities and blessings that we’ve experienced since those challenging days.

During that time, I found comfort in specific passages in the book of Matthew, which mentions sparrows & birds and how God cares even for them:

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Matthew 6:26

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31

Here’s an image from my “first” newborn session. This little guy is my oldest son and this image was a little bit of inspiration when I selected my first business name.

I felt drawn to the name Beloved Sparrow for a number of reasons. I wanted to, first and foremost, keep the aim of my business and efforts to glorify God through my endeavors. I believe that every person I photograph is loved by their Creator and wanted to share that joy with others. On a more practical side, I thought at the time that utilizing my personal name in my business would be too difficult for people to pronounce or spell and also, as a new business owner, was concerned with keeping a certain level of privacy for my family.

Of course, none of those things have really changed over the last 8 years; I still strive to glorify God through my interactions and service in preserving precious moments in my clients lives. But as my business has matured over the years, I’ve felt the desire to have my business synonymous with myself. I’d like to introduce myself when meeting people as my name and business all in one. I realized, as well, that being a small business owner really insists that you put your name out there!

With plans for our family to move to another part of Metro Atlanta (East Cobb!) in the next few months, I decided that now is the opportune time to update my brand. It is a pretty major project for a small business owner to take on: updating my online presence, business licenses and state paperwork, professional accounts, etc, but I believe it will be worthwhile!

As far as my services and gorgeous product offerings, my luxury client experience will remain the same. I have plans to offer additional services, such as videography incorporated into slideshows and business branding portraits, in the near future! It’s bittersweet to be shedding a sentimental name that I’ve really loved, but I’m excited to have a growing portrait studio that I’m confident to put my name on: Jeannine Hodges Portraits!

A little note about my new logo. The square around my name is there to represent a frame, distinguishing my photography business as one that offers a complete client experience with finished artwork. I’ve created an loop with my JH to represent an infinity loop, alluding to the archival & heirloom quality of my product offerings.