CAN I JUST SAY THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD?
Here's what I actually believe: creative work only means something when somebody's actually paying attention. Not performing. Not chasing whatever's trending. Just looking. Really digging your toes in and feeling that tingle.
I'm not interested in the highlight-reel version of you. I want the one sitting across the table right now, coffee in hand, laughing loudly, and still figuring it out. That's who's worth photographing, and worth writing about.
So no, I'm not here to help you fit in. I'm here to help you look like you... truly you, out loud.
My Style
Black and white sitting right next to warm, editorial color. A little theatre kid drama, a little quiet documentary truth. I lean toward what's real over what's polished, texture over gloss, story over spectacle.
No. o1
My Approach
It starts with a conversation, not a shot list. We plan with intention, then leave room to laugh once the camera's rolling. One session or an ongoing partnership, the process stays the same: listen first, then let the truth show up.
No. o2
The People
The founders, the chefs, the wanderers I work with all have one thing in common: they're not finished yet, and they know it. Nobody's asking to be perfected here. Just seen accurately, mid-becoming, imperfect edges included.
No. o3
COFFEE SHOP DEEP CHATS
ALWAYS ON BRAND
PRINCE, ALWAYS PRINCE
ANGEL'S ENVY OLD FASHIONED
HAPPY
PLACE
ON REPEAT
COCKTAIL
ORDER
Guilty Pleasure
STEPHEN KING NOVELS
NEVER
WITHOUT
MY LookOptic READERS
AMERICANO W/ CREAM
PICK ME UP
BORA BORA + NAMIBIA
VACAY
SPOT
ABOUT the FOUNDER
I’m Jama Finney. Photographer. Story Weaver. Once ran the room, now I read it.
Live events taught me how fast that feeling disappears if nobody's paying attention. I learned that the hard way as an Indy 500 Festival parade intern, then as an event manager in Indianapolis, planning large-scale celebrations for Indianapolis 500 and NBA Finals guests, crowds who'd notice if anything went wrong.
In 2013 I moved to Louisville with my family with no network and no plan, just a passion and the nerve to finally chase it. I closed Cake Zen, and picked up a camera, fingers crossed.
Jama Finney Photography launched in 2017.
Turns out all those years of listening, to clients, to event crowds, to sugar flowers, were training for this. I'm still weaving stories first, the camera just gives them somewhere to land.
Before any of this I was a theatre kid with a yearbook camera, a counseling psych student from Ball State, then years of hand making confections and producing live events, without anyone seeing the seams.
SHE takes the time TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE, and CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF A PERSON, NOT JUST THE image IN FRONT OF HER.
MAC SUTTON
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Save-worthy shots for your mood board, menu, or travel wishlist
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LinkedIn
Business BTS and the occasional branding rant.
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