Jessica Breuer Photography

When I think of Jessica Breuer, I think dedicated and creative spirit. Jessica is a natural light photographer whose work caught my eye over ten years ago. Since then, I keep being drawn back to see what she has captured with her lens and where her creative journey has taken her. As a Coast Guard wife and mother of three teenagers, she is always on the move, literally and figuratively. Yet, over the years, she has managed to weave her creative passion into the fabric of her life and takes it with her wherever she goes, always seeking a life balance that is authentic and inspiring. Thankfully, Jessica is happy to share that “creative calm” through the images she captures and her words below.

I recently connected with Jessica and asked her a few questions:

What do you do for work?

Jessica: I’m a natural light photographer, running my own photography business, Jessica Breuer Photography, since 2023. I’m celebrating my second year in business this month. I do seascapes, landscapes, and nature photography mostly. Coastal scenes are generally my favorite. Being a Coast Guard spouse, I have access to a lot of coastlines. And there is something healing about the sea air. Beaches are my happy place, but I do love both mountains and the sea.

What do you do for hobbies?

Jessca: Photography is both a profession and a hobby for me. But I have a lot of different hobbies. I do a lot of scrapbooking, which goes hand-in-hand with photography. I sew, read (historical fiction and mystery are favorite genres), and I enjoy baking treats for my family. And recently gardening, which is fun with photography. It’s good to have different hobbies that I can rotate through.

What is your creative outlet?

Jessica: My creative outlet rolls back into photography and scrapbooking. Scrapbooking with all the journaling can be very healing and relaxing, it helps make more space in my mind. And stories are important, so it’s fun to revisit memories; see how much you’ve grown and what you’ve learned. Travel albums are my favorite thing to make.

What fuels your desire to create?

Jessica: Capturing memories, making pretty things, and as a busy mom, something fun just for me. With photography, I can get out in nature where it’s peaceful and there’s room to breathe and think, the day’s anxieties melt away. And when I capture an image that I had a vision for, it is very energizing. It’s a nice change of pace.

What are your favorite mediums?

Jessica: My camera is a must! I currently shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III, but I am dreaming of a mirrorless camera. When I’m in a creative rut, I love to use Lensbaby lenses! You have to let go of “perfection” with them and just play. Paper is another favorite medium. I’ve always been a fan of playing with paper. Even when I was a little girl. I’ve always enjoyed cutting or tearing paper and putting it back together in a new way.

How did you get started?

Jessica: My mom taught me to sew as a child, and we were part of a quilt group for a time. She always encouraged me to try different creative things growing up. My parents got me a hobby camera, I also tried beading, and even rubber stamping. There was a woman in our church, like a grandma to me, who would have me over, and we would stamp, make cards, and eat M&Ms. She was a wonderful mentor. As a teen I started scrapbooking.

Even though my parents handed me my first film camera as a child, it was becoming a mom that really brought me into photography. I wanted to take better pictures of my babies. It was Mother’s Day when my husband bought me a Canon Rebel. Then I started learning everything I could, reading books, magazines, classes, online conferences, and practice, practice, practice. There’s no greater teacher than practice. I joined an online Click Community. Huge help, so many resources, and you can ask questions and get feedback. The photography community in general is really nice, helpful, and everyone wants to see each other succeed.

What is your process/what do you do with your finished product?

Jessica: Usually, it starts with getting outside. Sometimes quite early to catch sunrise colors. I am not a morning person, so it’s not easy, but it’s always worth it! I love to travel to new places, but since that isn’t often an option, I frequently begin right in my neighborhood or my own garden. At times, it can simply be a bouquet of flowers on my table. You can find inspiration everywhere! It just takes vision and slowing down to see and notice things. I take lots of pictures, then I upload them into Adobe Lightroom when I’m back home. Typically, I’ll do a little bit of light editing in Lightroom, but not much. It’s nature, and you don’t have to make nature perfect. At least I don’t try to make nature look perfect. For me, creating the image in camera is so much more fun than editing afterward. Then I decide which images I want to share; some I post to social media. If I’m travelling, I like to share photos in a blog post. My favorite photos I put in my online shop so that people can bring some of the beauty into their own spaces.

What does your creative space look like?

Jessica: For photography, I have a whole world! In my home, I am blessed to have a craft room where I scrapbook and sew. Which is a good thing, because I’m a messy creator! I’m currently working on reorganizing and cleaning up my space.

What words of encouragement would you like to share with others?

Jessica: It is important to have something for yourself, because especially as parents (and/or caregivers), we get so wrapped up in doing things for everyone else, that we can sometimes lose our own sense of self. So, it is really important to find something you are passionate about, something that gives you time to slow down and be at peace. Don’t be afraid to try something new. It’s also good to know that it's ok to ask someone else for a little help or advice getting started or along the way. Have dreams and follow them.